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 ninjapig28 |
baffled by bald patch..... |
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Posts: 23 05/28/09 01:02 PM |
im quite baffled by a bald patch on my guinea pigs back. He hasnt shown any sign of infection and hes in a cage on his own (although i have other piggies) it seems fine, its not raised, itchy or growing. theres not broken hair around just no hair at all lol ive treated him for parasites and will treat for fungus but it doesnt seen like a problem. any thoughs? |
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PooksiedAnimals |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 4103 05/28/09 01:26 PM Moderator |
If he's living alone, that eliminates the possibility of another pig pulling the hair out. So either he's pulled it out himself, or something has
caused it to fall out. Can you post a picture of the bald area?
If he's pulling it out himself, something is bothering him. Usually if its in the middle of the back, it will be in a V shape. Most likely causes are dry skin or mites. When did you treat him for parasites, how long, and with what? Fungal infections tend to have dry flaky skin around the bald area. Hormonal imbalance can cause hair loss, but its usually only in sows, and tends to start at the sides, rather than the middle of the back. Cysts can cause hairloss, but usually you'd be able to see or feel a swelling in that area, or an open wound if it had burst. |
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ninjapig28 |
#2 | |||
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Posts: 23 05/28/09 06:17 PM |
hi pookied ill post a pick tomorrow when its light, its 12am and sam is snoozing. its a small patch, like the size of the end of a pencil. i've used neem
oil and spot on as well as anti bug shampoo (not at the same time though, over the last week)
whats confused me is just how normal it looks and how normal his behaviors been. there's been no scratching or barbering and im in most of the day. his patch is3 quarters down his back to the left. i've got a recipe for an anti fungal cocktail made from essential oils which ill try but i also got cream (recommended from guinea lynx) in case it is fungal. the patch looks just like the skin at the back of his ear so i'm thinking its either been something that's cleared up or hes injured himself and healed. his behavior is totally normal and he seems in his usual high spirits. ill keep you all updated :) |
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faeriechylde |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 71 05/30/09 02:17 PM |
You might want to have a vet test for mites. I have not had a pig with mites yet, but here on this board, I have more than once seen it posted that they
should be treated anyway, even if they aren't positive for them. The treatment won't hurt them, and the test for mites doesn't always come back
accurately.
Sarah |
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PooksiedAnimals |
#4 | |||
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Posts: 4103 05/30/09 02:34 PM Moderator |
Actually, you do not want the vet to test for mites. Testing for mites requires a skin scraping. They will literally scrape the guinea pig's skin until it
bleeds (I did this once, and will never have it done to my pigs again). And after all that pain? The test is likely to give a false negative result. It is much
less painful, for all involve, to just treat for the mange mites (either by a vet or by you) than to have it tested.
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ninjapig28 |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 23 06/01/09 07:39 AM |
 sorry for the late reply
This is the bald spot. It hasnt grown or changed. There has been no scratching or biting at all, he's just his usual cheeky self. Ive treated his for bugs already so that base is covered. Ive put a bit of anti fungal cream on it (wont hurt) and got an essential oil cocktail for skin issues made so ill give that a go too. my other pigs are fine but ill give them a rub down too just in case. Ill keep an eye on him but i doubt that its anything nasty and if it was there long gone lol |
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ninjapig28 |
bigger pic | #6 | ||
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Posts: 23 06/01/09 07:41 AM |
a bigger pic
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PooksiedAnimals |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 4103 06/01/09 09:52 AM Moderator |
I can't quite tell from the picture. The shape of it, and the way the fur is around it looks like the fur was pulled right out. It looks like a bite mark,
or the hairloss associated with a bite. I think ringworm would be scalier, but I have not seen that first-hand. The mark in the middle makes me wonder if he
had a cysts and it burst, and healed, but the fur hasn't grown back yet?
Very puzzling! |
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faeriechylde |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 71 06/04/09 08:38 PM |
Wow, I didn't know the skin test was that bad. I must correct myself then - the skin test was not done to Charlie when he went in, it was something else
she did. I'll never allow a vet to do that to one of my pigs, now that you tell me that. No pig here has had to go through that, and I don't plan to
allow it. Thank you for telling me that.
Sarah |
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PooksiedAnimals |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 4103 06/04/09 09:06 PM Moderator |
faeriechylde - perhaps your pig was tested for ringworm? A few hairs are pulled from the infected area and cultured (for up to two weeks to get test results).
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ninjapig28 |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 23 06/05/09 08:24 AM |
I dont think its ring worm, my family is full of medical folk and im sure its not that. im more inclined to go with the cyst or injury idea. Ive treated him
for everything under the sun. His behavior is absolutly fine and hes as happy as ever. Although i dont think ill now ever let him get a skin scrapping if its
that nasty.
Ive just had a little look at it again and it seems the same, its very smooth, like skin thats recovering from something like a wound and the hair isnt back yet. Theres no scratching at all and its a nice healthy colour. Ill keep an eye of it but if theres not change over the next few days i might pop into the vets |
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faeriechylde |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 71 06/09/09 09:07 PM |
Going to the vet is the safe idea. Certainly it won't do any harm. You'll then know for sure if you should be worried or not. If he is looking and
behaving as normally as you say, then it's probably nothing to be worried over. However, I can't say that for sure, but a vet could. You'll have
to decide if you think it's necessary or not. I'd say do it anyway, to be safe.
Sarah |
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ninjapig28 |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 23 06/18/09 04:23 PM |
well i had to go to the vet as he had symptoms of a uti. weird thing is its only lasted 2 days and hes going for an x ray to check its not more serious. he had
an abscess out last year and hes got utis every few months since, very frustrating. the vet said the bald spot looks like a would healing
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ninjapig28 |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 23 06/24/09 08:24 PM |
vet gave him the all clear so the mystery continues. there isn't any hair on the bald patch yet, the vet is waiting to see how it goes..
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