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Conjunctivitis And Mites In Young Piggie

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Shauny

Shauny

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Hi my name's shauny and I'm a new member here :)

I just became a new piggy mum about a week and a half ago; having bought them from pets at home I booked my 2 little girls into the vet for a check up. Turns out Taffy has conjunctivitis (along with congenital cataracts). We've been given Fucithalmic eye drops (fusidic acid as the active ingredient) for the conjunctivitis which does seem to be clearing it up.

However I've just noticed during lap time that she also has a little flaky bald spot on her lower back, is this likely to be mites? I've ordered some anti-paritsite beaphor spot on treatment (ivermectin being the active ingredient) just in case and will be treating them both. But should I take her the vet again about the bald patch or see how the ivermectin goes? And is there any chance that the ivermectin can't be used with the eye drops? Another thing to note is every now an then she sneezes, should I be concerned about that also or is sneezing normal?

Both piggies seem very happy in every other way, both eating fine, going the toilet fine, running round crazy popcorning, we've even got them purring during lap time :D


Here's a picture of the bald spot for reference:

imagejpg1.jpg



Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I just want to make sure I'm doing the best for them.
 
Hi welcome to the forum, am sorry you are dealing with illness so soon.

First of all if it is mites a shop bought Ivermectin product would not be strong enough and I think it would be better to ask the vet to treat them. If it is mange mites an injection is more effective than spot on anyway. However, that looks more fungal to me from the photo but you would need the vet to diagnose properly. If it is fungal, I recommend a product called Imaverol which you use as a dip and can also be applied topically.

The sneezing could be dust but I would monitor it especially as she already has conjuntivitis, as it can be a sign of a URI.
 
Hi a vet visit is required. If you haven't already call p@h they will put you through to the store who can authorise free vet treatment with them being so new and direct you to the local vets you can use on their tab!
 
Hi, got back from the vet this morning. He thinks it's mites, but didn't have the medicine in so have to wait until Monday when it will arrive. I might start using the beaphar anti-parisite spot on in the mean time though.

However I'm a serious worrier (about anything an everything). I told the vet about her sneezing an he checked her chest with a stethoscope and said she sounded fine, so hopefully no uri there.

If it's mites how long should it take for the medicine to work? How will the healing process go? i.e. Is it likely to get worse before it's better or should it just kill the mites straight away? Vet advised to apply it 3/4 times, but I forgot how long I should wait in-between each treatment.

Also my boyfriend has gotten a mild case of dermatitis on his hand after touching them, could mites cause this?

I feel so bad for her, taffy is the sweetest little thing ever she sooo friendly and curious!

Here's a better pic of the bald patch also:
image-1.jpg
 
I think if you are getting stuff from the vets Monday do not use spot on as well :( It could be dangerous to use 2 lots of medicines like that. When mine had mange mites it didn't look like that :( I think it is more likely to be fungal, I've never had experience of ringworm but I do know that humans can catch it. Tagging @helen105281 for more help for you :) Is this the only place she as it?
 
That photo does look just like my Pumpkin who does currently have mites.

Do you know what product you are getting on Monday? Could it be Xeno 450?

Hello by the way ......sorry you are having problems so soon :(
 
If the vet is prescribing stuff to apply topically then that contradicts him saying mites :hmm:Normally they either give an injection or Xeno, Stronghold or something for mange mites, I don't think I've heard of treating them topically before?
 
I still think it looks fungal but it can be difficult to tell from a photo. Will be interested to know what the vet gives you and I can advise from there. Is the hair coming out easily?
 
I agree with Poppy's mum, don't give anything until you know what the vet is giving you.

If it is mange mites then your partner should not have reacted skin wise which again makes me think fungal, possibly ringworm.
 
I don't know what medicine it is yet unfortunately, though it is something that will be given topically. I'm not sure if the hair is coming out easily or not, it was already out like that when I noticed; no more has come out since that I'm aware of either... So far this patch is the only place also.

I have to admit I'm not convinced its mites :(. Though if Goth Mummy's Pumkin has mites that look the same then hopefully it is and can get sorted from Monday.

My bf's a dental student so could've picked something up from a patient or from just being in the hospital building but he's convinced it's from the piggies.

Thanks for all the advice everyone as well, this is such a nice forum .
 
It is possible that the vet is treating for mites as precaution which I can understand. However, I would also recommend treating with an anti fungal shampoo (such as Nizoral or Alphosyl) followed by Imaverol dips just to treat any fungal too. How old is your pig? this will affect whether the shampoo can be used, if not then they can just have the Imaverol.

Here is the Imaverol

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/Enilconazole-100mg_ml-100ml/productinfo/ENILCON/

Please patch test for 48 hours behind the ear first and only bath 48 hours after any mite treatment which should tie in with the patch test.
 
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Ok I found my pic, this is what Sellnick (mange) mites look like, as you can see it's quite different to what your piggy's skin looks like :
DSCF1291_zpsa31970dc.jpg
 
There weren't any scabs like your pic, the hair was thinning over their backs. I did spot it straight away, they had been in boarding & when we got back off holiday that's what they looked like :( If this was caught early I dread to think how bad poor neglected piggies can get. I've been told stress can cause it. I was mortified & took them to the vet straight away, only 2 of them had it, but all 3 were given Stronghold drops on their necks & it cleared up very quickly.
 
You lot have got me worried that Pumpkin has been misdiagnosed now! Except Pumpkin's fur started to grow back 4 days after the first ivermectin application, so it probably is.....
 
Is she still showing symptoms @Goth Mummy ? Happy to look at photos. It is not uncommon to get a combination problem of mites and fungal.
 
Oh thanks Helen...i will take photos. Pumkin is due for the second treatment of Xeno tomorrow, and started scratching again today.
 
Ah yes taffys skin does look very different to that; a lot more scabby looking :(.

Pets at home didn't know there exact birth but said between 8-10weeks. I've had them 2 weeks today so they'd be 12weeks at the oldest or 10 at the youngest. I weighed her yesterday an if I've done my maths correctly she's 320g (had to weigh her in the piglo).

Oh no sorry @Goth Mummy ! Didn't want to make to you worry, hopefully Pumpkin will be fine!

Thanks for the link @helen105281 , just ordered the Imaverol. Better to be safe than sorry. Gonna ask the vet tomorrow about treating for both.
 
Great that you have ordered the Imaverol. I think they may be a bit young for an antifungal shampoo so the Imaverol on it's own should be sufficient.
 
Hi, sorry it's been awhile. The vet gave us Xeno 450 drops which where applied to both pigs on Tuesday 13th May. I then bathed them both in the Imaverol on Saturday (which coco did not enjoy at all! But she did learn that she can jump quite high and now has loads of fun jumping over everything she can in her cage). They're due for the next bath tonight.

Taffy's skin is looking much better, no hair is growing back yet; but she's no longer scabby looking or scratching loads either :)

Hopefully over the next few weeks they'll be healthy, happy (and spoilt!) little guinea pigs :).

Thank you for all your help, it's been greatly appreciated :D
 
Hi, you're doing an excellent job taking care of the piggies, and the forum members have really helped. Keep up the good work!
 
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