Does my boy Jacque have hay mites?

[TheCJ]

As some of you may know, my boy Jacque has recently lost his cage mate after I had to put him down. Since then Jacque has been back and forth to the vet with a skin condition that is just getting progressively worse.
He has a large dry and scabby patch on his back and it has spread to his ear as well in the last few days.
I have been struggling to find him a good vet and I seem to be getting differing opinions from everyone I talk to! It's frustrating because I seem to just go to the vet for them to just ask me what I think is wrong, and them treating him according to what I've said.
The vet has given me some generic flea and mite drops that I can only give him once every fortnight for about six weeks.
I then got another opinion that means I now still give him the drops every fortnight, but also a spray treatment for ringworm every day.
Neither seems to be working, and although I'm told Jacque won't really get better for a while, I still think that he's suffering too much to just wait and see if the treatment works in six weeks time.
He's started flinching a lot in the last day or two and flinging his head as if he's really itchy, and at times it's so bad that he looks like he's popcorning! I've heard him squeak as if he's in pain a couple of times today and he's also sleeping nearly all day, and only half-heartedly comes out to play once or twice a day for half an hour max.

Please, I really need some advice!- Should I take him back to the vet or see if the medication starts to work?

 

[sharonS]

I live not far from you and I have started to use a vets at Butt Lane nr Kidsgrove called Charter Vets, they also have a practice in Newcastle too. But I go to a vet his Name is Rob Hill, he is at the Butt lane practice, he is very good with Guineas and has recently diagnosed mine with having mites, they have been on a course of ivermectin, and I am closely watching at the moment to see if the treatment has been a success, any problems and he said to go straight back. There are other forum members that use this vets too, that is how I found out about them. The phone number is 01782 771441. Worth giving them a call, you definatley need a confident cavy savy vet.

 

[TheCJ]

Thank you so much! It's a great help to have a recommendation, I'd feel a lot better going to to someone knowing they're definitely going to help get Jacque better!

 

[sharonS]

I have had experience before of vets that don't have an idea about the needs of guineas, it seems to be a guessing game and costs you alot of money also. Glad to be of help, let me know how you get on.

 

[zarapiggie]

aww p[oor little thing! I'm suprised the vet never gave yu some xeno which can be readministered in 10 days and covers most afflictions-except fungal. maybe ask for some of that? i'd be going the whole hog and treating him for fungal to with some nyzerol shampoo (from boots) or if its lookling sever ask the vet for some intrafungal (think thats what its called and its pricy) there is also a stronger shampoo for fungal you can get from the vet. hope that is of some help.

 

[TheCJ]

Thank you! I think I'm going to try taking him to the vet one more time but if that doesn't do much then I will definitely look into the shampoos!
It's a great help to know what to ask for at the vet though!