They just say that its probably from when the pigs groom and rub their faces with their paws, eventually the hair is supposed to stop growing back in that spot. Sometimes it can develop on guinea pigs suffering from diabetes. Too many guinea pigs are being put to death or being let to suffer. Guinea pig health and wellness guide all guinea pig. While they are usually healthy animals, there are a number of diseases that commonly affect pet guinea pigs. Fur loss can also be a symptom of a skin infection or skin allergy, mites, mange, diet deficiency or thyroid problems. The bald spots starts on the front of my leg, goes around the outside of my leg, then stops at the back. Fur loss can also occur in older hamsters usually around one year of age or over and usually occurs on the belly, hind legs and hip areas first.
These bald patches will develop a crusty, flaky type appearance with red patches which look quite sore, especially around their eyes, ears and noses. Some of them have a thin covering of fuzzy hair on their backs as well. If you take your guinea pig to a vet, the vet will want to do a skin scrape, but 90% of the time it comes up false negative. Usually, guinea pig will relax and rest its head on the ground, and some of them will be totally relaxed and spread out their hind legs. My boyfriend said that when we adopted them, he was pretty sure he had it. In the past, my guinea pig had fungus, so i had to give it baths weekly using guinea pig shampoo. Mange is quite common in guinea pigs, and they can get it from other animals or from bedding that contains the mites. Guinea lynx talks a bit about it their hairloss section, could be worth a look guinealynx. Cure guinea pig and cavies skin disease caused by mites. Lice and their eggs are usually seen in the bald patches behind your guinea pigs ears and the mites can be seen microscopically all over the. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal. The bald patches will generally have crusty, flaky, red patches within them.
How to check your guinea pigs hair guinea pig illnesses. Asked in guinea pigs are guinea pigs bald when born. There are five very common diseases in guinea pigs. If you noticed that there is a blood in urine or your piggy squeaks while urinating these are the signs of uti. Guinea pigs their most common illnesses publications. A healthy skinny has skin that is mostly smooth with some wrinkling around the legs and neck, the. They also have little bald patches on the pads on the bottom of their feet and by their wrists. Your guinea pig will scratch incessantly and begin to lose hair over a small spot at first. Rightso anyway he felt her over briefly and looked at the bald patches, asked a couple of really obvious questions i. 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. 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.
Another website about bag balm curing mite infestation in guinea pigs. My female guinea pig is 9 months old and has a small patch on her lower back. Some would get patches of thick dandruff so itchy it caused sores from scratching, and if i couldnt catch them for a. Hair loss in dogs is called alopecia and it may be the result of a medical condition or simply heredity. 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. Hi i recently noticed a scab on the inside of my guinea pigs leg. Offering a guinea pig a cage with solid flooring can prevent this.
The bald spots on the legs are from regular cleaning and tend to be a bit more pronounced on. If your guinea pig rapidly loses weight and does not appear to be eating you. Similar to human, cataracts are quite common in older pigs, however can develop in young aged piggies. More weirdnessi seem to have developed this exact bald spot on both legs. The exact same thing has happened to my guinea pig, nemo at least three times. 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. Hair loss is a symptom, and the underlying cause must be determined in order to be treated. The spots are towards the back and on the butt area.
Then i read on the peter gurney site about giving them osteocare in liquid form. Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin c, and symptoms include the cessation of growth in young guinea pigs, joint swelling, and a stiffness of joints to the extent that they cant use their back legs independently and hop around in a rabbitlike fashion. Guinea pig recovered from paralysed back legs pet forums. The most common reason for hair loss in guinea pigs is usually mites. Letters happy healed pigs slip n scoot with glee nov. Your bald pigs will be so happy they will feel like flying.
Since then ellie has thinned out a bit, but still has a voracious appetite. Baby guinea pigs will occasionally loose the hair from their noses when nursing. The vet we saw said and i quote i dont know much at all about guinea pigs. 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. It may also be exhibited by females that are under stress.
