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Fungal 






                        Skin Problems   

 

Fungal 






                        skin infections in guineas can be far more serious than    Parasitic        proboblems if they are not caught early, and 






                        treated quickly.  As with most things in life, 






                        prevention is better than cure, and regular    shampooing     every 4 - 6 weeks can help to prevent skin problems 






                        from happening in the first place. 






                           

   

Fungal 






                        skin infections usually start off with "a bit of 






                        dandruff" on your guinea's skin.  If the hair 






                        is gently tugged, it will come out easily and will have 






                        dry, flaky skin on the end.       This is the stage 






                        at which to catch the problem and use the CocoNeem Melt 






                        combined with Manuka & Neem Shampoo  before it gets any worse.           

 

If 






                        guineas are not  treated promptly,       check 






                        out this article from Thistle Cavies Rescue     






                        and see how bad it can get.  

   

Fungal 






                        skin infections can soon become systemic (this is when 






                        Fungal spores are absorbed into the body) if not caught 






                        early.  Here's what can happen:  

  

Your 






                        guinea inhales the fungal spores when he is scratching 






                        himself to try and relieve the itching.  The 






                        fungal spores can be inhaled into the lungs, and can 






                        cause Mycotic Pneumonia, which can be fatal.  

   

Your 






                        guinea ingests the Fungal spores on his skin when he 






                        is biting himself to try and relieve the itching.  Your 






                        guinea's mouth may then become infected with oral thrush. 






                         This can be very painful and cause your guinea 






                        to go off his food.  As a result, dental problems 






                        may occur.    

 

In   gested Fungal 






                        Spores can also colonise the lining of the 






                        Gastro-Intestinal Tract.  This can prevent proper 






                        absorption of nutrients from your guinea's food.  If 






                        your guinea is not eating because he has Oral Thrush, 






                        the gut becomes empty and can collapse unless you start 






                        syringe feeding him.  If he is not syringe fed and the 






                        gut has collapsed, it will probably not be pushed 






                        apart again when food is reintroduced because of 






                        the sticky, fungal lining.  The end result can 






                        be a fatal gastric torsion, caused by a food blockage.  

 

The Central Nervous System can also be infected by fungal 






                        spores, and your guinea may have a fit when you touch 






                        the infected nerve endings.  All the muscles in 






                        the body are affected by the fit and contract randomly. 






                         This can include the heart muscle, and if your 






                        guinea has repeated fits, the result may eventually 






                        be a heart attack and death.    

    

So, 






                        catch that "bit of dandruff" early and       treat 






                        it promptly        before you end up with what could be 






                        a potentially fatal situation.    

   

If 






                        your guinea has a very stubborn Fungal Infection, there 






                        are Anti-Fungal dips available (from your Vet or the    CCT    ). 






                         These are Imaverol and Mycophyte.  For systemic 






                        Fungal Infections, your guinea may need a course of 






                        Intrafungol (again, see your Vet or the    CCT    ).  

   

Ringworm 






                        is also a Fungal Infection that guineas can get, and 






                        appears as a circular pattern of hair loss. This 






                        is not often seen in guineas, but can be helped by 






                        using the    Manuka Lotion    .  

 

   

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