My piggy is not well.

[amber]

Hi, I'm worried about Dandelion, my piggy. She has a fungal skin infection. At 1st I thought she might have mites or something, so I treated her with Ivermectin, then repeated it after 10 days. The creamy looking greasy skin flakes were still there, so I had a look around on the internet and found a page by Peter Gurney that said a mixture of Patchouli, Lemongrass, Lavender and Tea tree oil mixed with a carrier oil, and massaged into the skin and left for 24 hours, shampooed off, then repeated after 3 days, seldom failed to kill the fungus. I ordered those oils, and they came yesterday, so I massaged the mixture into her skin, but the smell was so strong even my dog was sneezing! I decided after 3 hours that it was cruel, and she looked so sorry for herself, so I shampooed it all off! Today, she is not looking at all well, and I'm feeling really guilty! I was trying to help her, but think I've made her worse! :-( She didn't move or eat all morning, but I have recently managed to get her to drink a little water, and eat some grass which I got from under the snow! I hope she picks up coz I love her! I should maybe mention that she has been an indoor piggy since her piggy friend died, and she also has weak back legs, so she's nice and warm indoors! She was 6 years old in March.

[abby]

Hi, one of my boys got a fungal skin infection when his friend died so i guess they get depressed and it affects their immune system. Well done for trying a peter gurney remedy but they always seemed like a lot of trouble to go to to me. I'd highly recommend gorgeous guineas products instead. i treated Percy with their coconeem melt and manuka and neem shampoo and it cured him brilliantly. However his skin was dry and flaky, like really big flakes of dandruff which sounds v different to Dandelion's condition. I suggest you contact Chrissie at gorgeous guineas and ask her advice and their products are really good. See their advice here re different skin conditions: www.gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.html
Finally, 6 is a good old age for a piggy so bear in mind she may not be as robust as she used to be. You must keep her eating so try and tempt her with more grass and veggies if you can get any. I hope she gets better soon!

[amber]

Thank you so much for your reply! I certainly will keep trying her with different greens to hopefully keep her eating! She's been on her own over a year now, and was fine at 1st! I have some Malaseb antibacterial and antifungal shampoo for cats and dogs. My dog had this for her feet. I was wondering if this is safe for guinea pigs? I read somewhere on the net that it's been used for guinea pic fungal infections, but wanted to make sure! Thanks for the link, that stuff looks great!

[abby]

No problem. Not sure about using cat and dog stuff, i can't imagine it would be harmfaul but i would dilute it so it's quite a bit weaker than it would be in normal use. i can't speak with any authority on that though so proceed with caution. Skin infections tend to get serious if left a long tome untreated but if she's not had symptoms too long then you can afford to wait for delivery of gorgeous guineas products if you want to be sure.

[tashamary]

Oh i do hope that your piggie gets better. Do you have any photos of her skin?

[amber]

Thank you for your replies. She is still not looking well, but will eat small amounts of dandelion, grass and clover, but nothing else! I keep going outside and getting her little fresh bunches to nibble on. She's really not looking too good though! Here's some pics of her with all the oil on her, then some of her after I'd washed it all off again! She still has greasy fur around her face, but it was so hard to wash off around the face area! I'm concerned that she hardly moves anymore, and is wobbly! :-(

[kellyb]

She's beautiful. I'm sorry to hear she's not well. Has she seen a good vet lately? With her not eating well and not moving much, maybe the vet will have some answers. Hope it all works out well for her.

[Kayleigh]

If the shampoos arent working then the i would advise seeking vet advise as there may be an underlying problem, Shes a real cutie.

[amber]

Thank you, her skin is actually looking a lot better after that oil! I really think she is just giving up now. She's been wobbly for a fair while as she's so old. I don't think she will live much longer bless her. I don't want to upset her by taking her in the car to the vets. She is comfortable, dry and warm. I have a good relationship with my vet, but with her so old and hardly eating, I don't think there is anything he could do for her. :-(

[kace3333]

Ive heard that sometimes they dont eat because their teeth grow to long, and it is painful. Shes a real cutie, and I hope she gets better!

[amber]

Sorry, it's taken me a while to come back, as I've been upset, but I just wanted to let you all know, that sadly Dandelion died. She would have been 7 in March! RIP sweet little girl, we miss your squeaks when we open the fridge, or rustle a bag! We spent so many happy years together. Thank you everyone on here who gave me advice! xxx

[Kayleigh]

Sorry for your loss. RIP little piggie.

[tehbuggy]

I'm so sorry to hear that! RIP Dandelion.
It sounds like she had a long happy life with you. RIP little girl <3

[amber]

Thank you!

[Orlaith]

So sorry to hear about your piggy. She lived to such a good age, you must have taken great care of her and loved her a lot.

[kaz]

I am sorry to hear that you lost your beautiful girl..i have just lost my boy Piggy, he was 5.
So i know how upsetting it is and how you feel... we loved Piggy so much.. we have lost a good freind and a great entertainer!