What Is Causing My Guinea Pig To lose Fur?
There are many things that can lead your guinea pig to start losing its fur. The most common reason is mites. Guinea pigs are very suitable to small Mange Mites, which are a parasite that hurts your guinea pig. Luckily these can be easily killed with something called ivermectin. The second most common reason for guinea pigs losing hair is a fungal infection.
The list below will show the most common reasons why your guinea pig is losing hair, and how to prevent it.
Mange Mites
These are pesky parasites that live off of your guinea pig. They are the leading cause of hair loss on guinea pigs, and they can be easily treated. Ivermectin is a chemical that kills the mites, without harming your guinea pig.
Luckily, it is easy to use, and is relatively cheap. You can buy ivermectin at any pet store, or online. Here is a video that shows you how it is used.
Fungal Infections
If your guinea pig has a fungal infection, it can be much harder to treat. Fungal infections can be very nasty, and need proper antibiotics. If you believe that your guinea pig has a fungal infection, you should bring it to the vet, where your vet can prescribe proper drugs.
Fungal infections will usually start to show hair loss on the face, around the nose, and eyes. You need to remember that these infections can be contagious, and you should separate your guinea pig from any other household pets.
Bald Spots Behind Ears
After reading about these issues, many people will look at their guinea pig, to make sure it has no bald spots, to find that it does. Guinea pigs have natural bald spots under their ears, or behind their ears. This is completely natural, and you don’t have to worry about it.
Hair Loss From Scratches/Cuts
If a guinea pig gets scratched, or cut, they will usually develop small bald spot around the injury. If you have multiple guinea pigs in the same cage, they will sometimes get into fights, and can pull out each others hair. This hair will grow back in time, and is not something that needs to be worried about.
Guinea pigs like this can have chunks of hair loss from getting in a fight.
Barbering
Some guinea pigs will lick, and chew at themselves so much that their hair will be pulled out in spots. This is usually due to being uncomfortable. If your guinea pig keeps chewing on its foot, or linking itself in one spot, you should give it a bath. If it continues to do so, bring it to a vet to have it examined. Sometimes tumors have been found in areas where guinea pigs continuously barber.
This guinea pig started biting itself after it switched shampoos.
Pregnancy
When guinea pigs become pregnant, it usually results in their hair thinning out. If this has happened to your guinea pig, don’t be worried.
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