Ringworm Quarantine Period

[wooboo21]

I got my first guinea pig about 6 months ago and then 2 months ago I got a baby guinea pig to keep my other one company. After bringing the baby home he started to loose hair around his eye and was sneezing. The vet thought it could be an infection and gave him antibiotics and eye drops. Within 2 weeks it cleared up and he was fine. During this time I was slowly introducing my other guinea pig to him, but kept them in separate cages. The baby guinea pig scratched me and within a week I had a raised patch. My initial thought was ringworm, but it didn't look like typical ringworm so I treated with some over the counter fungal cream for extra caution. Well a few days ago the spot on my arm is back and then my son had a clear ringworm spot on his side. Urgent Care confirmed it's ringworm and prescribed us a cream.

Neither of my guinea pigs currently have any ringworm spots on their bodies that I can see (and I have been looking good). They have medication that my vet ordered and should be delivered in the next few days and the course of treatment is 28 days. My question is, do I have to quarantine them in their cages or can I let them run around as they always have? I have been disinfecting everything in my house with Lysol and washing everything in hot water and drying in hot temps. I have also completely cleaned out their cage and everything in it. I'm thinking the spread has been caused by me since I am the only one that currently has an active ringworm spot. If I need to keep them quarantined, how long? They are not very happy being cooped up in a cage (it's a midwestern so they have some room).

 

[Wiebke]

I got my first guinea pig about 6 months ago and then 2 months ago I got a baby guinea pig to keep my other one company. After bringing the baby home he started to loose hair around his eye and was sneezing. The vet thought it could be an infection and gave him antibiotics and eye drops. Within 2 weeks it cleared up and he was fine. During this time I was slowly introducing my other guinea pig to him, but kept them in separate cages. The baby guinea pig scratched me and within a week I had a raised patch. My initial thought was ringworm, but it didn't look like typical ringworm so I treated with some over the counter fungal cream for extra caution. Well a few days ago the spot on my arm is back and then my son had a clear ringworm spot on his side. Urgent Care confirmed it's ringworm and prescribed us a cream.

Neither of my guinea pigs currently have any ringworm spots on their bodies that I can see (and I have been looking good). They have medication that my vet ordered and should be delivered in the next few days and the course of treatment is 28 days. My question is, do I have to quarantine them in their cages or can I let them run around as they always have? I have been disinfecting everything in my house with Lysol and washing everything in hot water and drying in hot temps. I have also completely cleaned out their cage and everything in it. I'm thinking the spread has been caused by me since I am the only one that currently has an active ringworm spot. If I need to keep them quarantined, how long? They are not very happy being cooped up in a cage (it's a midwestern so they have some room).

Hi and welcome

Very sory about your ringworm problems. Please do not let your piggies run around. Ringworm spores are invisibly tiny and can stay live for around two years or even a little more to cause a new outbreak. It takes 10-14 days between infection and an acute outbreak.

Please read our ringworm guide and follow the advice in there carefully. In 15 years, we have unfortunately had ample opportunity to work out all the possible transmission routes, how to counter them and trial all possible treatment as to their efficiency (and sadly also their inefficiency when it comes to creaming as this method simply doesn't get on top of the spores issue). The advice in there is as precise and clear as we could make it. We know that it works you follow it and do not try any shortcuts. You can really get on top of ringworm once and for all.

Please do not underestimate the risk from spores and the fact that your piggies could still carry a number loosely in their coats and spread them all over the room.
Here is the link, which will be your best friend for the coming weeks: Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

PS: Please be aware that guinea pigs don't do slow intros - every separation is in their book a frustratingly aborted bonding session which they have then to start right back in square one again. Any success happens more despite than because of your efforts. You cannot bond properly without working through the whole bonding manual with all the group establishment and the necessary dominance behaviours. In the end, it will always come down to whether your piggies will want to be together and whether they are a personality match - and neither factor you can ultimately control whichever way.
Here is the access link to our extensive practical how-to advice and helpful information resource on a wide range of topics, including boar behaviours and their needs, as well as their boy bits care, amongst many other issues. You may want to bookmark it together with the ringworm care link.
Comprehensive Owners' Practical and Supportive Information Collection

All the best!

 

[wooboo21]

Thank you! I'm excited to be here! I’m enjoying our first sets of Guinea pigs and love how much joy they have brought to our home!

I’m planning to keep my guinea’s together since I don’t see any active spots on either one and they have each other to keep them company. I read that ld disinfectant is recommended. Is that Lysol? I can’t find anything specially for ld disinfectant. Also, since they will be starting oral meds by Monday, do I need to do a dip?