Content
- Guinea pig fungi
- Guinea pig ringworm in humans?
- Diagnosis of guinea pig ringworm
- How to Treat Guinea Pig Ringworm
Ringworm, also called dermatophytosis, in guinea pigs, is a very common disease in these animals.
The intense itching that this disease causes is very uncomfortable for the pig and this is the main symptom that takes the tutors to the veterinary clinic for exotic animals.
If your pig has this disease diagnosed or you suspect he has this problem, the Animal Expert will explain everything you need to know about the guinea pig ringworm.
Guinea pig fungi
This common guinea pig disease is often confused with scabies because it has some of the clinical signs in common. Therefore, it is very important that you consult a veterinarian so that he can make a correct diagnosis, since the treatment for a guinea pig with ringworm is not the same as for a guinea pig with mange.
You most common places for the appearance of these fungi in guinea pigs are:
- Head
- paws
- Back
Generally, fungi cause characteristic injuries: Round, hairless and sometimes inflamed and crusted. In some more severe cases, piglets may develop papules, pustules and severe itching.
If you notice your guinea pig scratching too much or notice that he has some head or body injuries, be aware he may have a yeast infection! Enter your exotic animal veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis, as this can be confused with other dermatological problems such as scabies, which has a totally different treatment.
there are two types of fungi which can be found in guinea pig ringworm, namely:
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes (the most common)
- Microsporum kennels
The most likely cause for your guinea pig to have this type of fungus is contact with other infected guinea pigs! Poorly hygienic environments or overcrowded animals are also highly prone to this problem.
Guinea pig ringworm in humans?
Dermatophytosis has a zoonotic potential. That is, it can be transmitted to humans. Fungi have the ability to survive in the environment and that is why it is very important to properly sanitize the guinea pig cage.
Diagnosis of guinea pig ringworm
Diagnosis can be made based on clinical signs, through an ultraviolet lamp test, cytology and culture.
Generally, this disease affects young animals, which have not yet fully developed their immune system, or animals that are immunocompromised by some disease.
It is important to note that some animals are asymptomatic (about 5-14% of guinea pigs have this problem) which means you will not be able to see any symptoms of the disease.
In healthy animals, this is a disease that resolves itself, usually within 100 days. For this reason it is so important to provide good food for your guinea pig, as it is essential for him to be healthy.
Although in healthy animals this disease is self-resolving, proper treatment is essential to accelerate the process.
How to Treat Guinea Pig Ringworm
After making the diagnosis, the veterinarian prescribes a antifungal treatment. The drugs of choice are: itraconazole, griseofulvin and fluconazole. In addition, it can be done baths with antifungal shampoos and antifungal lotions of topical application!
In addition to a correct treatment for guinea pig ringworm, it is essential to properly disinfect the environment because, as we have already mentioned, fungi are transmissible between piglets and also to humans.
You can do this deep cleaning of the cage and the environment in which the guinea pig lives, with water and bleach, for example. Prepare a 1:10 ratio solution, ie one part bleach to 10 water.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Guinea pig ringworm - diagnosis and treatment, we recommend that you enter our section on Parasitic Diseases.