My guinea pig has white stuff in his fur. What should I do?

Question

I have a 9 month old guinea pig named Chippy. He weighs 2 pounds and he eats just fine. But the problem I am having is he has white stuff on him! It's like guinea dandruff! He's had it since I got him in last December. I never went to the vet cause I thought it'd go away, but it didn't. One day, it was terrible. It was all over him! Little white specks all over his back. I think he may have a fungus infection, but I won't believe that until someone tells me. I also think I should bathe him, but I have read a book about them that says do not bathe a guinea pig unless you MUST. Someone please help me, I do not want to loose another guinea pig!

Answer 1

Could be mites, lice, or a fungal infection.
http://www.guinealynx.com/mites.html - Mites require an antibiotic that you can buy at local feed stores called Ivermectin. It can be used as a preventive measure also, since it won't affect the guinea pig in any other way.
http://www.guinealynx.com/lice.html

You need to take him to a vet as soon as possible. Once guinea pigs start to decline, they go downhill very fast.

Answer 2

Poor thing! It sounds like he has lice.
Does he have bald spots where his fur falls out?
Our six guinea pigs got lice twice and both times they had dandruff-stuff in their fur.We gave them baths and treated them with stuff from the vet.Check to see if he will,at random times,jump as if something just bit him.If Chippy does do that he most likely has lice.Try going to a different vet that specializes in small animals or knows guinea pigs and how to take care of them.Ask them what the symptoms are for fleas and lice on squeakys like Chippy.
Do you clean his cage often enough?Once a week should be good.I do that with my piggies.Every Sunday.
Make sure that his cage isn't in a musty,cold,or damp place.If it is move him right away to a warm,but not hot, dry place;clean his cage too if you move him.

That is all the advice I can help you and Chippy with for now.
I hope it helps.

Long live Chippy!
Dragon Rider

Answer 3

He sounds healthy, but I think it is time to bathe. My friend and I both bathe our piggies, and I have never had an ill pig, and my friend's have been sickness-free for all 8 years of their lives! Both my long haired and short-haired pigs' fur is glossy and shiny. Also, they love the water!

So, here are some steps you may want to follow:

1)Fill a flat-bottomed sink about 3 or 4 inches with water, enough to cover the belly but steer clear of the head.

2) Pour cups of warm water over the parts of the pig that are not submerged EXCEPT FOR THE HEAD!

3) Soap up the body using one drop of very gentle baby shampoo or guinea pig soap(Petsmart).

4) Rinse by pouring cups of water over the body.

5)Dry with a clean towel by letting the Guinea Pig burrow inside.

6) Brush!

Good luck, it sounds like dandruff, best wishes for you and your piggie.

Any questions? Email me :-)

Answer 4

Could be mites, lice, or a fungal infection.
http://www.guinealynx.com/mites.html... - Mites require an antibiotic that you can buy at local feed stores called Ivermectin. It can be used as a preventive measure also, since it won't affect the guinea pig in any other way.
http://www.guinealynx.com/lice.html...

Answer 5

Take him to a vet that specializes in guinea pigs.

Answer 6

It could be dry skin, but it sounds alot more like mites, take him to the vet.

Answer 7

The only way to find out is to take him to your vet and have him check it out.

Seriously, that is the only way.

Answer 8

he may have lice you should take him to the vet asap and clean everything in his cage

Answer 9

mites, go to vet now