However, not all seniors are ideal surgical patients and, of course, seniors are usually the ones with this issue. The excess androgens make the hair thin, hence alopecia, female pattern hair loss. ', The Importance of Vitamin C for Guinea Pigs. However, it can affect other areas of the body less frequently, including legs, and flanks of the abdomen. Always check on your guinea pig to read any abnormal or new signs that appear to solve the problem. The incidence of this zoonosis has now increased in guinea pig owners (14). Also, it can apply to the bloodstream leading to the death of a guinea pig. Surgical treatment is by ovariohysterectomy and is the treatment of choice. There is no itching of the skin in this condition. Besides, you can give biotin to the animal since it helps hair growth; also, removing the ovarian cysts can cure the female guinea pigs condition. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies When weight loss occurs in guinea pigs and loss of appetite is a sign of lobbying, you should take action to avoid worsening the condition. 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. Kids can be especially susceptible. The animal may remain asymptomatic without significant pruritus. Changing the guinea pig diet is also advisable.
The vet will likely diagnose the guinea pig based on symptoms alone (itching, hair loss, skin irritation, etc.). These mites burrow into the skin, creating epidermal tunnels and eliciting a cell-mediated immune response that causes itching (8). Malocclusion is at times also a generic disorder. There are natural ways of treating the condition; guinea pigs should take zinc supplements, which may help prevent hair loss. Trixacarus caviae is the most common mite found in guinea pigs, being reported mainly in males and juveniles (1,3). Daily brushing with a metal greyhound comb will help remove some of the loose hair and lessen shedding. It includes mites that arerarely seen by bare eyes but with a microscope. 
It allows it to wear its teeth naturally hence controlling the problem of drooling. Ovarian cysts are a common finding in middle-aged to older guinea pigs. Its easy to treat parasitic infections at home, but you have to seek veterinary advice when the condition persists. Copyright 2022 mypetguineapig.com. Careers, Dr. Venturo is a private practice veterinarian in Lima, Peru who has special interest in veterinary dermatology and is a member of the CAVD. This condition is more prone to dominating guinea pigs because their greasy glands are very busy. This condition now leads to pododermatitis. 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. These lice feed on skin debris, being found mainly on the neck, ears, and ventral abdomen. Hi there! 
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). A guinea pig with this condition pulls out its hair or other guinea pigs are responsible for such misconduct. It affects all guinea pigs associated with the dead tissues, and the secondary bacterial infection affects the borns. Long haired guinea pigs tend to shed more than short haired ones. Barbering can also be triggered by pain or discomfort (gas, bloat, or other discomfort). Its a skin inflammation condition that is always associated with a lot of pain. Please spread the love and share this with your friends!Every little bit helps. 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. You can apply It through open wounds and scars on the skin of a guinea pig. It turned out to be Cushings disease. The male guinea pigs also use the scent produced from the greasy glands to attract the sows. 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. They are more sensitive to antibiotics to other pets, making them more delicate to prescribe drugs. When the condition continues even after pregnancy, then the owner should seek advice from the vet. 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. Always pay a visit to your exotic vet if hair loss persists or you cant identify the root cause. While these are the most common causes of hair loss in guinea pigs, other potentially serious diseases can produce similar symptoms. Guinea pigs. Self Barbering: Other pigs (like the two pictured here) barber themselves. For guinea pigs, grease glands come up during the puberty stage and are more prone to male guinea pigs. This species is native to South America and was domesticated thousands of years ago as a source of meat. 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. 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. 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). Use of this article is limited to a single copy for personal study. You can control this condition by reducing stress in the places where a guinea pig lives. You can find that the pig is born with one fat leg leading to this condition. Wounds can develop during the fighting, which causes hair loss in guinea pigs. The hair loss is caused by hormones out of wack, so these guinea pigs might act like they are in heat 24/7, rather than the normal day or two every two weeks. If you notice bald spots on your guinea pigs fur, that is an obvious sign of hair loss that is usually easy to treat. Treatment options include subcutaneous ivermectin 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg BW, q10d for 3 treatments; or, single topical application of 0.05 mL of moxidectin 1% and imidacloprid 10% (5,15,17). Ovarian Cysts: Hormonal changes in sows that develop ovarian cysts can cause hair loss, usually appearing first on the sides. Tumors have occasionally been found internally in the barbered location. This disorder has a reported prevalence of 76% in female guinea pigs aged 1.5 to 5 y (12). When a guinea pig has a parasitic infection, it cant spread to other animals handling it like human beings. In most cases, both ovaries are affected, although unilateral cases are also seen with the right ovary being more commonly affected (18). Those bald areas also lack sebaceous glands, which leads to hair loss. A condition called bumblefoot is related to this and common in pigs housed with carpet surfaces, wet or urinated covers. The cysts can be up to 10 cm in size and tender on palpation. Oophorectomy is not recommended because ovarian cysts are associated with multiple uterine diseases (6). In some cases, they are associated with concurrent cystic endometrial hyperplasia, mucometra, endometritis, and fibroleiomyoma (5). Some owners will try to let them work things out on their own, only separating them if one is severely being victimized. Medicated baths are always preferred to treat the disease. 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. Therefore, in this article, we will present the ten common causes of guinea pig hair loss. As treatment, topical products containing chlorhexidine, miconazole, enilconazole or systemic pharmacotherapy such as terbinafine 20 mg/kg BW, PO, q24h, and itraconazole 5 mg/kg BW, PO, q24h are effective in guinea pigs affected with dermatophytosis (5,7). 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. They can cause extreme itching, dandruff, skin irritation and scabs, and even seizures. Alopecia may appear as focal lesions, multifocal lesions, and as large areas of total or partial hair loss. My name is Tim Rhodes and I'm a guinea pig enthusiast through thick and thin. Do Guinea Pigs Need Exercise Wheels and Balls? That is by providing enough space in the cage, especially for hiding, and also maintain hygiene. The abscess sometimes is a symptom of other problems. Totally normal. Guinea pig. Although they may have all the hay they want, no lack of nutrients, and ample space to move about, some guinea pigs are bound and determined to chew on the hair of their cage mates. Its life cycle is about 14 to 21 d. Clinical signs of infestation are variable, with pruritus and rough fur being common symptoms. (VetPath). 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. Ovarian cysts can affect up to 5 years old female guinea pigs; it always affects both ovaries through the ovary is commonly affected. The owner should note that bathing guinea pigs cannot fully cure the condition. Guinea pigs barber each other to assert dominance in the cage, especially the older ones; stress can also cause barbering in guinea pigs. Established in 1986, the CAVD is a not-for-profit organization for veterinarians, veterinary technicians and technologists, and students with an interest in veterinary dermatology. 
