My guinea pig is shedding hair and losing weight. Is she sick?

Hello. Hair loss in an older female guinea pig is often related to cystic ovaries. The abnormal ovary produced hormones that cause the hair to fall out, usually on the trunk, back or belly. Sometimes, hairliss can be from over grooming, parasites, a thyroid condition, or if the Guinge is rubbing on somethin in the cage. Since she doesn’t sound itchy or inflamed, and she’s an older female, i would be suspicious of cystic ovaries. I would recommend taking Guinge to see a veterinarian who can do a physical exam, feel her belly for possibly cystic ovaries, and if needed do an ultrasound to identify and assess the ovaries. If they are indeed cystic, they can either be treated surgically with removal of the ovaries, or with injections of hormones to reduced the cyst size and activity (though these injections need to be given every 4 weeks or so). Hopefully it’s something simple! Good luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Otis. As a middle aged guinea pig, there could be multiple causes for weight loss. Heart disease, kidney problems, gastrointestinal concerns, dietary deficiencies, dental disease, are all possible. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

I would be very suspicious that your guinea pig may be reinfected with mites. However they are also very susceptible to ring worm which causes hair loss as well. I would make sure that you are supplementing with Vitamin C and then I would encourage you to have a follow up appointment with your veterinarian. Make sure to sterilize his cage well multiple times during treatments and make sure he does not have contact with other animals. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Poor Cookie! She should be looked at by a vet as soon as possible. Hair loss and itching can be caused by skin mites or certain fungal infections in guinea pigs. Unfortunately, they are usually very itchy and can make guinea pigs feel very sick but are easily treated. Your vet can also rule out any hormonal imbalances that may be to blame. I hope this helps and that Cookie feels better soon!

There are a couple of reasons why Squeakers could be losing her hair, and mites is one of those reasons. Other reasons include lice, a fungal infection, or barbering (pulling off their own hair). Because you aren't sure of the cause of her hair loss and also since you can't find any mite treatment, she really does need to see a vet for this problem. I would see if you can borrow money from family and friends to afford the vet, and I can give you some resources that may help. You can see if your vet accepts payment plans, if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/ http://www.dogheirs.com/resources-affordable-veterinary-care/ I hope one of these resources helps you, please call a vet today to make an appointment for her. Best of luck.

Weight loss, this can be caused by many things. Visit your veterinarian as soon as possible so Donald can have an examination. Causes of weight loss include dental problems, liver or kidney diseases, intestinal disease, endocrine disease, infection and toxins — just to name a few. Your veterinarian, using his or her skills of examination and possibly some tests, can best tell what is wrong with your guinea pig.

Bald patch can be a sign of a skin disease, often either mites or ringworm. enlarged abdomen is quite common in guinea pigs, as long as it is soft it is usually normal although she could also be pregnant.