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Guinea Pigs/Guinea-pig hair loss

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Expert: Jenny Atkins - 6/2/2009


Question

hello there,
I have bought an 8 months old female a while ago and realised she had patches of hair gone! I thought I could fix her. but now, 10 months down the track, she is loosing mor ehair than ever. I wonder what happened. she is with another 4 females and a few babies, the enclosure is big enough for all, they are well fed (I have checked out all their needs on various sites). they all seem to be healthy, so I suppose it is a probleme with her only.

Answer
Hi Amelie,

Guinea pigs are prone to a variety of skin conditions, and while it is rare that it has not spread to the others, it is possible. Left untreated, this will cause her a great deal of distress and could lead to further problems, so it will be best to get her sorted ASAP.

Your first step should be to visit www.gorgeousguineas.com – look at their ‘identification’ section to match her symptoms to an illness. If she simply has a mild fungal or parasitic condition, you will be able to treat her at home using one of the fantastic shampoos or ‘melts’ from the same website. While you’re there, stock up on some Lice and Easy to bathe your piggies in during the summer months as a preventative measure for creepy crawlies. To keep their skin and hair in optimum condition, guinea pigs need to be bathed every two months – but babies should be six months old before they have their first bath.

Hope this helps.

Jenny.

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Jenny Atkins

Expertise

If your guinea pig has stopped eating, is having fits, looks puffed up or listless, is bleeding, has lost weight suddenly or is squeaking in pain then please, do not delay in taking him/her to a vet. Preferably a specialist small animal or exotic pet vet, but don't worry if you can't find one. If you suspect your guinea pig is pregnant, has mites, is losing hair or you have a question about diet, cages, toys, exercise etc then look at my past answers before you ask your question, as it may save you time. Otherwise, go ahead and ask me a question! My areas of expertise are in how to choose your guinea pigs, where to get them from and what you need before you bring your new pets home. I can also help with general care and dietary questions, with treating common illnesses (especially skin complaints), pregnancy and baby guinea pigs (though I do not approve of purposeful 'at home' breeding), and how to introduce two males. I'd recommend The Really Useful Guinea Pig Guide by Myra Mahoney and Piggy Potions by Peter Gurney to all guinea pig owners - these books will tell you everything you need to know to ensure your guinea pigs have happy and healthy lives. I practically memorised these before I was allowed my first guinea pigs as a teenager!

Experience

I absolutely love guinea pigs, and I think they make brilliant pets for the right owners. They are incredibly sociable animals and should always be kept in pairs, or a larger group (females only). If you spend lots of time with your guinea pigs, they will become very tame and friendly little creatures. I am very much a pet owner, and provide answers based on my personal experiences with my pet piggies, and what I've learned from books along the way. I'm not a breeder or a vet, so I can't answer questions about breeding, breeds or complicated illnesses. I have kept both boars and sows, and have had my share of unexpected newborns in the early days. I've had a total of 11 guinea pigs over the years - all adorable in their own way - including my current two boars (Almeida and Simba) whose cage has pride of place in my living room. When you have guinea pigs you learn something new about them every day!

Education/Credentials
2:1 Honours Degree in Creative Arts with English

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