ringworm or no?

Question

My mother in law has 2 white guinea pigs, but no internet access. one of her guines pigs has a quarter sized area on it's fur that is falling out and has a rash under that area. does this sound like ringworm, or has anyone seen this before? it itches so much, she put a sweater on it so it doesn't scratch so much, and has used cortisone cream which didn't help at all. Thank s in advance for the help. Mike

Answer 1

Hello, it is mites, I run a rescue, i see it all the time, to the vet to get it treated ASAP, the hair will keep falling out and they will begin to dig and scratch, untill they bleed,

Answer 2

It might be ringworm. Guinea pigs are really prone to it. It's hard to tell though without an appropriate lab test. If your piggy is scratching excessively, it might be somethign else. he could even have a parasite that is invisible ot the human eye. Whether it's fungal or parasitic, the other guinea pig is at risk so it would be a good idea to separate them as soon as possible.
Try http://guinealynx.com/. It has a lot of good information on skin problems. My own vet recommended it.

Also, just to let you know, ringworm doesn't show up on piggies the same way it does on humans. It won't necessarily turn red or round. Often times, you will just see white, crusty stuff, like dandruff.

Answer 3

It sounds as though it could be ringworm. While cortisone might help the itch, it will not treat the underlying cause. Ringworm is actually a fungal infection, so she will need to use an anti-fungal agent to clear up the problem. Check with a vet or with an animal supply store to see what is available. Good luck!

Answer 4

sounds like ringworm to me. cheapest and quickest cure would be same creams used for jock itch. this is not a joke, i use to breed boxers and my female never had ringworm but was a carrier. so ever litter was born with ringworm. vet got pretty expensive until someone clued me in. not to mention anyone handling the guinea pig can catch it.

Answer 5

Ringworm is a form of body fungus. Sounds like it to me. I get all the time on my one thigh, don't know why either but always in the same area. Any anti-fungal cream should do the trick. But it has to be consistent and not just one application.

Answer 6

my neighbor's cat had ringworm before, it's fur thinned and you could see a red ring and the skin inside was pinker than normal skin but not as dark as the ring. whether this sounds like what it has or not you should take it to the vet to see what they can do, i know my neighbor's cat had to have a special shampoo and had medicine to take. vets may not know many things about pets other that cats and dogs and such unless they are specialists, but skin issues are pretty general and any vet should be able to tell you what the issue is for sure.

Answer 7

A ringworm is just like its called, there will be a small round wound that is visible, they can spread to other parts and to her if it is, i think its a rash of some kind, hopefully a vet will give you a answer, good luck

Answer 8

im not sure, ring worm is a red circle with white skin in middle and it itches severely. it will spread easily too. make sure and wash all clothing, bedding,etc. if you decide it is ringworm, the best option is iodine to kill it, they do have lotrim now too.

Answer 9

Both animals need to be seen by a vet. It could be parasite or fungus infection. If left untreated the lives of both animals are at risk.