The cases that i have demonstrated here are moderate. He has no rash on his skin and the area is not sensative. Fungus can cause bald patches, scaly skin, and hair loss. There are some short hairs and some flakey yellow skin when you scratch at it. These mites burrow under your guinea pigs skin and cause itching and pain, which your pig will try to get rid of by biting their 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. Mycosis is very painful for guinea pigs, and theyll exhibit symptoms such as hair loss, scratching, hot skin, and a gritty substance on their body and face. If your guinea pig has bald patches and is biting its skin, it likely has sarcoptic mites. The two common guinea pig fur mites are trixacarus caviae sarcoptic mange mite and chirodiscoides caviae. Here is a link to where you can expect bald patches on a piggys body. Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and. Cure guinea pig and cavies skin disease caused by mites treatment is safe and inexpensive. Some of the most common fungal problems in guinea pigs are known under the common name mange also known as mycosis. What i do think though is that they are suffering from what is called grooming, where a guinea pig becomes bored and starts to pluck hairs from. Cavies cannot manufacture their own vitamin c and require 10 to 30 mg daily to prevent scurvy. Utis are extremely common in guinea pigs because their body is very low to the ground because of their short legs. A few months ago i took her to the vet and the vet said she was healthy. Therefore, they are very likely to catch bacteria from the dirty wet bedding.
You have probably heard of people losing their hair and going bald, but did you know that it can happen to dogs as well. By knowing what the most common illnesses are, you can be better prepared to monitor for signs and symptoms that your guinea pig may be getting sick. Aug 15, 2011 when the other guinea pig started to get defensive, my oldest one started plucking himself bald where he could reach on his own body. Many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem. Hair loss caused by bacterial infection can be a secondary symptom related to a primary condition like an allergic or parasitic reaction.
They need to take small naps during the day and night. Symptoms of parasite infestation usually include itching and vigorous scratching, leading to bald patches and crusted skin. Mange mange is caused by the trixacarus caviae mite. Below are four of the most common causes of hair loss on hind legs in cats. One has a couple of bald patches missing in its fur very small. If it isnt itchy, sore or scabby, then the changes are that it is nothing to worry about. These guinea pigs originated in a lab guinea pig colony, where strains of shorthaired and hairless guinea pigs were crossbred. So basically it sounds as if your guinea pigs are getting bored and trimming each otherstheir own fur. Jan 26, 2020 here are the most common causes of balding in guinea pigs and treatments. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. Common illnesses guinea pig illnesses guinea pigs guide. The vet will probably prescribe an antifungal medication to be administered over the course of 56 weeks, and possibly a topical cream to treat bald patches.
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. If your guinea pig rapidly loses weight and does not appear to be eating you should see a vet immediately and ask about the teeth. 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. If you suspect your pet is afflicted with mange, it is best to pay a visit to your veterinarian for further examination. The most common guinea pig patch material is cotton. Hair loss in guinea pigs guinea lynx a medical and care. The flaky bald patches on your guinea pig can also be caused by dryness in the air. Jan 20, 2011 hi everyone, my 3 year old female guinea pig, ellie, has two bald patches. Guinea pigs are one of the few species that cannot manufacture their own vitamin c from other nutrients, and therefore have an absolute vitamin c requirement in their diet about 50mgday. Guinea pigs have naturally bald patches on two areas of the body that owners may not be aware of and, as a result, become worried about. It is important to prevent malnutrition in order to get rid of bald spots on your dog s skin, legs, tail, belly etc. How to do easy, 10 minute weekly guinea pig health checks.
Hair loss in guinea pigs guinea lynx a medical and. My guinea pig is developing a bald spot by his hind leg. Jul 22, 2010 ringworm infection is a common infection in guinea pigs is. Mange is a common parasitic disease that affects the skin of guinea pigs. If your guinea pig has sores on its feet, discuss these possible causes with your vet. Common causes for feet stores include overweight guinea pigs, guinea pigs that sit a lot due to advanced age or arthritis. However, my guinea pigs have bald patches behind their ears which is genetic, it is completely hairless and quite normal, though ive never heard of it being anywhere else on the body in this case. Take your pig to the vet right away if you notice this behavior. Guinea pigs have four long teeth at the front that might occasionally become broken, and the molars at the back can sometimes become overgrown. A guinea pig will stretch out while yawning at the. 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. Bald patches on the front legs the guinea pig forum. Anterolateral leg alopecia refers to hair loss on your legs thats primarily. Skinny pigs typically have hair on their muzzles, feet, and legs, but are hairless over the remainder of their bodies.
