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Could hay mites cause shedding?

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loveisdivine

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Hi,

My 4 get static lice/hay mites on and off, which I treat with a spray and they disappear for a few of months.
They got them about a week ago, and I treated with spray and then last night gave them all a bath with manuka and neem shampoo.
One of my girls, Gloria, has been shedding quite a bit more than usual for the last 3 ish days. I thought the bath would help, but today she is still shedding and she has a little dandruff today too, but that could be from the bath yesterday. and they all still have some hay mites :(

Would the hay mites cause the shedding? Its never happened when she has had them before, and the others dont shed any extra either.

The only other thing it could be is that I put some Pro C in the water for a couple of days, a day or so before I noticed the shedding. Because one of the other girls is on antibiotics and I figured it couldnt hurt the others. Could that have upset her natural balance? I know for humans diet can sometimes effect hair loss. I've now just got plain water in there.

Oh I should mention that she has absolutely no problem with me touching her rear or seperating the hair to look for proper mites. So I dont think she does have proper mites, as I would imagine she would show signs of discomfort when I touched her, and the others dont have anything other than a few static lice/hay mites.

Were back at the vets this afternnon anyway to check how minners foot is doing. I will take Gloria and mention it to the vet.

Just wanted to get your opinions.
 
I would keep an eye on whether it is stress, seasonal shedding, mange mites or fungal, or a completely different cause.
http://gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/hairloss.html

Static lice/fur mites do not cause hair loss, but they may need more than one round of bath. Have you tried gorgeous guineas' lice'n'easy shampoo for your static lice?

Personally, I would not add anything to the water. In my experience, the piggies drink less and the water goes green with algae in no time flat. The vitamin goes off very quickly and you can't control the intake. You are much better off by dissolving 1/8 of a vitamin C tablet in 1-2 ml of water and syringing that for best effect.
 
^Thanks Wiebke.

I suppose it could be any of them. Maybe not mange mites, as she seems to be the only one with the problem, and her skin looks fine, just a touch of dandruff, but not much.
It could be any of the other 3, there has been some stress lately with them squabbling. Havent treid lice and easy, just have the manuka and neem.

Hopefully the vet will be able to shed some light on it.

At least she doesnt seem in any discomfort. Shes her usually happy self for now :)
 
I have had a similar thing with one of mine, after treating on and off for lice, each time she recovered I was convinced the last time was something else. It was mange it seems as better treatment and its all cleared up.

You cant see mites, I was fooled and I have seem mange too many times in my life and she didnt look like a pig with mange mites, yet she had them.

My advice and coming from personal experience, seek vet help and treat for mites
 
Can mange mites be treated with a spot on? Or does it have to be injected?
I cant take all 4 of them with me to the vets, so it would be easier if it could be given as a spot on that I could give all of them at home at the same time.

Edit - they do definitely have static lice too though. They are tiny brown/black flecks on the ends of the hair that dont move at all.
 
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they would likely use a spot on, but a more effective one than you can buy in pet shops/over the counter.

The treatment I have used is a spot on, treated all 4 for a fortnight, 2 applications and one further application due on sat for crystal as she was the one effected. She is a sensitive pig that really effected by the stresses encountered by the group and that was what triggered each flair up.
 
also, would the spot on do anything for the static lice. As I would imagine I couldnt use a spot on for the mites, and use the spray for the lice at the same time.
 
technically not really, they dont suck blood but it did work - the inferiour version. But I had a much quicker result when I used the gorgeous guineas lice and easy shampoo, they were much happier within a day rather than taking a week to see them less itchy. I also had chemical burns on crystal from the rubbish spot on treatment, which at the time is why I decided to use the shampoo and not the spot on for a 3rd time. I then discovered about the chemical burn reaction and changed the product for the mites and had again instant positive results.

I felt so horrible for having messed up the treatment of my poor sensitive girl and unwittingly subjected her to what must have been so uncomfortable. But we learn things every day and I share my experience with you all so other pigs wont have to go through the same thing.

Always the best thing without a doubt is to seek professional help, never try to home treat if something like this happens. The use of insecticide shampoos can be a way of deciding if the problem is lice or something else so that doesnt hurt if you can physically see lice in the hair, anything else would be a vet trip

Spot ons can and are used for mange mites when its not a serious infestation
 
The vet said its nothing to worry about. She checked her over and said it wasnt mites or fungal. Probably just seasonal or maybe stress.

She said whilst she could see that she was shedding more, the fur was still quite thick, which suggests its a seasonal shed.

Oh and minners now has the all clear with her foot :D So no more antibiotics.
 
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