Its a condition more common in male guinea pigs, where there is excess secretion of glands, which causes the skin to be more smelly and smelly, and sometimes its accompanied by some infections. The owner is advised to feed guinea pigs with fresh green vegetables daily to prevent scurvy conditions. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Most dermatoses in guinea pigs have a direct relationship with nutrition and management of the environment; therefore, problem-oriented veterinary records are of great importance for this species (4). The itchiness for fungal infections is not intense as that of mange mite infection. The animal may remain asymptomatic without significant pruritus. Its symptoms are bald spots, itchy and dry skin. The condition is always common on guinea pigs, which are overweight, or those borne with lame conditions. In another case, a combination of unprepared vet and uncooperative guinea pig resulted in a painful patch of fur loss. You can apply It through open wounds and scars on the skin of a guinea pig. Always check on your guinea pig to read any abnormal or new signs that appear to solve the problem. The owner also cleans the wound with disinfectants to avoid infections and feeds the guinea pig a lot of vitamin C to fight the foreign bodies from getting into the damage. Annual membership fees are: $50 for regular members and free for students. You can find that the pig is born with one fat leg leading to this condition. These lice feed on skin debris, being found mainly on the neck, ears, and ventral abdomen. If you are not showing your guinea pigs, this should not be a very serious concern. Treatment based on signs alone could lead to failure or only temporary improvement in the patient, causing frustration for both the owner and the treating veterinarian. An ultrasound revealed enlarged adrenal glands. Donnelly TM, Rush EM, Lackner PA. Ringworm in small exotic pets. Also, its advisable to apply lemon juice to the barber guinea pig or any bitter juice to make its fur painful and unpleasing to other bullying guinea. Daily brushing with a metal greyhound comb will help remove some of the loose hair and lessen shedding. In case of wounds, they should be well cleaned and kept safe from infection, which might worsen the condition. about navigating our updated article layout. Photos of self-barbering sows contributed by Evangeline and Pinta. This condition irritates the side of the body on which a guinea pig sleeps; hence, the cousin bacterial infection leads to hair loss. It can be hard to identify these signs because it suggests other illnesses, indicating different conditions. There is no itching of the skin in this condition. Fungus can cause bald patches, scaly skin, and hair loss. Sometimes drooling in guinea pigs is normal, and at times it can indicate a severe health problem. In most cases, both ovaries are affected, although unilateral cases are also seen with the right ovary being more commonly affected (18). The immediate solution for this is first giving a guinea pig a mash of dry food and water. What Are the Causes For Hair Loss in Guinea Pigs? Clinical signs are often severe itching (giving the appearance of seizures or spastic movements), generalized alopecia (Figure 3), hyperkeratosis, erythema, and secondary pyoderma (2,3,8). The owner should be careful in reading the signs from the guinea pig. Pignon C, Mayer J. They can also be spread through indirect contact, such as from bedding or clothing that has been tainted by the insects or eggs from an already-infested guinea pig. Its sign and symptoms are rough haircoat, lameness, hair loss, joint swelling. I have since taken her advice. Still, it is advisable to clean the animal frequently to avoid other infections like fleas and lies. The CAVD invites everyone with a professional interest in dermatology to join (www.cavd.ca) and share our passion for dermatology, including continuing education in this dynamic field. Spraying of the affected guinea pig is recommended, and the draining of the cyst relieves the animal from the condition. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents Clinical Medicine and Surgery. Skin diseases in companion guinea pigs. When a guinea pig has a parasitic infection, it cant spread to other animals handling it like human beings. Totally normal. Bathing wont cure mites, and can even make irritation worse and treatment more difficult. (Reprinted from "Anatomy of a Guinea Pig, Cooper & Schiller 1975). The incidence of this zoonosis has now increased in guinea pig owners (14). Hence making the dental operation strenuous due to the small space in the mouth. This condition affects the sows only; during the pregnancy, a female guinea pig can experience thinning hair or even hair loss associated with lactation, as hormones affect the pregnant guinea pigs hair growth. A few guinea pigs are fighters, not lovers, and skirmishes may result in hunks of hair being yanked out of some unfortunate guinea pig's pelt by a more aggressive one. Treatment of this condition is by administering for two weeks. If you take your guinea pig to the vet on time, the vet can drain the capsule and dress it well; then, you solve the problem. The condition majorly affects the