My guinea pig has dry ears. Is it ringworm? What should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Chorizo and including photos. Common causes of dermatitis in guinea pigs are fungal infections (ringworm), mites and bacterial infections. This is likely ringworm, which is possible contagious to people. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Good luck.

Most likely this crusty, dry appearance to the ear is due to ringworm. I suggest you get Sebastian to your vet for an exam so they can confirm and make sure you have the correct medication for treatment. Here is a link to an article about this: ( https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/skin/c_ex_gp_ringworm_infection ) While you are waiting to get him to a vet you can start using a topical antifungal cream like this one: ( https://www.1800petmeds.com/Clotrimazole+Cream-prod10589.html ) Ringworm is contagious to people so please be sure that anyone who handles him washes their hands very well.

Thank you for your question about Oreo. Dry skin on the ears of guinea pigs is very common, and you may also see flaking of brown debris from within their ears as well. This flaking is their normal cerumen (ear wax) and it just tends to be brown to black in color, depending on the color of your guinea pig. For the dryness, I am not sure why you are seeing it only on one ear - sometimes if one ear is black (or dark in color) and one is white (or light in color) that it is easier to see the dry skin on one versus the other. To help with the dryness, you can rub a small amount of Aquaphor ointment on the ear. This medication is used for eczema in humans and can help hold in moisture. Apply it very sparingly, and if Oreo is bothered by it at all, I would recommend discontinuing it. Less commonly, guinea pigs can get skin infections of their ears. If you see that the flaky skin becomes crusty, red, swollen, has a smell, or if Oreo is bothered by the ear, I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian. They would be able to evaluate the ear and may take samples of the skin surface to look at under the microscope. If they determine it is an infection, they can prescribe treatments such as antibiotics and pain medications. I hope that gives you a place to start, and good luck with your new pet!

I would recommend bringing him in for a skin scraping to identify if this is a mite or ringworm. If you personally develop circular lesions then it is more likely that it is ringworm, and not a mite. Selamectin is a great treatment for common mites and parasites.

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.

I am so sorry for the delay in answering your question. Mites are very common in guinea pigs and may be the cause. Take her to your vet so they can determine if this is indeed the problem, and can advise you on how best to treat it. In the meantime, change the bedding daily and monitor her food and water intake--if she is lethargic, or is not eating or drinking, take her to the vet right away. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach, and again I apologize for the delay!