Should I be worried about one patch of fur?

[lauryn1289]

Hi all, I noticed my boy Ollie has a patch of shorter/thinned hair on his back. Doesn’t seem inflamed, bleeding or flaky etc. He’s eating fine and no weight changes, still 1.1kg. Still as devilish and cunning as ever and evil as ever, nearly got mauled trying to weigh him. I had a piggy who was on Ivermectin a few times through his life and the hair loss in him looked a bit different so thought I’d ask. His cagemate has nothing similar. He’s about 2.5 years old if it’s relevant, maximum 3. He was with someone else before I adopted him so not 100% sure.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi all, I noticed my boy Ollie has a patch of shorter/thinned hair on his back. Doesn’t seem inflamed, bleeding or flaky etc. He’s eating fine and no weight changes, still 1.1kg. Still as devilish and cunning as ever and evil as ever, nearly got mauled trying to weigh him. I had a piggy who was on Ivermectin a few times through his life and the hair loss in him looked a bit different so thought I’d ask. His cagemate has nothing similar. He’s about 2.5 years old if it’s relevant, maximum 3. He was with someone else before I adopted him so not 100% sure.

Hi

I cannot quite clearly see the full extent and location on the back but it looks to me rather like it could be a classic mange mites V that you see at the onset.

Some piggies can have a reservoir of mange mite eggs in their skin (which cannot be penetrated by ivermectin) that make a comeback whenever their immune system is impacted for some reason; especially if they or their mothers have had mange mites at some point. These reservoirs are normally kept under control by a fully working immune system.

Please see a vet and do not use low dosed pet shop products.

New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

 

[lauryn1289]

Hi

I cannot quite clearly see the full extent and location on the back but it looks to me rather like it could be a classic mange mites V that you see at the onset.

Some piggies can have a reservoir of mange mite eggs in their skin (which cannot be penetrated by ivermectin) that make a comeback whenever their immune system is impacted for some reason; especially if they or their mothers have had mange mites at some point. These reservoirs are normally kept under control by a fully working immune system.

Please see a vet and do not use low dosed pet shop products.

New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

It’s on his back! He’s recently bereaved twice, lost both his friends in 2 weeks (does have another cagemate now) maybe that wouldn’t impact him the way it would us and our immune systems but possibly I suppose. He’s very happy and doing great otherwise so I’ll try not to worry, thank you! I’ll get it checked out

He’s definitely never had mites since he’s with me but I have no idea what sort of life he had before I took him

 

[Wiebke]

It’s on his back! He’s recently bereaved twice, lost both his friends in 2 weeks (does have another cagemate now) maybe that wouldn’t impact him the way it would us and our immune systems but possibly I suppose. He’s very happy and doing great otherwise so I’ll try not to worry, thank you! I’ll get it checked out

He’s definitely never had mites since he’s with me but I have no idea what sort of life he had before I took him

Bereavement can be immune-system lowering indeed.

My Macsen has a mange mites reservoir on his back, which promptly made an appearance again after he lost his first wife, Hirael. You can spot the typical v-shape in the middle of his back.

 

[lauryn1289]

Bereavement can be immune-system lowering indeed.

My Macsen has a mange mites reservoir on his back, which promptly made an appearance again after he lost his first wife, Hirael. You can spot the typical v-shape in the middle of his back.
View attachment 220067

Definitely looks very similar to Ollie! Is it something that would be okay waiting a few days? More than likely the earliest he could get seen is Wednesday, my vets are swamped

 

[Wiebke]

Definitely looks very similar to Ollie! Is it something that would be okay waiting a few days? More than likely the earliest he could get seen is Wednesday, my vets are swamped

Yes, that is OK unless you are dealing with an extreme case. Brace for some discomfort, though, and keep in mind that you need to treat all piggies in contact with your affected one.

 

[lauryn1289]

Yes, that is OK unless you are dealing with an extreme case. Brace for some discomfort, though, and keep in mind that you need to treat all piggies in contact with your affected one.

Thank you for your help, I got him an appointment for Wednesday morning. He doesn’t seem bothered much by the patch right now but if that changes I’ll try get him in asap. Looks like his friend (nemesis really) Eggs will be coming along for a check also then!

 

[lauryn1289]

Yes, that is OK unless you are dealing with an extreme case. Brace for some discomfort, though, and keep in mind that you need to treat all piggies in contact with your affected one.

He was at the vet and got a skin scrape (ouch! understandably both me and the vet nearly got mauled) but you were right it is mange mites she assumes from stress of losing his friends. Both boys starting ivermectin now, thanks so much!

 

[Wiebke]

He was at the vet and got a skin scrape (ouch! understandably both me and the vet nearly got mauled) but you were right it is mange mites she assumes from stress of losing his friends. Both boys starting ivermectin now, thanks so much!

All the best!