My guinea pig is going bald. What are the causes and solutions?

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!

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.

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

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!

Spike could have a skin or eye infection causing hair loss or he could have a parasite such as lice, mites or ringworm causing it. Because of the multiple possibilities and the likelihood of requiring a prescription medication I would take him straight to the vet.

Hello, When I see guinea pigs with hair loss (usually over their backs) and weight loss, I often think of reproductive tract problems. Guinea pigs commonly get ovarian cysts and the extra estrogen production causes hormonal hair loss. Four ounces is significant weight loss for a guinea pig, and I would recommend having her checked to be sure of what is going on. I hope this is helpful.

This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.