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antipodi
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
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Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:19 am
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 Hair Loss Problems in Cavys
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Hair Loss problems in Cavys
Sometimes it can be distressing to see our little piggies showing hair loss , I have done some research on the net and here are some answers , but I warn you if hair loss seems servere contact your vet immediately..
NATURAL Hair Loss
BALD PATCHES BEHIND THE EARS
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 devastated to find that it has what appear to be a couple large, fur less areas behind the ears. This is nothing to be alarmed about , My beautiful Aby female has two pink spots just behind her ears and she is 100% healthy and besides it looks cute and does not affect her appearence..I gather from information I have recieved from breeders this is just a hereditary trait..
SHEDDING
It is common in Long haired guinea to shed more than short haired ones. It is always prudent to be wary that shedding may be one of the early signs of a parasite or fungal infection. 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.
Hint
Brushing daily with a metal comb can help remove some of the loose hair and lessen shedding.
MECHANICAL Hair Loss
Barbering: Although Piggies may have everything they want in the way of food with nothing lacking Piggies with impish ways may still decide to giver their mate a haircut (just for the fun of it). Unfortuneatly there is not alot can be done to curb this behaviour...The vet may have some sugestions but the best is to identify and isolate this naughty Piggie
Some Piggies even trim their own hair as a result of neusous..
War wounds and Abrasion..Some guinea pigs are great fighters, not lovers, and skirmishes may result in hunks of hair being yanked out of some unfortunate cavy's pelt by a more aggressive one. Some owners will try to let them work things out on their own, only separating them if one is severely being victimized. A very young child should always be supervised else they may try to pull out a cavy's hair.
EXTERNAL PARASITES
There are a number of different Parasites below is a description..
* Mange mites (microscopic): a very common problem for guinea pigs. They will loose hair, scratch excessively, and become increasingly sensitive to the touch. This can be life-threatening condition.
* Fur mites (just barely visible): little irritation but can result in some hair loss for "static lice" (species specific); much greater irritation for the kind referred to as "walking dandruff" (found on other species).
* Ear mites (can be seen with difficulty, covered with debris) "rabbit ear mites"
* Lice (visible): very common in guinea pigs.
* Treatments : Topical parasite treatments and pyrethrin shampoos. Many different brand names in Different countries a visit to the vet will give the approriate one you can then purchase..
FUNGUS
* Fungal infections (Dermatophytosis - "ringworm") is highly infectious , needs treatment from vet immediatly and can be trabsferred to other pets as well as humans.
SYSTEMIC Hair Loss
* Vitamin C deficiency : can be hard to identify, symptoms may suggest other illnesses and a deficiency may also compound other problems.
* Postpartum and Hormonal hair loss, usually bilaterally symmetric. Important to note that the stress of birth may lead to an outbreak of mites, this happened to one of our sows just after birth.
* Bacterial infection Cryptococcosis or staphylococcal dermatitis lesions and associated hair loss, usually occurring on the trunk
* Low protein diets (under 15% CP)
* Animals near weaning age Thinning of hair is frequently observed in young animals at time of weaning and is associated with the changeover from baby hair to adult fur
It may be prudent to look towards the environment they live in because it 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. Many Guinea pigs usually have bald spots inside the front legs, perhaps as a result of grooming, with the hair being continuously rubbed off by cleaning their faces and eventually failing to regrow. Baby guinea pigs will occasionally loose the hair from their noses when nursing. But it is always best to err on cautions way when severe loss occurs and a trip to the vet is necessary for the correct adice..self diagnosis and treatment is fraught with dangers and if you really love piggy make sure you give him/her the best chance...By seeking professional advice..
_________________
Antipodi
May one day man and Animals live together in harmony and peace
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curiousorange
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Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 40
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Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:52 am
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Hi there! A couple of eyars ago we had a pig at the rescue called Sammy, who had such bad fungal he was fitting because of the extent of the irritation. His skin was red raw and most of his hair had fallen out. We bathed him in Ringocide shampoo ( I think it's a horse shampoo, but ti works really well on guinea pigs!), then we Ivomeced him and oil soaked him, in special aromatherapy oils. His fitting stopped immediately ( thank goodness, it was one of the most horrible sights I've ever seen!) and his hair grew back over a few weaks. His skin calmed down and turned back to a healthy co,our very quickly. These skin problems are so common, but they are so easy to treat and fairly easy to prevent. It was so good to see Sammy good as new, and he soon found a new loving home! I'll post some pics.
Love Gem.xXx
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curiousorange
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Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 40
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Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:07 am
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One of Sammy's scabs:
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You can see how thin his hair is, and how he does not look a well boy! Notice how the fungul is around his eyes and his ears are red. He does not look his best here, but trust me, he is now a beautiful cream boy!
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Here he is having his special medicated bath!
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I don't have a success pic unfortunately, but believe me he looked a whole lot better and he was a beautiful piggy! This was a pretty bad case, but we've seen worse at the rescue! It is sad because the piggys are so uncomfortable, and it can get very painful and even kill guinea pigs if the fungal gets right into their system. It is best to look out for the signs posted at the top of this thead for early detection and treatment. This site has some good advice and treatments:
http://www.gorgeousguineas.co.uk/
Hooray for success story Sammy!
Love Gem.xXx 
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antipodi
Site Admin
Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 1141
Karma: +6 (6)
Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:16 am
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Thankyou for the info ..Dont Piggies look cute just after their bath ....In Australia we have a lot of hot days and i think this can also exaserbate skin problems ..the best we can do is put some fans in their hutch area and runthem day and night when this happens....
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Antipodi
May one day man and Animals live together in harmony and peace
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Juliemarie
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 56
Karma: 0 (0)
Location: Australia
Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:40 pm
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What good work you've done to get that little sweetie back to good health! Good on you!
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