What causes guinea pig skin scratches and patchy fur on its side?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Small Animal | Guinea Pig | Male | unneutered
I’ve noticed my guinea pig has a scratch that appears to be in patches on his left side, and I am concerned about what it could be.
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on April 24th, 2019
Hi, and thanks for your question. This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria or fungal or mites). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics or antifungal meds (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection can be possibly started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths (pay extra care when you do it as the eye is very close). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
-
Published on September 4th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Rocco. Guinea pigs are meticulous groomers but if scratching to the point of wounds/scabs, then a veterinary visit is recommended to check for mites or other dermatopathies. Vitamin C deficiencies can often result in skin conditions. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig is itching his back a lot and there's no sign of missing hair but there's a rough small patch. My local vet said everything's fine but I disagree. Please help I feel so bad
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, pls can you help my Guinea pig? I'm worried
This is likely to be caused by a severe mites infestation. An immediate check up is required to give specific treatment and avoid further spreading of the infection. Ivermectin and antibiotics may be needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig is itching a place on his neck and I don't know what it is. Also he won't allow me to touch/look it with out growling
This is likely to be caused by a skin infection, possibly due to a bacterial or mites infestation. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig had some infection on her arm for several months. We treated it with antibiotic cream and it started healing. But, 20 minutes ago after we gave her a shower, she started bleeding from her arm and it can't stop. Please, help me. Thank y
Even though a picture would help to understand better the underlying cause, generally speaking this presentation could be due to a trauma or recurrence of the localized skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible with gentle pressure. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guinea pig is coughing, sneezing, itching and her fur is shedding is this something I should be worried about?
Hi, and thanks for your question. This could be due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
my guinea pig has scabs on his sides and under his elbows, i wasnt sure if it could be from his nails when he scratches or if it could be an illness or a bug? i sadly dont have any pictures, as i am away from them for a few days. i dont have a lot of
What a hard situation to try to handle while you are away from Frodo! The reason for the scratching may be any of the things you mentioned - an infection caused by bacteria or fungus, parasites, allergies, or another cause. Until you get home, you can recommend to the person who is watching him for you to make sure there is nothing in the environment that he could be reacting to - pine and cedar shavings can be irritating to the skin, and should be removed if present. Otherwise, it will be supportive care until you get back and can take him in to see a vet and get treatment. His appetite and activity should be monitored closely - getting a digital gram scale (found in the kitchen section on many department stores) is a good idea so he can be weighed daily to make sure he is not losing weight. Make sure his fecal pellets (poops) also continue to be normal in size, shape, and moisture content. If anything changes about any of these parameters, he needs to go to the vet before you get hom
Updated on September 24th, 2025
New Pet
I just adopted two male guinea pigs are they are itching a lot and one of them is missing patcges of hair by his ears.
This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment, then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, my piggy has some sores on his skin that are crusty. What could be the cause? I took him to the vet but wasn't given any good info. I bathed him in manuka and neem shampoo last to help his skin. Please help
In my experience the huge majority of skin issues in guinea pigs falls into two categories: mites and fungal. It's uncommon to see flaking skin and hair loss without it being one of these disorders.
Ringworm would be a concern and is very common in guinea pigs. Instead of being a worm, it's actually a skin fungus, and doesn't always have the classic "ring" shape. The only way to diagnose ringworm in guinea pigs is doing a fungal culture where you collect hairs and put them on a culture medium. It can take 10-14 days to get a result, though most positives show up within the first week. If you don't want to do the testing then what you can do is treat those scabs with an over the counter anti fungal cream like clotrimazole. It is basically jock itch cream. Apply a thin layer 2 times a day. It won't hurt anything if it is not ringworm but if it is ringworm, it will help.
If you are going to shampoo him I would use a medicated shampoo like this one:
https://www.1800petmeds.com/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, my guinea pig has a little white spot on his eyes lately and keeps on tearing.
This problem could be due to a corneal ulcer and secondary conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed to confirm this clinical suspicion and as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What kind of oral and external medicine should I use for cuts and wounds in guinea pig.
Most of the oral meds are on prescription and should be discussed with your local veterinarian. Disinfection of the skin may be achieved at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Have A Vet Question?
Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.
