Birt - Kind Of Stuck ?!

[Jenwah]

Hi everyone.

Haven't posted a while, have been back n forth with vets.

Some of you may know - have currently treated Birt for Mange mites after a large scale of eggs were found on his fur tests. This has now been treated and no more mites/eggs can be seen under the microscrope from samples.

I was giving him antibiotics, think it was banana flavoured amoxicillin. He picked up and seemed happier. I took him back to vets for a check up, they tested the other samples for ringworm - but this has come back negative. He still has dry/scaly skin which seems itchy and he still doesnt like me touching him.

Has anyone else had this with their piggies? Could it be because his fur is white? As I know some dogs i.e westies can sometimes have skin problems as they are white.

The vet is going to be speaking to another vet re skin problems as he is a dermatologist and they are due to get back to me for any other treatment I can give him. He's still so depressed looking, just constantly sleeps and looks really sad. Think as soon as I can neuter him, it would be for the best for him..

Thanks for any help as always

 

[Wiebke]

Hi and welcome back!

I am very sorry for your ongoing problems.

Are you sure that it was amoxillin he was given and not septrin? Amoxillin, as all penicillin based antibiotics, is lethal for rodents. Septrin is safe to give.

Has your vet considered fungal? Labs usually only test for ringworm, but not for any other forms. there is a form of fungal that can affect the skin on the back and look rather similar to mites damage. It's called broken back syndrome/fungal skin infection. The best way to treat that would be a course of oral itrafungol, which is now being increasingly used by piggy savvy vets.
http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/photogallery.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
@helen105281

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Hi there,
I don't think I have any advice, but am wondering whether you could contact Gorgeous Guineas and ask them their advice. I've purchased the shampoos and treatments and they have been very effective. I have a piggy, Flossie, who is very sensitive when stroked and I know she doesn't like it. Whilst there is nothing wrong with her skin etc. she isn't interested in being brushed which is a problem since she's long haired, nor having her hair cut.
I'd be interested to see what the specialists recommends.
Keep us updated.
x

 

[helen105281]

Could you post a photo? Broken back can really resemble mange mites as it causes a v like mange mites can. I had about 3 pigs with it at the same time and they were treated with Imaverol dips and Malaseb shampoo but I think it was Millie had to have Itrafungol too. She also developed a bacterial infection where she was scratching and was given a topical treatment called Flamazine which had silver in.

Does his hair seem greasy at all?

 

[Jenwah]

Wiebke, Ahhhh it probably wasnt amoxicilan, I asked my mum before and she couldnt remember but said she thought it was. All I know is it was banana flavoured. I'll fish out the receipt

I am going to go back and see about fungal, he's just not right - if you know what I mean, the itching isnt AS bad, but he still doesnt like to be touched / itches slightly. I will also enquire about that treatment, to see if they have it, hopefully they will as they have experience with guinea pigs at the vet I am going to.

Mother Hubbard, Ohh yeah I've heard of Goregeous Guineas, I will see their website and get in touch with them - thanks for that will look into it more. Definitely will keep you all posted

Helen105281, yes no problems, I will try and do it tonight if not will definitely do it tomorrow - I have some old photos but his skin has improved since then. Was your guineas pigs quite down as well would you say? I don't know if this is all connected with his skin, or if its because hes by himself, or maybe a bit of both?
No, his fur is very dry I'd say, quite coarse.

As always, thank you guys - I really appreciate you all getting back to me with advice and such, really respect you all

 

[helen105281]

Not really. It was bothering them a bit but they were their usual selves. It is possible to get a combination mite and fungal problem.

 

[Jenwah]

Just to you all know - I got it wrong it wasn't amoxicillin It was, septrin! So sorry about that. I'll get those pics up soon too!

 

[Jenwah]

I've added some pics

1 - is his bald patch V since treating with full
Course of Ivemectin behind of neck and antibiotics
2 - his eye I noticed seems to have lost some fur here but not a lot of sign of scales/dandruff etc
3 - not the best photo but this area was full
Of scabs when I got him from pets at home - cleared up a lot but here's some dry areas with skin coming away like dandruff - may need to zoom
4 - another area of where scabs were, is that his sweat gland? Is it supposed to be that colour?
5 - Birt posing for you all :-)

Hope the pics help - am I being over the top? Since really looking at his back area proper, I can't believe how much it's cleared. I had some photos of this area when j got him I'll have put them up to compare soon.

 

[helen105281]

Thank you for the photos. Are the hairs broken half way down the shaft? He has been treated for mange mites but you have said it was with spot on. For really bad cases Ivermectin injections are more effective so it would be worth asking your vet about that. It does look more like mange mites to me but I am not completely ruling out fungal aswell. Does the hair come out easily if you tug it gently? I must admit it looks more like fungal around his eyes.

 

[Jenwah]

Ok thanks for that Helen - his fur doesn't seem broken just that they are growing back. And the fur doesn't come out easily. I am going on Saturday to see them. Can you help me with what to ask please?

I'll ask about the injection of ivermectin
Which fungal treatment should I ask about?

Is there any treatments thay shouldn't be used together? Sorry for all the questions, I just want Birt to be happy he seems to be having a rubbish life so far and it makes me sad.

 

[helen105281]

It doesn't sound fungal to me then but best to get the vet to check. Any test they do for fungal though will only show up Ringworm and not the other types.

If the vet does suspect fungal I would ask for Imaverol which you can use as a dip (I can give you the link to buy online if not) or Itrafungol which is an oral medication, I am not sure if it has a minimum age limit though, how old is he? It is ok for the Imaverol and/or Itrafungol to be used at the same time as treatment for mites but there needs to be a 48 hour gap between any mite treatment and dipping. Also I would patch test the Imaverol behind the ear for 48 hours first. Even if fungal is not confirmed a round of dips with Imaverol would not hurt in case any potential fungal issue is brewing.

 

[Jenwah]

Ahh thanks for that Helen. I'm going to be going next Monday I think. Ill mention all of what you said. I've been speaking to the vet today, they said that they would like to give him a course of Ivermectin injections and suggested saleen shampoo? Does anyone have any reviews with that?

Arghhh I just want him to be a normal happy pig

 

[helen105281]

That's great they want to do the injections. I have heard good things about Seleen but not used it myself. As far as I am aware it is for parasites though so would no deal with any fungal issue.