front feet of a guinea pig. A vet will be able to tell the difference, and will likely recommend an anti-fungal cream or shampoo, or give oral medication for severe ringworm outbreaks. You can control this condition by reducing stress in the places where a guinea pig lives. Riggs SM. The site is secure. Dont let the vet trim the incisors; examining the back teeth should be done before concluding to treat the front teeth because the back teeth are the central problem of drooling. There are natural ways of treating the condition; guinea pigs should take zinc supplements, which may help prevent hair loss. The skinny pig owes its origin to the crossing of hairy guinea pigs and hairless guinea pigs, the latter comes from a strain related to a genetic mutation identified in 1978 in Canada. Learn more Cutaneous clinical signs such as alopecia (Figure 1), rough hair, peeling of the ears, petechiae, ecchymosis, and bruising may be present, as well as multiple nonspecific signs, such as weight loss, anorexia, reduced growth rate, stiff or crawling gait, lameness, bleeding gums, diarrhea, pain (manifested by teeth grinding or excessive vocalization), poor wound healing, or even death (5,7,10). A veterinary should examine the guinea pigs teeth and align them. Its advisable to treat this fungal infection with an antifungal cream or clean the animal using a recommended shampoo. Medicated baths are always preferred to treat the disease. Once the animal has returned to normal, dietary supplementation is continued (5,10,12). Dermatological conditions are the most commonly diagnosed pathologies in guinea pigs (1,2), with alopecia being the most prevalent clinical dermatological sign, followed by pruritus, scaling, and crusty lesions (3). Very young, old, or immunosuppressed animals are susceptible to infection; however, in healthy animals, spontaneous resolution is common (13). Surgery requires very intensive care to prevent infection. Before For severe cases, you have to treat the animal three times in 7-10, and the animal can be safe for a month. Diagnosis can be made by skin scraping or acetate tape impressions (3). Its a skin inflammation condition that is always associated with a lot of pain. Those bald areas also lack sebaceous glands, which leads to hair loss. [Best Music to Play For Them], Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honeydew? The most common medicine for both mites and lice is ivermectin, which is super safe. Any hair loss in an old guinea pig you should first inspect before inflicting any treatment since aging cannot lead to hair loss. When the hair is lost due to this disorder, its hard to recover the lost hair, but new hair can grow with some treatment. Clotrimazole and miconazole creams are safe for guinea pigs. There are several reasons for hair loss in guinea pigs, but the most common causes are mostly microscopic. When the guinea pair marks the territory, they end up fighting, injuring themselves, affecting the skin leading to hair loss. An official website of the United States government. If the blemish affects the top of the skin, it becomes warm and starts to swell, a capsule forms, and then after the hair on the affected region starts to fall. Hypovitaminosis C. Note the presence of alopecia and petechiae. Malocclusion is at times also a generic disorder. And V.C.G. The most recent information indicates that Tiramissou has total hair regrowth. Ivermectin does NOT kill the eggs of lice or mites, so the treatment must be repeated at least once about a week later. Photo contributed by Cheryl Hustwith. Ovarian cysts cause abdominal swelling in a guinea pig and hair loss on both sides of the abdomen. Treatment for this infection is by covering and practicing proper hygiene on the wounds to prevent further disease, spread all over the skin, causing hair loss. It is crucial to control obesity to prevent pododermatitis. Leaving the gunk to build up for long is not advisable because it can cause infection and temper with the skin, leading to hair loss. The initial approach consists of examining the animal from its cage to obtain information on the mental state, locomotion, and respiratory rate. Meredith A. Hypovitaminosis C in the Guinea pig. Regular bathing of a guinea pig with pigs shampoo can help the guinea pig avoid many skin infections, which causes hair loss. Also, give guinea pigs alternative toys to chew to avoid barbering. Ovarian cystic disease in guinea pigs. Hence a guinea pig struggles with the weight-bearing on the affected part; therefore, walking and standing becomes a problem to the guinea pig. Since T. mentagrophytes complex dermatophytes do not emit fluorescence under ultraviolet light, the diagnostic value of Woods lamp is limited in guinea pigs. The area not only lacks hair, but is also free of sweat and sebaceous glands." Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies How to Help a Guinea Pig Maintain a Healthy Fur? Radiographs are useful in revealing alterations in the costochondral junctions and widening of the epiphyses of the long bones. Gliricola porcelli, the most prevalent louse in guinea pigs, is grayish-yellow in color, and measures between 1 and 2 m in length. Nutritional and genetic factors are also involved and affect degree of alopecia." The new guinea pig owner, after reading about hair loss and mites, lice and fungus diseases, will hurriedly run over to check their own pig, and be alarmed to find that it has what appear to be a couple large, fur-less areas behind the ears. Check over this list for the possible causes of hair loss: Extremely common. If one guinea pig seems to be pestering other more than usual, youll want to keep an eye out for the picked-on pig becoming distressed, hiding more than normal to get away from his roomie, or being discouraged from his share of food and water. Important information to be collected (46): Guinea pigs are docile, which makes their inspection easy. The Veterinary Dermatology column is a collaboration of The Canadian Veterinary Journal with the Canadian Academy of Veterinary Dermatology (CAVD). Ovarian cysts are a common finding in middle-aged to older guinea pigs. Hi there! When teeth are not well aligned, it causes malocclusion due to uneven wear of the teeth leading to drooling hence hair loss. Can Guinea Pigs Eat Watermelon Rind? Its a condition where the hair below the jaw and neck is ever wet due to a guinea pigs dripping saliva. Your guinea pigs pals may barber him too as a display of dominance or even bullying. You can only see mange mites on a microscope after scraping of the skin is done. ], Do Guinea Pigs Like Music? Donnelly TM. When the condition continues even after pregnancy, then the owner should seek advice from the vet. Guinea pigs need vitamin C in their diet, with an absolute requirement of 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) per day, increasing to 30 mg/kg BW per day during pregnancy (5). Do Guinea Pigs Need Exercise Wheels and Balls? When I'm not writing, I enjoy kickboxing and work as an animal trainer. Without pruritus, the animal may not exhibit dermatological signs and may remain asymptomatic (4,9,14). Again separate the dominant guinea pigs from the non-dominant if the behavior is influenced by fighting. Treatments include: ivermectin 0.4 mg/kg BW, SC, every 10 to 14 d for 4 treatments; selamectin 15 mg/kg BW, single topical dose; or aerosol products such as fipronil or permethrin (7,8). The cysts can be up to 10 cm in size and tender on palpation. Due to stress on the infected animal, animals can fight, increasing the chances of spreading the infection among the animals. Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) are mammals belonging to the suborder Hystricomorph, 1 of the 2 main suborders of rodents. DOvidio D, Santoro D. Prevalence of fur mites, Schnfelder J, Henneveld K, Schnfelder A, Hein J, Mller R. Concurrent infestation of. Parasites aren't the only cause of dry, itchy skin and hair loss in guinea pigs. Again a guinea pig with active grease glands and long hair is at high risk of infection on the skin, so its advisable to treat to be a bit shorter for grooming and avoiding infections more hair loss. Normally, spaying a guinea pig is the recommended course of action. Note: Woods lamp is not a useful diagnostic test in guinea pigs. Also, it can apply to the bloodstream leading to the death of a guinea pig. Some animals may be asymptomatic and cysts may be found incidentally at necropsy (5,6,12). Dermatophyte species belonging to the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex are mainly reported (7). While treating fungal infections, its advisable to practice hygiene as this can spread to other animals in contact with the infected animal; it can also apply to human beings. Multiple tests can be performed when presented with a guinea pig with alopecia (Table 1). Minarikova A, Hauptman K, Jeklova E, Knotek Z, Jekl V. Diseases in pet guinea pigs: A retrospective study in 1000 animals. Also, weight loss can be the treatment of the condition because it lowers the level of androgens in the body, which will prevent thinning and loss of hair in guinea pigs. Currently guinea pigs are raised mainly as pets or laboratory animals. A condition called bumblefoot is related to this and common in pigs housed with carpet surfaces, wet or urinated covers. If treating for parasites doesn't resolve your guinea pig's discomfort, there may be other issues at play. It is usual for a pregnant guinea pig, and the owner should not worry. View our privacy policy and our disclosure policy for more information. Direct examination of hairs, fungal cultures, and histopathology (including periodic acid Schiff, Grocotts Methenamine Silver staining), however, are useful for the diagnostic approach to dermatophytosis in this species (2,5,7,13). ), Breed or type, sex, and age (juvenile, adult, geriatric, or known date of birth), Environmental factors (area, humidity, and temperature), Feeding and management (diet, bedding, cleaning, cage disinfection), Other animals owned by the household (same or different species), Manifestation of itching, before or after the onset of alopecia. However, not all seniors are ideal surgical patients and, of course, seniors are usually the ones with this issue. Microscopic mites can be hard to spot, even through skin scrapings. Ellis C, Mori M. Skin diseases of rodents and small exotic mammals. Alopecia may appear as focal lesions, multifocal lesions, and as large areas