I noticed she has been scratching the area a lot more than usual and will scratch her right side as well although that side has no balding. Many owners assume that guinea pigs lose their hair as they get older, but this isnt true. The ringworm infection is characterized by bald patches that commonly start at the head. A suggestion would be more toys and an indooroutdoor run as a change of scenery. Guinea pigs all have a bald spot behind each ear, this is normal. But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money.
Guinea pig hair loss how to identify and treat fungal and mite. She developed two bald spots on her back near her rear that are semetrical. Jul 21, 2010 hair loss due to barbering in guinea pigs. I did this and within two weeks he was back on his legs again. Aug 04, 2009 allot of guinea pigs begin to loose fur with old age, my cousin had a guinea pig when it was younger and when it was 4 it began to loose its fur and within a few weeks it went bald and died abut 34 weeks after, they took it to a vet and was told its old age, so just dont get to worried if it looses all of its fur. My dwarf hamster has a rather large bald spot above her left front leg. Young guinea pigs have hair that thins out when they wean as their hair changes from infant fur to adult fur. May 01, 2011 my guinea pig is developing a bald spot by his hind leg. Ringworm infection is a common infection in guinea pigs. Sore hocks, red swollen skin, and hair loss on the guinea pigs hind legs are usually seen in pigs kept in wire cages.
There are many reasons for hair loss to occur in guinea pigs. She has been eating, running on her wheel, and climbing. My guinea pig has bald patches too, so i am also trying to determine what it is. The hair stops really abruptly and ive had some friends ask if i tried to shave my legs or something. While fleas and their faeces, as well as lice and their eggs, are easy to spot on the skin and in the fur, mites can only be diagnosed under the microscope. For starters, providing your dog with omega3 fish nutritional supplements can make a significant difference in improving the coat of your dog. Answered by a verified veterinarian we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Guinea pigs do not require sleeping for a long periods as they are not nocturnal animals like hamsters. Ringworm commonly starts around the head area, unlike mites, which often presents as a v shape on the back. If they have any bald spots other places then they probably have some kind of mites or fungus, and you should take them to the vet. They certainly arent the most attractive breeds of guinea pigs, but they have similar personalities to the other 8 breeds. To treat ringworm in guinea pigs, start by taking your guinea pig to the vet for evaluation and treatment options. Irritation and itching may also be seen in infected guinea pigs.
May 04, 2017 hello, im worried about my guinea pig. Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian. Some guinea pigs might lose their fur in a clump during the substantial shedding period resulting in bald patches. Contrary to its name, this infection is not due to a parasitic worm, but to a microsporum species of fungus, typically the trichophyton mentagrophytes fungus, also clinically referred to as ringworm. Tonight, while doing a cage clean, i decided to inspect a spot on harrys butt that looked a little different. Sep 15, 2015 those bald patches and spots could signal the start of something serious. 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. I dont know what its from or how he got it, but its now getting a bit scabby and i have no clue what to do or how this happened. The skinny pig is an almost hairless breed of guinea pig. Scurvy a lack of vitamin c causes weak skin and can contribute to the formation of foot sores. Guinea pig behaviour all about guinea pigs guinea pig manual. Any loss of hair in guinea pigs that isnt behind the ears should be investigated.
Hi, i have two guinea pigs about a year, almost two years old, and one of them has a bald spot on his butt. This is an autoimmune disorder which causes patches of hair loss on the dogs body, neck, and head without itching. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about guinea pig patch. Oct 23, 2016 these guinea pigs originated in a lab guinea pig colony, where strains of shorthaired and hairless guinea pigs were crossbred. I noticed it at least a few days ago, but didnt think anything of it as the rest of him is fine, and hes been acting normal. All guinea pigs have bald spots behind their ears, it is completley natural and your piggy will be fine. The first time it happened we took him to the vet who gave him antibiotics and steroids but it didnt make any difference. She has a bald spot on the right side of her face near her chin, it isnt red but looks like may have a few black bumps on it. If a cat has hair loss and is scratching the area excessively, the itching problem should be investigated first. Alopecia areata more commonly affects the scalp in patches. Nov 04, 2014 many many cases of hairless guinea pigs come to the sanctuary where mites and fungal are a problem. This parasite can cause skin irritations and hair loss in large clumps on the back of the g uinea pigs. Constant sitting and walking on the wire irritates the animals hocks.
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