Guinea pig has bald patch back

Any athome care should only be done after careful instruction from and specific approval by your vet. Treat any pig with suspected mange mites with ivermectin. She lives with another guinea pig who doesnt have one. Mange mites live in a guinea pig s skin and cause them a lot of pain. An exception is that sometimes guinea pigs may have a bald patch on their behind, caused by the substance they use to mark their territory. A guinea pig suffering from a respiratory problem may experience sneezing, lethargy, discharge from the. There are no hairs on that area at all, and its about the size of a. The average weight of a mature guinea pig is right around 2 pounds.

Here are the most common causes of balding in guinea pigs. Barbering, or chewing on the hair, is sometimes seen when rabbits are housed together or with guinea pigs. Norml handling of guinea pigs wont cause it if one washes ones hands every time after handling the guinea pig or their bedding. If it isnt itchy, sore or scabby, then the changes are that it is nothing to worry about.

My guinea pig has a bald spot when my sisters recently gave me a guinea pig, millie, she had a bald spot on her back but no other bald spots. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and. The guinea pig will begin losing hair, generally starting on his back and rump. Infection from ringworm is less likely to occur, but a cavy can act as a carrier for the infection. A variety of viruses and bacteria can cause respiratory ailments in guinea pigs. Skin irritation, redness, and itching are also common symptoms associated with ringworm infections. My guinea pig has a bloated stomach, i cant afford a vet. Again the signs to look out for are constant scratching and hair loss. Fungus can cause bald patches, scaly skin, and hair loss. The familys guinea pig, patch, has been looking worse and worse lately. Ringworm commonly starts around the head area, unlike mites, which often presents as a v shape on the back. A guinea pig can also fall victim to ringworm or a similar dermatophyte. Jan 26, 2020 if you notice your guinea pig has some bald spots, you might become alarmed.

It may also be exhibited by females that are under stress. If you notice your guinea pig has some bald spots, you might become alarmed. What do you do if your guinea pig has developed a bald patch. The two bald patches are in the middle of her abyssinian rossets. Sep 05, 2015 to help prevent skin problems in guinea pigs, keep humidity levels low in the animals environment. If the bald spot is limited to the area hidden when the rabbit tucks her head back toward her shoulders. If you spot a tick on your guinea pig, then its best to leave it to a professional.

If your guinea pig has lost four or more ounces, see a vet immediately. The ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head. This is normal, especially in boars, but if it looks a bit sore then there might be another underlying problem. The average lifespan of a hamster is between 2 and 3 years. For example, if your guinea pig has dental disease, your vet will want to take skull xrays to get a better look at the teeth and jawbones.

Dried crust around the nostrils is often an indication of the upper respiratorysinus infection. Hopefully, you will never have to deal with mange mites. Feb 05, 2008 she developed two bald spots on her back near her rear that are semetrical. I told my 4 year old that we would have to give patch away, to someone who could care for her a little better. So far the other pig olive has no signs of anything similar on her fur. Like a guinea pig version of eczema or something just because of the fact it looks quite dry. If the hair is thin beyond this spot, it is a good idea to have your veterinarian do an examination.

The mouthpiece will likely remain embedded in the skin, so once the pest has been removed then the area will need to be thoroughly disinfected to give your guinea pig the best chance of not developing a bad infection. Guinea pigs usually have bald spots inside the front legs see photo at right, perhaps as a result of grooming, with the hair being continuously rubbed off by cleaning their. Parasites too can cause skin problems, these include lice and mites that live on the guinea pig s hair. Now ive put her on a diet shes overweight, started giving her more veggies romaine lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, and broccoli, and upped her dosage of vitamin c i drop it into her water bottle. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is contagious to other pets and to humans.

Nursing females may also lose fur when nursing a litter, but the hair should grow back once the pups are weaned. Hair will drop out very readily too, although it will usually grow back, unless there has been scarring. Keep your guinea pig cage clean, and dont overcrowd guinea pigs in cages. When she developed this problem before, i just gave her more vitamin c and it cleared up. Neither of them seem to be doing excessive chewing so i dont think its mites. Barbering barbering refers to the behavior where a guinea pig trims the hair of himself or another guinea pig by chewing or tearing it. Jul 14, 2011 ringworm on a pet manifests as hairless and scaly spots on the guinea pig s body. She often nibbles at this spot but it doesnt look red or sore although it does have a couple of red spots on the bald area of skin. How to identify and treat fungal and mite mange guinea pig stuff. Though guinea pig skin cases are usually pretty straightforward, you can get cases that stump even the best general practitioner. That way, if it has any unexplained lumps and bumps you will find out quickly.

Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and mite. A pig which is often lethargic or appears unwell with no cause may be being bullied. If your guinea pig is scratching at the bald patches it could be ring worm or mites if its ring wormring worm will look like a brownish color ring with whitish pink in the center you can buy an. Why does my guinea pig have a bald spot on her back. One of our guinea pigs has a bald patch on her back. Also, mange mites itch terribly and open sores develop where the guinea pig has been scratching. Thinning hair is a classic sign of mites and theyre especially common on the lower back.

In this case, these two guinea pigs were taken at 2 different times to a local vet who i. Theres a small crusty scab lower down which isnt painful to her either. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal. Why does my guinea pig have a bald patch on its back. My guinea pig also has a bald spot behind his ears, his brother has it as well so i was wondering if that is normal thanks for reaching out about snuggle. These itchy spots get worse as the guinea pig does everything it can to scratch it repeatedly. My guinea pig has a bald spot on his nose the white spot. Hair loss in guinea pigs can happen for a number of different reasons and it is important to consider the other factors affecting it before trying to decide what the cause might be. If your older hamster is going bald and your veterinarian cannot find another cause of the baldness, then its possible the hair loss is normal. A dominant guinea pig might be picking on a less dominant one, and pulling his hair out as a result. How to check your guinea pigs hair guinea pig illnesses. Besides this cause, just about any metabolic disorder has the potential for. Pregnant females often lose a lot of hair because their hormones are unbalanced and this always grows back, so there is no need to worry if this happens to your. One of my guinea pigs rosettes has a bald spot next to it.

To help monitor health, be sure to weigh your guinea pig weekly. Ringworm infection is a common infection in guinea pigs is. When my sisters recently gave me a guinea pig, millie, she had a bald spot on her back but no other bald spots. A bald patch in the middle of the back that neither spreads nor itches may be the result of an overrich diet. Patches may first appear on the face around the eyes, nose and ears, and from there the infection can spread to the back. One of the most common and easily curable health issues in guinea pigs is the. How to diagnose respiratory problems in guinea pigs. A guinea pig can acquire ringworm infection from another guinea pig or from contaminated objects such as bedding. No itching or spots anywhere else tonight, while doing a cage clean, i decided to inspect a spot on harrys butt that looked a little different. One of my piggies had mites with no rednesssorenesspimply bits which are also other signs of mites, just a thinning bald patch and a course of ivermectin cleared it up nicely.

This bald spot will grow rapidly over the next few days, often with dry, flaky skin. Either way, try returning your guinea pig to its cage for a bit. Aug 04, 2009 she lives with another guinea pig who doesnt have one. Guinea pigs themselves can get impetigo as a result of this bacteria, so if your guinea pig has impetigo, it could cause impetigo in someone who had a suppressed immune system.

Its lost about 20% of its fur and has been scratching until it would bleed. My guinea pig also has a bald spot behind his ears, his brother has it as well so i was wondering if that is normal. If your guinea pig has bald spots, then this could be due to mange mites or a fungal infection, both of which are easily treatable with a special shampoo. They also have little bald patches on the pads on the bottom of their feet and by their wrists. Vet says it does not look like fungal as the hair loss is too irregular and he would expect patches or circles with fungal, however as it was not responding to the injections we should try something else. One of the common causes for hair loss is due to barbering, a behavior by which guinea pigs will chew or tear their own or each others hair off as a result of conflicts between adult males or between adults and young. My one year old guinea pig has a large bald spot on her back. Her other rossets although have all the fur but do look quite flakey. When in pain, a guinea pig will often stop eating andor drinking. She often nibbles at this spot but it doesnt look red or sore although it does have a couple of red spots on the bald. If your guinea pigs have a patch of hair missing you might need to look for the cause and fix any medical condition for proper regrowth.

What causes ringworm in guinea pigs because ringworm is a fungal infection it is highly contagious which means if one pet has it, then other animals in the household may well catch it too if they. Her companion had died shortly before so i think it was stress. The two common guinea pig fur mites are trixacarus caviae sarcoptic mange. Eventually, this will kill a guinea pig so it is very serious. You can support cavy central in the work we do with. How to decipher guinea pig sounds and body language. A guinea pigs color has nothing to do with its life, except for if it is getting bald patches or patches of color that werent there before. A two or three ounce loss may indicate the onset of a problem. If you suspect your guinea pig has a skin problem, contact an exotics veterinarian immediately for a diagnosis and treatment. Nov 04, 2014 many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem.

Guinea pig bald spot my guinea pig has a bald spot on his nose the white spot. I have noticed the other guinea pig is a bit aggressive to the balding one, but i wouldve though id notice if large chunks of hair have been removed. Other causes can be more worrying, but are not usually a sign of anything serious and can usually be easily sorted with a visit to the. If the current treatment doesnt help, i would consider finding someone in your area that is very experienced with or specializes in exotic pets. Unlike the abyssinian, the peruvian has long straight hair. If your guinea pig has ringworm you need to wear gloves when handling her. Guinea pigs can become obese if fed too much of the wrong food. The first thing you notice is a bare patch which then develops sores on it. Pellets are usually the culprit, so be careful not to overfeed.