Important information to be collected (46): Guinea pigs are docile, which makes their inspection easy. Health problems in guinea pigs cause a lot of stress to the animal, leading to its death. 
Guinea pig dental problems are the primary cause of drooling, the front teeth can look okay, but the back teeth are the ones with the situation. 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. Its a condition where the hair below the jaw and neck is ever wet due to a guinea pigs dripping saliva. The same dose is subsequently administered orally. Enough space at the cage gives guinea pigs freedom of exercise, therefore, reduce the chances of obesity, that is, excess weight. Cleaning and sanitizing the guinea pigs cage, accessories, and environment is essential to prevent ringworm from spreading. The life cycle of C. caviae is approximately 14 d. As clinical signs, guinea pigs present erythema, rough hair coat, pruritus, alopecia, scaling, and ulcers, although some patients may remain asymptomatic for long periods of time (16). The itchiness for fungal infections is not intense as that of mange mite infection. Donnelly TM. Moderate to severe itching may be present or absent. Check the bald areas for lumps, swelling, or signs of tenderness below. Radiographs are useful in revealing alterations in the costochondral junctions and widening of the epiphyses of the long bones. 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. The bald spots are hairless areas, and they are widespread in albino guinea pigs. The new PMC design is here! 
This diseases symptoms are usually more pronounced on the legs, so the owner should keep an eye on the feet. 
Diagnostic tests for diagnosis of alopecia in guinea pigs. There are many causes for guinea pig hair loss and bald patches. 
A yucky cream discharge can help in noticing a greasy gland produced at the rump. The owner should also note that bathing guinea pigs with mange mite infection cannot treat the condition but causes more irritation on the skin, and he/she should visit the vet before it worsens. Its primary symptom is itching on the skin, which causes wounds, making the owner think that the animals were fighting. Riggs SM. It also causes seizures and dandruff on the skin and can lead to hair loss in guinea pigs. The animal should not sleep on a wired surface; litter and wet grounds affect a guinea pigs skin. These species-specific uninvited guests usually come from direct contact with another guinea pig that already has mites. Visit your guinea pigs vet regularly for checkups, especially as soon as you notice that something is unusual with your pet. When guinea pigs are severely sick, you should isolate them and monitor them closely. It is advisable to check the molar and premolar growth lengths to prevent this condition because it causes itching around the wet areas, leading to hair loss. My mission is to teach others useful tips and tricks about these cute creatures. Ivermectin does NOT kill the eggs of lice or mites, so the treatment must be repeated at least once about a week later. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Annual membership fees are: $50 for regular members and free for students. Check out these most popular guinea pig products on the market: Last update on 2022-08-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. "These Bald spots are referred to as "the hairless areas" (Curtis sine pilis) and are usually about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter. Kids are always susceptible to infection. Majorly associated with the animals environment are the cage, hard surfaces, and beddings. National Library of Medicine Due to stress on the infected animal, animals can fight, increasing the chances of spreading the infection among the animals. Hence making the dental operation strenuous due to the small space in the mouth. [Best Music to Play For Them], Can Guinea Pigs Eat Honeydew? To get the best service, choose the store closest to you. The owner is advised to feed guinea pigs with fresh green vegetables daily to prevent scurvy conditions. 
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. Besides, you have to consider their diet; there should be no vitamin c deficiency. (Reprinted from "Anatomy of a Guinea Pig, Cooper & Schiller 1975). Use of a formulation containing imidacloprid and moxidectin in the treatment of lice infestation in guinea pigs. 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). A female guinea pig with a hormonal imbalance should take the supplement for about eight weeks. Hair loss in guinea pigs can be scary. When the hair is lost due to this disorder, its hard to recover the lost hair, but new hair can grow with some treatment.
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