Guinea Pig Dermatitis
I noticed
that my guinea pig has very dry skin. There is dandruff everywhere and
she is beginning to loose her hair. We change her water everyday and make
sure she has a clean house and a good diet. What could be the cause of
this?
Guinea pigs
are prone to vitamin deficiencies, mange mites and allergic dermatitis.
Be sure to use guinea pig food, not rabbit pellets which look similar.
Guinea pigs require more Vitamin C and E. Excessive crusting around the
eyes often indicates a Vitamin C deficiency. You can supplement with
citrus or Vitamin C fortified beverages. Mange mites cause a rash and
hair loss, usually worse on the back and rump. Allergic dermatitis is
often caused by pine shavings, and is worse on the chest and abdomen.
You can use human baby shampoo to bathe the pigs, and a cream rinse is
a good idea.
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