The cage is regular cleaned so i dont think its fungus either. Most owners consider this a sign of guinea pig affection, though it is possible that they just like the taste of the salt on your skin. Guinea pigs usually have bald spots inside the front legs see photo at right, perhaps as a result of grooming, with the hair being continuously rubbed off by cleaning their faces and eventually failing to regrow. She also had a tiny bump on her foot thats now going away. May 24, 2010 one of our guinea pigs has a bald patch on her back. Mange mites are parasites that can make your guinea pigs life miserable.

This usually between two males, or it might happen between an adult and a young one. One of my guinea pigs rosettes has a bald spot next to it now. Its only kind of crept up in the past week and i havnt notice until tonight but my one pig has a bald patch on her butt. A guinea pig getting annoyed with being petted will toss its head back as a way of asking you to stop. The cases that i have demonstrated here are moderate.

This guinea pig still has her companion and i cant think what can be causing stress but dont know why else her hair is falling out. Guinea pig bald spot my guinea pig has a bald spot on. Guinea pig tooth trim with carlito the cuy duration. Of all the different types of guinea pigs, the peruvian guinea pig takes the cake for the longest hair and by far. Naturally occuring bald spots behind the ear of a guinea pig. My guinea pig always has dried snot on his nose, is that bad.

Here are the most common causes of balding in guinea pigs and treatments. It could be ringworm as it is very common in guinea pigs especially around the eyes. Affected skin will get thick, yellowish, and crusty, with hair loss and secondary. I noticed the very large bare area in the back of and wrapping slightly around the front of my soft white pigs ears and. As we previously mentioned, the easiest way to tell if your guinea pig has caught a ringworm infection is to see if its fur starts falling, creating bald patches around the head. Yes, it is entirely natural to have bald spots behind your guinea pig ears. Im quite worried as the guinea pig is only about 6 months old, as it was a baby of 2 of my other guinea pigs. Richardson reported a case where a guinea pig kept outside was losing hair to a robin to provide nesting material. It isnt sore and she will let me touch it, it seems to look like shes ripped it out. In fact, the guinea pig that holds the record for the longest hair was a peruvian. I can see now the hair grew back too quickly for it to be fungal. Mar 24, 2019 when my sisters recently gave me a guinea pig, millie, she had a bald spot on her back but no other bald spots.

Let your vet examine your cavy and make sure that ringworm is what is causing the problem. If it isnt itchy, sore or scabby, then the changes are that it. What can i do to help stop the itching and heal the bald spot. In another case, a combination of unprepared vet and uncooperative guinea pig resulted in a painful patch of fur loss. A healthy animals receiving good nutrition and exercise feels firm in the body. Pregnant females often lose a lot of hair because their hormones are unbalanced and this always grows back, so there is no need to worry if this happens to your expectant guinea pig.

Guinea pigs hair loss can also be caused by guinea pigs. All guinea pigs have bald spots behind their ears, it is completley natural and your piggy will be fine. Your vet can take several different types of xrays, depending on what they think is causing your guinea pig s respiratory problems. However, if your gerbil has an inflamed, scabby, bald round patch on its coat, then it could just possibly be ringworm. The most common reason for hair loss in guinea pigs is usually mites. These bald patches will develop a crusty, flaky type appearance with red patches which look quite sore, especially around their eyes, ears and noses. This may have been a trivial argument over an extralarge sunflower seed. A fungal infection presents itself in the form of itchy patches of hair loss. The skin of the guinea pig is very thin and sensitive which is why they were extensively used in the cosmetic industry for testing and will break down very easily. Jul 22, 2010 the ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head. Her hip bones also seem to me a bit more prominent. This parasite can cause skin irritations and hair loss in large clumps on the back of the g. There is no substitute for proper veterinary care for any animal.

If treating for parasites doesnt resolve your guinea pigs discomfort, there may be other issues at play. Theres no blood or scar, and it lost its hair overnight. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and mite mange. A very young child may pull out a guinea pig s hair. There are many reasons for hair loss to occur in guinea pigs.

A guinea pig that is not eating is seriously ill and must be seen by a vet for treatment and must be hand fed. Mange is a common parasitic disease that affects the skin of guinea pigs. Although the mites will clear up and hair will start growing back after the. There are some short hairs and some flakey yellow skin when you scratch at it. You can easily identify an infection by the crusty, scaly scabs which will cover multiple areas on the back and limbs.