Why is my guinea pig itching, losing hair, and has a belly bump?

Question

Hey! I just got two guinea pigs about 4 days ago and my one got this random bump and started itching it a lot and lost hair in that area. I was wondering if you could help on what to do?

Miranda Sadar, DVM, DACZM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your question, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. The area in the photo is a normal structure, and it is a nipple on your guinea pig's belly. There should be one on the other side if you part the hair. These will be present on both sexes of guinea pigs (males and females), and there should be two of them. In the photo that you provided, the nipple and surrounding area do not look inflammed or irritated, and the skin appears very comfortable. I saw that you mentioned that your guinea pig had been itching - mites and lice are very common in guinea pigs, and these could be potential sources of the itchiness that you are seeing. If the itching continues, I would recommend seeking out a veterinarian to evaluate for parasites. If they find them, s/he can prescribe an anti-parasitic medication to treat your guinea pigs. Please do not give your guinea pigs any human medications at home, as many of them can be harmful to our furry friends. I hope that helps, and thank you again for including photos!

Why is my guinea pig itching, losing hair, and has a belly bump?

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