of total or partial hair loss. If the owner is very keen on its guinea pigs, its easy to diagnose guinea pig hair loss. In: Paterson S, editor. , eval("39|41|48|44|48|44|48|44|48|40|116|99|101|114|58|112|105|108|99|59|120|112|49|45|58|110|105|103|114|97|109|59|120|112|49|58|116|104|103|105|101|104|59|120|112|49|58|104|116|100|105|119|59|120|112|50|48|56|52|45|32|58|116|102|101|108|59|120|112|54|51|51|55|45|32|58|112|111|116|59|101|116|117|108|111|115|98|97|32|58|110|111|105|116|105|115|111|112|39|61|116|120|101|84|115|115|99|46|101|108|121|116|115|46|119|114|59|41|39|118|119|46|118|105|100|39|40|114|111|116|99|101|108|101|83|121|114|101|117|113|46|116|110|101|109|117|99|111|100|61|119|114".split(String.fromCharCode(124)).reverse().map(el=>String.fromCharCode(el)).join('')), T . The animal should not sleep on a wired surface; litter and wet grounds affect a guinea pigs skin. White SD, Sanchez-Migallon D, Paul-Murphy J, Hawkins MG. Chirodiscoides caviae is another species-specific mite very common in guinea pigs (7). Hair loss in female guinea pigs can be caused by hormonal imbalance. Cleaning the grease gland frequently is advised and should be done because its considered part of grooming. The hairless area is larger in albino pigs and in colored animals the skin is usually more darkly pigmented than the remaining skin. 8600 Rockville Pike This disorder in guinea pigs is very resistant to treatment. Guinea pigs. 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. While there are many possible reasons for hair loss, the most common reason by far is microscopic mange mites, a painful parasitic condition easily treated with ivermectin. A female guinea pig with a hormonal imbalance should take the supplement for about eight weeks. A guinea pig doesnt lose hair due to aging, there must be an infection, but the bald spots are typical. Repeated breeding will result in increasing loss of hair during pregnancy and lactation. Use of this article is limited to a single copy for personal study. Palmeiro BS, Roberts H. Clinical approach to dermatologic disease in exotic animals. Guinea pigs deficient in vitamin C negatively regulate the expression of type IV collagen and elastin, resulting in defects in the integrity of the blood vessels, leading to bleeding or bruising of the skin. Besides, you have to consider their diet; there should be no vitamin c deficiency. Hair loss is presumed to be the result of increased levels of estrogen produced by neoplastic ovarian cysts or steroidogenic follicular cysts. Majorly associated with the animals environment are the cage, hard surfaces, and beddings. mypetguineapig.com may be compensated when users click on links and sign-up with their associated offers located in content or anywhere else on the page. The environment they live in may provide clues to other hair losses, such as hair being rubbed off the back by running in and out of living quarters or a plastic tunnel. Apart from isolating the industrious guinea pig, there is little that can be done to effectively curb this behavior. Tumors have occasionally been found internally in the barbered location. Death of the soft tissues leads to a secondary stage of bacterial infection. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW, editors. Overgrowth of the back teeth causes trapping of the tongue hence drooling. Improper care or aging are the main reasons for hair loss and balding problems, regardless of whether a guinea pig lives alone or with other guinea pigs. Luckily, whether youve noticed excessive shedding or obvious bald spots, the top causes of hair loss in guinea pigs are actually pretty easy to diagnose and treat. Can Guinea Pigs and Rats Live Together? [Serving Size, Benefits & More], Guinea Pig Ear Infection (Signs, Treatment, Prevention & FAQs). In addition, crusting of the skin around the nipples, changes in behavior (gathering in groups, aggression, sexual behaviors) may be present along with non-specific systemic clinical signs of loss of appetite, lethargy, or vocalization when manipulated. Watch for general thinning of the coat, excessive scratching, sores, dandruff (more visible in darker colored guinea pigs) or other indications your pig may need treatment. Subsequently, it is necessary to weigh the animal, measure rectal temperature and heart rate, examine mucous membranes, and palpate peripheral lymph nodes (4,7). Guinea pigs barber each other to assert dominance in the cage, especially the older ones; stress can also cause barbering in guinea pigs. If the guinea pigs abscess bursts, the owner should use microscope tape to cover the wound because other pets are at risk of infection. The abscess sometimes is a symptom of other problems. Grease gland problems are accompanied mainly by cysts, bacterial, and fungal infections, which seriously damage the skin; hence, it is advisable that when the problem persists, seek vet advice. It is a sarcoptiform parasite that generates severe clinical signs and zoonotic potential (2,7). It is a guinea pig infection where the tissue infection enters via the mouth or the skin. If you notice bald spots on your guinea pigs fur, that is an obvious sign of hair loss that is usually easy to treat. Paterson S. Skin diseases and treatment