skin issue

Question
I have noticed my guinea pig's fur has thinned on her "lower" back, she is doing some scratching and the skin is dry and flaky back there. I'm wondering if this could be a "bug", or skin disorder, etc. Please let me know if you have any knowledge on this.

Answer
Randa --

If the hair loss is in the shape of a "V" or if you notice small, black or white flecks against the skin, then it is likely that your guinea pig has mites.  If not, it could be some sort of skin disorder, or even just chewing (sometimes guinea pigs will chew their hair -- it's usually a sign of a worse condition.)  If it is mites, you can go to the pet store and purchase a powder designed to treat mites on kittens or birds.  Use this to treat the guinea pig's mites.  If not, you might want to have the animal checked by a vet to prevent the problem getting any worse or to check for a more serious condition.

Hope this information is helpful -- if you have any more questions or if you need clarification, please feel free to contact me.  Good luck!

Lorena