The symptoms can look very much like the symptoms of Sellnick, so a cavy with fungus is often treated for Sellnick first. If the Sellnick treatment does not work - suspect fungus! If a cavy has a very dull fur, and loses more hairs than normally - check the skin - if the skin has no symptoms it is probably not fungus, or maybe it is early stages of fungus. Cavies can develop dull fur and lose more hairs than normally by being petted very much.
Common symptoms:
It may be important to know that guinea pigs are prone to getting fungus infections.
If not responding to treatments for Sellnick within a few weeks - treat for fungus.
If the fungus is mostly on the head it is probably Ringworm. Ringworm is not the most common kind of fungus a guinea pig can get.
When a cavy is affected by fungus the vet normally never tries to find out what species of fungus it is. If they think it is fungus they treat for fungus. And if Ivomec against the Sellnick mite doesn't work they usually think it is fungus. Guinea pigs can get several different kinds of fungus.
Treat for mites first, since the mites might be lethal. (Ivermectin shots at the vet's...) If this does not help - usually the piggy gets better a week after the first shot if it is mites - start treating for fungus. You need the help of an experienced exotic vet, since fungus might be hard to get rid of. You need to remember that many medications supposed to be put in the piggies fur to treat fungus usually make the piggy MORE itchy!
It is very important to know that you have keep up the treatment for weeks after all symptoms are gone - otherwise the problem will soon come back.
If the guinea pig is itchy - use Fungoral schampoo (active ingredient is Ketonazole) regularly during the treatment to reduce itching. You may need to bathe the guinea pigs as often as once a week in this schampoo in severe cases!
You might try a mild
dandruff schampoo for humans if the fungus infestation
is light (no sores, only scratching).
Or if the fungus is only located in a small spot you
might try applying a fungus cream with Mikonazole as
active ingredient.
The treatment of a severe case can get very long and tiresome... months is not unheard of... Contact a god vet! Imaverole is something that Swedish vets have been using against fungus in guinea pigs. In really severe cases sometimes Griseofulvin is used (orally). Griseofulvin is often given 75 mg/kg for 14 days to guinea pigs (I got the dose from a vets book called: "The Biology And Medicine Of Rabbits And Rodents" written by John E. Harkness & Joseph E. Wagner, page 58.) Do not give Griseofulvin to your guinea pigs without the advice of an experienced vet! It it a very strong medicine... Also remember that the dose is not the same for other pets.
Fungus often appears as a secondary infection to other illnesses. In milder cases the fungus will disappear if the other desease is cured.
Spreads via spores, that can lie dormant anywhere for years and years. If you once had a severe case of fungus on cavies you will need to treat the whole apartment with a special "desinfectant" for dog kennels or laboratories (I use Virkon S.) that can kill fungus spores!
Fungus is often very contagious and spread from guinea pig to guinea pig! Only ringworm can be spread to other animals and humans, but ringworm is not primarily a guinea pig disease. The other kinds of fungus that guinea pigs often gets only seems to spread between guinea pigs.
Copyright Eva Johansson.
Last update: 2nd of December 2005.