Bald Leg

[Bexi87]

I have noticed over the last few days that Fudge has a bald patch on her foot/leg and that she keeps cleaning it as if it is itching.

I've checked her toes and they all seem fine so I'm a bit stuck - I've managed to get a picture of the leg.



Does anyone have an idea of what it is or how I can make it better?

Thanks

Beci

[deguconvert]

I can't tell anything from the photo . . . it might be best to have a vet look and make sure she doesn't have mites or anything like that. If she doesn't, then for some reason she is over grooming. It can result from boredom, or too much time with the bathing sands, or just because. But for your peace of mind, make sure she doesn't have mites or any such things, as they can be very successfully treated.

[Bexi87]

Thanks DC, I'll make an appointment this week

[deguconvert]

Good. Let us know what comes of it.

[Bexi87]

I emailed Chloe from Degutopia this morning and she responded saying it seemed to be a classic symptom of over-grooming which is likely to be caused by stress...so I'm not sure what to do.

I set a 2nd cage up next to B&F's cage ready for the babies so I'm not sure if it is that which is making her stressed - I had thought about maybe letting them into the spare cage to look around and then just clean/disinfect it before the babies move in.

Has anyone had experience of stressed goos?!

[deguconvert]

Don't get too focused on the word "stressed." Over grooming can happen just because. We have two of our three that have picked their forelegs right down to the pink, and they sometimes let them grow a bit, and sometimes keep them pink. Yet the third one boasts nice hairy legs (LOL! CAN'T be a HUMAN female!!!) with no signs of over grooming whatsoever! The anal groomers are brothers . . . so . . . genetic predisposition maybe? Eh! Who knows, but I wouldn't get too upset about it. If she starts to irritate her skin and it is showing redness or cuts, get her to the vet, but if not . . . she's OK just a touch . . . obscessive about her legs.

[Bexi87]

Thanks, I've given Biscuit the once over and she doesn't seem to have any hair loss so I'm going to leave the vets and see how it goes.

If it gets worse once the babies arrive then I should know that it is because she feels unsure

[puzzle29]

My degus had bald patches, but I gave them dust bathes more than often, and it went away, but in your case I would recommend taking her to a vet again if it gets much worsexxx
Good luck with the birth!!!!!!