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Guinea Pigs & Health Problems - Hair Loss And Skin Rashes

26 11:02:09

Hair Loss/Skin Rashes

Loss of hair, dry scalp or scaly skin indicates a serious problem in guinea pigs. Here are some explanations for these symptoms.

Lice and mites live in guinea pig hair and skin. Check their scalp and skin for signs of lice, which look like tiny white worms. Mites show up as small bumps along strands of hair. Ordinary fur mites are relatively harmless, though they do cause itching and eventual scratching that might make hair fall out. When faced with this sort of problem, ask your vet for the right kind of shampoo to use and follow the bathing instructions in the previous chapter. Bathe all of your guinea pigs even if only one of them shows signs of lice or mites. Also, clean out the cage thoroughly.

Hopefully, you will never have to deal with mange mites. Mange mites live in a guinea pig's skin and cause them a lot of pain. When in pain, a guinea pig will often stop eating and/or drinking. Also, mange mites itch terribly and open sores develop where the guinea pig has been scratching. The sooner that you speak with your vet about a mange mite problem, the easier it will be to cure the problem.

 

Guinea pigs are not born with parasites, but they can pick them up from wood chips, visiting animals and outdoor sources.

Ringworm on a pet manifests as hairless and scaly spots on the guinea pig's body. Ringworm is a fungal infection that is contagious to other pets and to humans. If your guinea pig has ringworm you need to wear gloves when handling her. Let your vet examine your cavy and make sure that ringworm is what is causing the problem.

He or she can then recommend a good treatment.

Scurvy or Hypovitaminosis C is a Vitamin C deficiency. You know that your pet has scurvy if you see loss of hair, lethargy, loss of appetitive, diarrhea and eye and nose discharge. While you might be tempted to treat your guinea pig at home by giving them more Vitamin C, you should also talk to your vet.

Longhaired guinea pigs shed a lot of hair anyway. If you think that the hair loss is more than normal check with your vet. Some cavies like to chew other cavies' hair. While this might be irritating to the other guinea pig, it is not a sign of health problems. Try keeping the chewer away from the others for a while.