Why does my guinea pig have a bald spot on its nose? Should I worry?

Thanks for reaching out about Snuggle. Dried crust around the nostrils is often an indication of the upper respiratory/sinus infection. Could also be inflammatory, dental problems and others. Bald spots behind the ears are usually normal as long as the skin is not crusty. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Just because one has a runny nose and the other fine, does not mean not a concern. Good luck.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Rachael is so cute. The nose looks like it has an abrasion from rubbing. Has he been rubbing his nose against the cage bars or something else in his house? That would be my first guess, especially if he does not seem bothered by the spot. Other possibilities would be a bacterial infection, fungal infection, or parasites. I would still recommend taking him to the vet in case the skin is infected and requires antibiotics. In the meantime, I would monitor him closely for any rubbing, and take away anything in his house that you think could be the culprit. I hope this helps, and that Rachael gets better soon!

Mites can cause this sort of appearance in guinea pigs. The best medication to use to combat mites in rodents is Revolution, a drug marketed for kittens. It requires veterinary prescription to obtain, so you will need to take Reese to see the doctor before obtaining any. Hope this makes sense.

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach! This looks like a ringworm lesion to me. http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1800&aid=2494 You can try using a topical anti-fungal medication like Clotrimazole to see if it helps. Apply a thin layer to the lesion twice a day. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Antifungal-1-Clotrimazole-USP-Cream-1-oz-tube/950932820 Remember two important things: 1. It can take weeks to months for ringworm to resolve. If you are not making much progress with the cream after a couple weeks I would take her to the vet. They can give you an oral medication to use that may be more effective. 2. Ringworm can be contagious to people so wash your hands thoroughly after handling her. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello, Thanks for sending good pictures! I have a couple of suspicions about what is going on with Reeses' skin. Ringworm, which is a type of skin fungus, is very common in guinea pigs. Testing for this involves taking a hair sample from the area for something called a DTM culture test. This infection can spread very quickly over the entire pig's body and also spread to people. Mites are a type of skin parasite that can also affect guinea pigs and cause hair loss. They cause severe itchiness that can sometimes lead to seizures. This is generally tested for with looking at a scrape of the skin under the microscope. Both of these ailments generally require a course of topical and/or oral medications, along with regular cleaning of his environment during the treatment period to prevent re-infection. I would recommend taking Reeses into a veterinarian that's familiar with guinea pigs and having the area examined to determine the best course of diagnostics and treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I hope this is helpful!

The injury on the nose may have been due to excessive scratching. This can be caused by infection (bacterial or fungal) or by parasites. It may have also been due to trauma from cage furniture, tank mates (if present) or another family pet (if present). Ideally, Joey should be examined by your veterinarian for a definitive diagnosis. Antibiotics, topical or systemic, can be dispensed if indicated.

Hello, without seeing at least a photo is hard for me to say too much. My first thought based on your description is that Nugget may have ringworm. Mites are also possible but ringworm is more common. Of course he could have an injury from one of the other pigs. All are possibilities. I suggest you just monitor him for now and if there is no significant change in the size of the lesion (in about a week to 10 days) then I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes.