extreme hair loss in a young guinea pig

Question
QUESTION: We got a three week old guinea pig about three weeks ago, and today he started to shed alot of hair when you pet him. Should we be worried about mange or could it be diet?

ANSWER: it could be either depending one what the hair loss looks like, if the skin underneath appears broken or dry, or has large bald areas then it is probably mange, if however there is a general thinning but the skin underneath appears normal then it could be a lack of vitimin c. my advice would be to treat for both to be on the safe side, it is genrally a good idea to have medicine on hand for guinea pigs anyway,in yiur local pet shop they should have a mange spray and tea tree oil cream, use them as directed and also stat feeding your piggy high vitimin c veg.


best of luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We took the guinea pig to the vet yesterday, and he said it was vitamin c deficiency. He did get a shot.  Overnight he is almost crying, will not eat or drink, and is almost drooling.  He is all wet under his chin. What should we do? We are trying everything we possibly can.

Answer
paralasys (spelt wrong there) does occur from a lack of vit c. if it was what the vet said then all you can do is ride it out and hope he does, if and when he starts eating keep feeding him fresh veg and other high vit c. if there is no improvement after a full day then contact the vet straight away. it is probably just the shock of so much vit puming through his system but then agian it could e something more serious