Ringworm Infection in Guinea Pigs

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Treatment

Treatment is a five- to six-week course of an oral antifungal medicine. If there are only one or two bald patches, or limited nonspreading spots of skin that appear red and flaky, they can usually be treated by applying an antifungal topical ointment that has been recommended by your veterinarian. The course of treatment generally lasts 7-10 days. Your veterinarian might also suggest the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to improve your guinea pig's health.

Living and Management

If you have multiple guinea pigs, you will need to separate the recovering guinea pig from the other guinea pigs by placing it in a different cage until it has fully cleared the infection -- unless all of the guinea pigs have been found to be infected. Both the cage the guinea pig is being placed in, as well as the old cage the guinea pig has been inhabiting will need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before introducing the guinea pig into it.

Follow the treatment schedule as recommended by your veterinarian. Ringworm infection is highly contagious to humans and other animals. Therefore, when handling an infected guinea pig it is necessary to wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling. It is advised that children not handle the infected guinea pig or any of the cage materials until the infection has been fully cleared and the materials cleansed entirely. You will need to see your veterinarian again to make sure that the infection has fully cleared from the guinea pig's system, and to assess the condition of the skin.

Prevention

Taking steps to clean and sanitize cages regularly so as to avoid build up of contaminated material inside the cages can help reduce the incidences of ringworm infection in guinea pigs.