4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Sunshine]

We got two new baby guinea pigs today from a local farm shop. They are still small and seemed fine when we got them.

However when we were holding them at home they both seem to have dry skin and fur loss on their bellies(one much more than the other). They are eating, drinking, going to the toilet and seem fine. They do scratch more than our guinea pigs did.

We rang the place we got them from and they didn't reccomend going to the vets. She said that it could be they hay/sawdust irritating them or they arn't getting enough nutrients.The farm shop said they would take them back if we weren't happy but it doesn't sound like they will do anything about it so maybe they would be better with us.

 

So, does anyone have any suggestions about what to do? Should we put some sort of moiusturising cream on their bellies or treat them with something for mites/lice?

 

Thank you

 

Emma

[victoriabunny]

Sounds like mites to me - they can get them from hay, or if they are run down (doesn't sound like this farm took particularly good care of the poor things!) A trip to the vet is needed - the treatment is either powder or an injection depending on the type of mites.

[pacman]

Hi there,

 

Sorry to hear about your problem. Guinea pigs are quite sensitive souls and a change in environment can upset them a little initially. Skin problems which can be dormant become a problem when the animal gets stressed.....it happened to one of my pigs when i got him.

 

The fact that the skin is flaky indicates that it might be a fungal condition rather than mites.....best to take it to a vet. There is a company on-line where you can buy useful creams and shampoos, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to pass on their name (my fault, didn't read the forum rules properly!). When pigs get cold and damp their skin doesn't cope very well (nor does the pig!). If you run a search looking for gorgeous guinea pigs i think you might come up with something. They were really helpful with my little chap.

 

Hope I haven't done anything too naughty in giving you this hint. Hope your little squigglers are better soon.

[Sheilaz]

It's fine to offer advice & recommend helpful companies as long as you have no personal interest or monetary gain by mentioning them.

 

Advertising for self interest is not allowed, but it's OK to make suggestions otherwise.

 

I've learnt nearly everything I know on this forum, it's good to share useful info.

[Louisdog]

If it is mites you can buy 4 pipettes of Ivermectin specially for GPs from PAH for about £4

[pacman]

Phew, that ascertained the web site for the skin healing creams & shampoos is: www.gorgeousguineas.com.

 

They deliver by mail order and it's all natural products (no nasty Chemicals). They let me buy a sample size and it had Kevin's scab healed up in no time. I e-mailed them with a description of what was going on as I wasn't sure if it was parasitic or fungal and they recommended something.

 

According to the info on the web site I do think it sounds more fungal if the skin is flaky and the fur falling out, but that doesn't mean that they might not have parasites as well! Poor things.

 

It's recommended once healed that you shampoo your pig to keep their skin in tip top condition. Maybe once every 6 - 8 weeks. Don't forget to blow dry them afterwards if it's cold outside! My boys normally sulk for a while afterwards, but all is forgotten when the next round of veg appears!

 

Good luck, and give them a cuddle from me!

 

 

[cavysqueak]

I've had different types of dry skin on my guinea's in the past. Most of the time it was just a problem with mites, (treated with an insecticidal shampoo, repeated in 2 weeks). But I did have one problem which was associated with a nasty virus, so I would suggest going to the vets as other people have suggested just in case.

 

Other than that a variety of wet foods helps (a small amount of many different things) & keeping them out of drafts plus other normal stuff. If your pig scratches really badly I can try to explain the elastoplast 'boots' my mother invented for my almost bald pig (that was the nasty virus problem). He lived with them on his feet (changed for clean ones every so often, of cause!) for a few months & it allowed him to scratch without damaging the skin (which he often did when things were at their worst). Our vet was so impressed that he has even reommended the idea to another pig owner!

 

I hope their skin gets better soon.