[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Oral thrush, mouth sores and fungal infections and Chakalaka

[Ann Evans]

Dear Mieke and the GPDD Family,
  Oral thrush is the very first cause of a cavy going off of food. 
Cavies of all rodents are the most susceptible to fungal infections of 
the skin and internally. They get them primarily from the fungus and 
yeast on the hay or moldy vegetables or wet pelleted food.  Also when 
they clean themselves they ingest the fungal spores on their hair and 
skin. If the cavy's immune system is weak due to parasite infection or 
another infection then the fungal spores can grow and cover from the 
mouth all the way to the anus. Oral thrush, Cystitis and Gastric Bloat 
are the 3 main reasons cavies go off of food. The first 2 conditions can 
lead to malocclusion of the molars, primarily the premolars growing over 
the tongue. Gastric bloat is an emergency situation that must be dealt 
with anti gas, antifungal medication or diuretics depending on the cause 
along with pain medication. Anytime a cavy goes off of food it should 
immediately be put on Daktarin oral gel or another antifungal drug to 
prevent oral thrush from spreading. Oral thrush can be in the throat 
where you cannot see it or in the mouth.  It makes your cays breath 
smell of yeasty bread. In the mouth when it starts there are red 
blotches on cheeks and on tongue that turn white and grow just like a 
white mushroom. The fungal spores start under the skin be it in the 
mouth or on the body and grow outward. Regardless if you smell it or see 
it if cavy is off food treat for it. By the time you see the white 
cheesy mushrooms in the mouth the cavy is so sick.  It can also be in 
the gastro intestinal tract and prevent food from being absorbed into 
the blood stream. Oral thrush causes pain in the mouth and throat. Thus 
the cavy does not eat enough hay to keep the molars ground down since 
all the teeth are constantly growing. Any condition that causes a cavy 
to be in pain can cause it to go off food and lead to malocclusion of 
the molars. Anytime a cavy has any dental work on the molars it should 
be immediately put on a course of Daktarin oral gel or the equivalent 
human antifungal medication to treat babies that have oral thrush such 
as Nystatin Oral Suspension 100000 USP units. The dosage for Daktarin 
oral gel to treat oral thrush or after molars are cut is 0.5ml 3 
times/day for the first week, 0.5 ml twice a day for the second week and 
0.5ml once a day for the third week. If using Nystatin Oral Suspension 
the dose would be 0.1 ml administered according to the same schedule as 
Daktarin oral gel. If the fungal infection in the mouth is so severe 
that cavys mouth appears to have cottage cheese in it then it will have 
to be treated with a stronger antifungal drugs such as Itrafungol or 
Sporanox oral solution. The adult dose would be 0.4ml twice daily for 
the first 3-5 days followed by a twice daily dose of 0.2ml for at least 
2-3 weeks. If the cavy is showing signs of severe neurological problems 
such as ataxia, introversion or having fits the treatment may need to be 
given over a much longer period.

In Chakalaka's case his oral thrush was so severe that his mouth was all 
white like cottage cheese but the vet did not know what the problem was. 
In his case he had to be put on Sporanox and Rimadyl for pain.

I am not a vet. These dosages are just guides. Each patient is an 
individual and the treatment plan must be tailored for that patient. 
Daktarin oral gel can be bought without a prescription at this link. I 
always have at least 3 15gram tubes in my first aid kit.
http://www.pcpdirect.co.uk/?query=daktarin&x=0&y=0&BrandSearch=%2F

Cheers,

Ann and the Rescued Piggys of Piggyville, Tampa Florida USA.