Scaley guinea pig

Re: Scaley guinea pig

Rachael Winder — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:06:48 GMT

Yep, have done sellotape strips but nothing conclusive on them. I was wondering about a dermatophyte test, but was thrown a bit by presentation- I thought (potentially wrongly!) that fungal infections were generally centred on the head?

This GP has had 3 doses of ivermectin injectable at 10day intervals. I have advised Vit C supplementation, but haven't double checked whether owner doing it (probably too trusting...). Am seeing it back on Friday to see how it's doing. Am figuring fungal culture next...

Thanks for the advice,

Rachael.

Re: Scaley guinea pig

Rach — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:45:13 GMT

Scaly GPs in our practice get ivermectin on three occassion 7-10days apart, if that doesn't work surolan can be useful

Re: Scaley guinea pig

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:57:41 GMT

I presume you've done a scrape/acetate strip for mites and lice if not why not? - costs next to nothing. If you have eliminated parasites consider ringworm? Get a fungal culture. And you state he has a commercial pelleted food, how about scurvy - any other source of Vit C either as a supplement or fresh fruit/veg/grass?

Re: Scaley guinea pig

Rob Loxley — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:47:49 GMT

Skin scrape and sellotape sampling can be useful for getting a definitive diagnosis of parasites. If so repeated ivermec and environmental cleaning.

Also getting the woods lamp out is sensible +/- dermafyt to rule out ringworm, especially given the zoonotic element and the child element.

Also for any ill G.Pig vit C is always worth supplementing.

Re: Scaley guinea pig

Martin Jones — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:03:04 GMT

Would still be most likely to be Trixacarus - esp with partial response (they often need 2 -3 shots). I have now exhausted my guinea pig knowledge....