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Guinea Pig Fungal Infection: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments

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guinea pig fungal infection

Like any pets, guinea pigs are vulnerable to a wide range of illnesses and infections. The key is to always provide a safe and healthy environment for your guinea pig in order to mitigate the chances of your guinea pig getting sick. In today’s article, we are going to discuss fungal infections in guinea pigs.

What are the main fungal infections in guinea pigs?

The main types of guinea pig fungal infections are ringworm. It is important to know that ringworm is not an actual worm, but rather a fungus that invades the body. Guinea pigs can also become infested with lice or other parasites. The key to treating these fungal infections is to recognize the causes and symptoms.

Causes of fungal infection in guinea pigs

The main cause of fungal infections in guinea pigs is an unhealthy environment. This usually means there is too much humidity and the temperature is too warm. If you have multiple guinea pigs, they are also more at risk opposed to a cage with just one. Fungal infections can spread to guinea pigs from touching each other, or through secondhand transmission from the cages bedding or from an infected pigs poop.

Symptoms of fungal infections in guinea pigs

Fungal infections usually start by attacking the skin near your guinea pigs mouth or eyes. Below are the main symptoms of fungal infections:

  • Hair loss
  • Dry skin
  • Scabs
  • Swollen or redness on skin
  • In some cases, your guinea pig might experience a runny nose.

How to treat a guinea pig with a fungal infection

Below are the best ways to treat a guinea pig that has a fungal infection

Isolation and Disinfecting:

The key is to isolate the guinea pig in the cage if you have other guinea pigs. This is very important since fungal infections are so contagious. You should then remove all the bedding from the cage and do a full deep clean of the cage. It would also be best to give your guinea pigs a bath with antifungal shampoo. Make sure to bathe the infected guinea pig separately. Since ringworm can spread to humans, it is important to wear gloves when you are handling your guinea pig and their objects.

Medication/Creams:

You can first try to treat the fungal infection with some Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Wound & Skin Care or a HomeoPet supplement. Sometimes fungal infections will go away on their own after a couple of weeks

If you don’t see any improvement, you should take your guinea pig to the vet. They will likely prescribe him/her a round of antifungal medications. These medications will probably have to be administered for at least a couple weeks.

Prevention

It is important to remember that the best way to treat a guinea pig with a fungal infection/ringworm is with prevention. You should regularly clean your guinea pig cage, and always make sure you are feeding your guinea pig a healthy, balanced diet. You should also make sure that your cage is not too hot or humid. Lastly, you should try to bathe your guinea pig at least once a month.