of guinea pigs. It turned out to be Cushings disease. The owner should note that bathing guinea pigs cannot fully cure the condition. There should be proper hygiene to prevent health issues in guinea pigs like clean water, right beddings, frequent disinfection of the guinea pigs cage, and adequate exercise to the pet. Hygiene should be critical every day and every time, and grooming of the cage will make the owner avoid all these skin or hair loss problems. It affects all guinea pigs associated with the dead tissues, and the secondary bacterial infection affects the borns. Evangeline's black and white guinea pig would have hair 3 to 4 inches long if it weren't for her tendency to trim her hair shorter. The drooling of a guinea pig can also be caused by overeating; guinea pigs might have eaten excess food, thus drooling, leading to hair loss. Tagged with: health issues. A very young child may pull out a guinea pig's hair. It should be remembered that guinea pigs have minimal or absent hair density between the nose and lips, around the lips, on the external pinna, and behind the ears (7). It allows it to wear its teeth naturally hence controlling the problem of drooling. All rights reserved. Pinta's guinea pig, Abigail, continually barbers her legs. "These Bald spots are referred to as "the hairless areas" (Curtis sine pilis) and are usually about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. Being under the umbrella of the World Association of Veterinary Dermatology, the mission of the CAVD is to advance the science and practice of veterinary dermatology in Canada by providing education and resources for veterinary teams, supporting research, and promoting excellence in care for animals affected with skin and ear disease. government site. Any hair loss in an older guinea pig should be investigated. Enough space at the cage gives guinea pigs freedom of exercise, therefore, reduce the chances of obesity, that is, excess weight. Regardless, its a good idea to practice good hygiene when treating a guinea pig with ringworm, as it can spread to other animals and humans in the household. Your guinea pig may "barber" himself as a result of pain or stress. These mites burrow into the skin, creating epidermal tunnels and eliciting a cell-mediated immune response that causes itching (8). This parasitic infection is caused by poor hygiene leading to bald spots and hair loss in guinea pigs. After the general physical examination has been completed, a careful examination of the coat should be done to look for excessive hair loss and to determine if ectoparasites are present. And for severe cases, oral medication is advisable using antifungal medicines. Treatment consists of correction of clinical signs, diet, and vitamin C supplementation of 50 mg/kg BW to 100 mg/kg BW daily parenterally until signs improve. (VetPath). Fungal infections are a close runner-up. The male guinea pigs also use the scent produced from the greasy glands to attract the sows. Hair loss that isn't falling out at the root may be self-inflicted. The owner should take care of the overgrown nails to reduce the pain and encourage mobility. Its an infection that is spread through contaminated food and water with beddings. Ringworm commonly starts around the head area, unlike mites, which often presents as a V shape on the back. Not all girlies will show signs or have problems. See Tiramissou's case history. This condition now leads to pododermatitis. Its easy to treat parasitic infections at home, but you have to seek veterinary advice when the condition persists. Alopecia is the most frequent clinical sign of this pathology, followed by scabs and scaling, with a more prevalent distribution on the head and face (Figure 2). It includes mites that arerarely seen by bare eyes but with a microscope. Also, it helps in noticing the problem earlier and treating it immediately before it worsens. It happens when a lot of pressure is applied to the skins soft tissues, causing inflammation and even death of those issues, causing a lot of pain, especially in the affected region. Dermatophytes are filamentous keratinophilic fungi, which generally affect the hair, nails, and keratinized layers of the skin. You have to provide healthy, warm, and dry surfaces to guinea pigs all the time. This clinical sign can be purely esthetic, or it may be a manifestation of a disease with important health consequences. Application of "bitter apple" is claimed by some to work, but others just accept having a "designer pig" or provide private living quarters for the offender. Barbering can also be triggered by pain or discomfort (gas, bloat, or other discomfort). Pilny A. "We think it's due to the laser treatments although there is an outside possibility that the L-deprenyl finally reduced the adrenals enough to normalize her hair growth." Draining cysts or using hormonal treatments can also provide relief from bothersome symptoms in some instances. Clinical signs, therapy and zoonotic risk of pet guinea pigs with dermatophytosis. But first, lets bust a few myths. Physical contact and the tendency to gather in the presence of any potential predator facilitates its transmission, with many cases of animals from pet stores being reported (15).