Skin Problems

Common causes of skin problems include dietary deficiencies, burrowing mite and fungal infestations. Hair loss during or shortly after pregnancy can be due to hormone levels in guinea pig sows. In the absence of other symptoms this can be safely left to resolve itself.

Dietary causes of dry itchy skin include deficiency of essential fatty acids, minerals or trace elements especially zinc and magnesium. Cannabis Hemp Oil is a rich source of essential fatty acids in a balanced form. One or two drops on the food daily will help prevent or correct any deficiency. Wild plants such as those in Galen's Garden's Hedgerow Herbs contain minerals and trace elements essential for optimum health which can be missing from many rabbit and guinea pig feeds. A liquid combination of herbs which may help is Galen's Garden's Herbal Tincture Blend No.II. B vitamin deficiency can cause skin problems but this is only likely to occur in animals which have been unable to eat their caecal pellets.

Where there is an initial mite problem the site is vulnerable to secondary bacterial or fungal infection. Veterinary treatment with Ivomec is an effective treatment for burrowing mites but will not combat bacterial or fungal secondary infection.

Guinea pigs after being bathedEssential oils, such as those contained in Peter Gurney's Piggy Potion formula (Lavender, Lemongrass, Patchouli and Teatree with Calendula infused oil), have insect repellent, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties making them a valuable weapon in the war against skin problems.  See Gorgeous Guinea's essential oil soak and other products.  They also have some useful information to help identify the most likely cause.  I have also used Geranium & Rosemary essential oil, Quassia Extract and Neem oil.  Replacing the Tea Tree oil in Peter's formula with Manuka oil and replacing half the Patchouli oil with Geranium works well.

Running lice and static lice are found on the coats of guinea pigs where they eat dead skin cells and cause no harm, although they will disqualify a guinea pig entered for a show.  Essential oils, including citronella, are useful in getting rid of these pests but they must be used diluted.  Human neem and propolis shampoo and conditioner or rosemary shampoo and conditioner can also be used on guinea pigs.

In rabbits, Psoroptes cuniculi, more commonly known as rabbit ear mites, can also affect other areas of the skin, see Vet Online's article on an unusual case that vet Anthony Chadwick encountered.

Chinchillas can loose patches of fur when roughly handled, this is known as 'fur slip'.  There is no damage to the skin but the fur can take as long as 6 months for the fur to grow back.  Chinchillas sometimes chew their own or cage mate's fur, either out of boredom or due to an overactive thyroid or adrenal gland.  Classic signs are a rather 'moth eaten' appearance with patches of dark undercoat showing, unlike fur slip where the skin itself is visible.  In order for the fur to grow back, the dark undercoat has to be removed by plucking but this can make the chinchilla sore and you'll have to apply a soothing cream to the skin afterwards.  Patchy fur with general poor condition can be due to zinc deficiency.  Wavy 'cotton fur' is caused by too much protein in the diet.  protein levels should be around 15% - 18% protein.

Lew Bevan, an English rabbit specialist, has used Sporal-D successfully on rabbits with 'creeping dandruff' (Cheyletiella parasitivorax). His advice is to clear the infected area by combing out loose hair and dead skin with a flea comb; moisten area with cotton wool ball in warm water; take a fresh cotton wool ball and apply Sporal D to the cleaned surface. 2 or 3 applications over 2-3 days have given good results.  Other people seem to have obtained good results using Listerine mouthwash.

Follicel is recommended by Peter Gurney for guinea pig skin problems caused by lice and mites with the added advantage that it acts as a anti-fungal.

Harlow Lubricants Ltd. FREEPOST, Stanmore, HA7 3BR, UK
Tel: 01992 460525 Fax: 01992 441824
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