Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis, in guinea pigs is a very common disease in these animals.
The intense itching caused by this disease is very uncomfortable for the piglet and is the main symptom that leads tutors to the veterinary clinic of exotic animals.
- If your piglet has this diagnosed disease or if you suspect it has this problem.
- Animal Expert will explain everything you need to know about guinea pig moth.
This common guinea pig disease is often mistaken for scabies because it has some of the common clinical signs. Therefore, it is very important that you consult a veterinarian to make a correct diagnosis, since the treatment of a moth cuy is not the same as that of a cuy with scabies.
The most common places where these mushrooms appear in guinea pigs are:
Fungi usually cause characteristic lesions: round, lampiñas and sometimes inflamed and crusted. In some more severe cases, piglets may develop severe papules, pustules, and itching.
If you notice that your guinea pig scratches too much or finds you have head or body injuries, be careful, you may have a fungal infection! Ask your exotic pet’s veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis, as it can be mistaken for other dermatological problems such as scabies, which have a completely different treatment.
There are two types of fungi that can be found in the guinea pig fungus, namely:
The most likely cause of your guinea pig having this type of fungus is contact with other infected guinea pigs! Environments with poor hygiene or overpopulation of animals are also very conducive to this problem.
Dermatophytosis has zoonotic potential. In other words, it can be passed on to humans. Mushrooms have the ability to survive in the environment and that is why it is very important to properly clean the guinea pig cage.
Diagnosis can be made on the basis of clinical signs, thanks to an ultraviolet lamp test, cytology and a culture.
Generally, this disease affects young animals, which have not yet fully developed their immune system, or animals immunocompromised by a disease.
It is important to note that some animals are asymptomatic (about 5-14% of guinea pigs with this problem), meaning you will not be able to notice any symptoms of the disease.
In healthy animals, it is a disease that resolves on its own, usually after 100 days. That’s why it’s so important to give your guinea pig a good diet, as this is the fundamental point for it to be healthy.
Although this disease resolves on its own in healthy animals, proper treatment is critical to speeding up the process.
After diagnosis, the veterinarian prescribes antifungal treatment. The drugs of choice are: itraconazole, griseofulvin and fluconazole. In addition, baths can be prepared with antifungal shampoos and topical antifungal lotions.
In addition to the proper treatment of cuy moth, it is essential to properly disinfect the environment because, as we have already mentioned, fungi are transmitted between piglets and also to humans.
You can do this thorough cleaning of the cage and the environment in which the guinea pig lives, with water and bleach, for example. Prepare a solution in 1:10 ratio, i.e. a bleach per 10 parts water.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any type of condition or discomfort.
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