Excessive scratching

[Wolfie]

Hi everybody, today I bought my first piggies from my local trusted pet shop, two males, Bugsy and beau.
I've brought them home and set up the cage and seem to be settling in fine, but beau seems to be constantly scratching, biting at himself, rubbing his nose and what kind of sounds like sneezing? and also kind of shaking himself like a dog would to get dry (if you know what I mean). I've been reading on here and it suggest that maybe mites? But i just bought them so should they have mites already, I was told they are about 4 months old. Is this happening because they are settling in or something else like mites or allergies. The other piggie is doing some scratching but not a lot. Any help or advice would be perfect. Going to phone the pet shop tomorrow for advice but It's late now and I'm a bit worried and I'm a very big worrier. Thanks all for reading

 

[LittleGems]

Shouldn’t be too much to worry about but I’d get a check up soon x

 

[Wolfie]

Shouldn’t be too much to worry about but I’d get a check up soon x

Thank you, I'm going too tomorrow hopefully I'm just worrying too much x

 

[LittleGems]

That great !

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everybody, today I bought my first piggies from my local trusted pet shop, two males, Bugsy and beau.
I've brought them home and set up the cage and seem to be settling in fine, but beau seems to be constantly scratching, biting at himself, rubbing his nose and what kind of sounds like sneezing? and also kind of shaking himself like a dog would to get dry (if you know what I mean). I've been reading on here and it suggest that maybe mites? But i just bought them so should they have mites already, I was told they are about 4 months old. Is this happening because they are settling in or something else like mites or allergies. The other piggie is doing some scratching but not a lot. Any help or advice would be perfect. Going to phone the pet shop tomorrow for advice but It's late now and I'm a bit worried and I'm a very big worrier. Thanks all for reading

Hi and welcome!

Good that you are seeing a vet promptly for a diagnosis!

Please have your boy vet checked for mites (either mange mites or hay mites) or ringworm (the most transmittable and aggressive form of a fungal skin infection that can also pass to other pets and humans). Also have both your piggies checked for a respiratory infection (URI). Sadly many shop piggies come with uninvited extras. Please be aware that you always need

You can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop by presenting the vet bill together with the sales receipt for any issue that your piggies have come with or come down within 2-3 weeks of purchase (30 days in the US) as exposure and infection must have happened at the shop. it comes under the heading of customer rights when being sold damaged ware.
Please update us, so we can help you with further tips, especially if you are dealing with ringworm.

Here are our tips for vet visits: Tips For Vet Visits

 

[Wolfie]

Hi and welcome!

Good that you are seeing a vet promptly for a diagnosis!

Please have your boy vet checked for mites (either mange mites or hay mites) or ringworm (the most transmittable and aggressive form of a fungal skin infection that can also pass to other pets and humans). Also have both your piggies checked for a respiratory infection (URI). Sadly many shop piggies come with uninvited extras. Please be aware that you always need

You can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop by presenting the vet bill together with the sales receipt for any issue that your piggies have come with or come down within 2-3 weeks of purchase (30 days in the US) as exposure and infection must have happened at the shop. it comes under the heading of customer rights when being sold damaged ware.
Please update us, so we can help you with further tips, especially if you are dealing with ringworm.

Here are our tips for vet visits: Tips For Vet Visits

Thank you so much this is so helpful really hoping it's nothing but will do everything for them thanks again

 

[Wolfie]

Hi and welcome!

Good that you are seeing a vet promptly for a diagnosis!

Please have your boy vet checked for mites (either mange mites or hay mites) or ringworm (the most transmittable and aggressive form of a fungal skin infection that can also pass to other pets and humans). Also have both your piggies checked for a respiratory infection (URI). Sadly many shop piggies come with uninvited extras. Please be aware that you always need

You can reclaim any vet cost from the pet shop by presenting the vet bill together with the sales receipt for any issue that your piggies have come with or come down within 2-3 weeks of purchase (30 days in the US) as exposure and infection must have happened at the shop. it comes under the heading of customer rights when being sold damaged ware.
Please update us, so we can help you with further tips, especially if you are dealing with ringworm.

Here are our tips for vet visits: Tips For Vet Visits

Is there anything I can do right now as there is no way to contact a vet i feel so bad not being able to do anything if there is something wrong, he seems to be scratching a lot then kind of laying down. I feel terrible having to leave him through the night

 

[Wolfie]

I know this is really stupid and i just sound crazy but he sounds like he kinda has a cold? You know like he kinda breaths like his nose is stuffy and i think I saw some snot earlier I don't know I'm just a bit confused

 

[DM030819]

@Wolfie It sounds like his has an upper respiratory infection (URI) which needs antibiotics from a vet.

If you can't get to a vet then I suggest you contact the pet shop and ask for them to take the pigs to the vet for you as they sold ill pigs. You will also need to look into starting a vet fund so you can pay for future visits yourself.

 

[Wiebke]

@Wolfie It sounds like his has an upper respiratory infection (URI) which needs antibiotics from a vet.

If you can't get to a vet then I suggest you contact the pet shop and ask for them to take the pigs to the vet for you as they sold ill pigs. You will also need to look into starting a vet fund so you can pay for future visits yourself.

I fully agree with @Jaycey - you have been sold ill guinea pigs that need to see a vet ASAP. Respiratory infection can kill or permanently damage the airways if left untreated or undertreated.
Guinea Lynx :: URI

If you really can't afford a vet, please take the piggies back to the shop for treatment; you have customer rights when it comes to selling damaged ware.

However, there are no cheap pets so you need to always save up to be able to afford a vet at all times. Vet care is making the budget post in any pet's expense of the course of its life. It is something that many new owners easily overlook.