My guinea pig has a bald spot on his rear. What does it mean?

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach. There are several reasons a guinea pig may lose fur. The primary differentials for hair loss are parasites or fungal infection/ringworm. Vitamin C deficiency or scurvy can also cause hair loss. I recommend a visit with a veterinarian that treats small mammals to help find out why Pumpkin has a bald spot. A bit more info. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/guinea-pigs-problems http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html

Hi there! As ringworm is a fungus, they can contract it from other guinea pigs, from humans, or from contaminated objects, such as bedding. Symptoms of ringworm in guinea pigs are usually bald spots around the ears, neck, and face that can spread along the rest of the body. They can also have crusty, flaky lesions in the middle. If you suspect that your guinea pig has ringworm, I strongly suggest taking preventative measures when handling him or her - good handwashing is essential as ringworm can be transmitted to humans. A visit to the vet is also in order - they will likely take a small sample of your GP's hair to culture for the fungus. They may also use a type of black light called a Woods lamp to examine his or her skin as the ringworm fungus usually fluoresces. If your GP does have ringworm, the vet will likely prescribe a topical or oral antifungal, or a combination of the two. There are other skin conditions that can cause bald spots as well, such as mites, that the vet can also check for. Good luck, and I hope that your piggy gets well soon!

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.

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, 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.

It is difficult to make an assessment on what this might be with a visual. Skin issues such as these can be due to a number of different causes including parasites (mites, lice or fleas), Ringworm, skin infections, trauma or even some endocrine diseases such as Cushibgs disease. You should take Bojangles to the veterianarian as soon as possible. You could also request a consult with an expert where you can post pictures and ask more questions.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can see the area of hair loss around the neck/shoulder region on Winston. This can be caused by fungal infections, skin mites, or certain hormonal abnormalities. Fungal infections such as ringworm can be transmitted to people, so I do recommend washing your hands well with soap and water after handling Winston and/or his bedding. You should have Winston seen by a vet as soon as possible to determine what is going on, your vet may take some hair/skin samples to rule out fungal/mite infections and begin the appropriate treatment. You should also separate him from his cagemate to prevent transmission of the infection. I hope this helps!