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Four new foster pigs all with mites/fungal - advice please!

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Claire1973

Claire1973

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Last night I collected four foster pigs from the vets - three rex and one chocolate fox x) all from a certian breeder that has surrendered them voluntarily to satisfy the rspca (another story but she has over 100 of them in disgusting conditions)

Anyway - they have all been treated with ivermectin and the vet said one boy has running lice and was treated with an injection (not sure what this was but I will try and find out form the rescue I foster for) Three boys have all been neutered as well yesterday so are in recovery. the female is most likely pregnant as she was in with them. Anway - this morning they are all itching like crazy - the chocolate fox boy has a scab on his nose and is greasy - i suspect fungal? he is seperate from the others. A large old looking rex (also alone) is covered in scabs and sores where he is scratching and has a large bald patch on his back - he wont stop scratching, I thought this morning he was fitting but he was just twitching with irritation but he hasnt moved from one spot all night - he looks poorly (although eaten the dandelions I put in front of him) :-(

the other two male and female rex are both itching but dont look as bad however obviously if she is pregnant I'm not sure what I can use? I have ordered some lice n easy from GGuineas but can I use this straight away? ( with regards to their recent operations?) also - is it possible they all have BOTH mites and fungal and if so can you treat both at the same time? ( and how?!) none of them have been handled much they are all terrified of me. any advice would be good - ive not dealt with mites before.
 
firstly taking them all to a cavy savy vet is the best way forward. It sounds very much like a serious mange mite infestation which needs to be treated now before it seriously suppresses the immune systems of the poor guys - as it by the sounds of it is not one patch isolated and just happened, its been days/weeks getting worse.

Generally if they are injected with ivormec I dont see an issue with a fungal bath a few days later, but the vet would be able to advise treatments and schedules on which treatment and when. A shampoo such as lice and easy would not be effective enough in this case, much as it works well for lice, it wont treat mites. My only concern is if you topical treat for mange (spot on), you cannot bath for some days after and that would mean if they do have fungal as well, this will be left untreated.

So it would be best to sum up, go see the vet, and discuss your treatment options once you have a proper diagnosis.
 
Ivermectin given by injection will deal with burrowing mites, it will not deal with lice as they are surface feeders. Topically applied ivermectin would but as they have had it by injection you should not use it. GG Lice n Easy or Johnson insecticidal shampoo for small animals will deal with it well.

There are sprays available too - if you use a spray please spray on to a brush to apply it so that the pigs don't inhale it.

Fitting is usually caused by mite infestation so the inj. should help with that, they will need follow up inj at 7-10 intervals to clear it. Sometimes a sock vest help stop them from injuring themselves by scratching and triggering another fit.

All treatments should be done in agreement with the vet and rescue as you are fostering so please contact them before you proceed.

Suzy x
 
I apologise, I didnt read the post properly, they have had a treatment of ivormec so suzys advice is more appropriate.
 
thankyou

thankyou - I am going to collect some hay ect from the rescue today and will ask again what the treatment is to be - (it was late last night when I collected and I didnt get much chance to talk!) the vet we use is very cavy savvy - it the one the rescue use all the time and they didnt liase with me - it was through Gwen at the rescue, (I just collected them last night as they have no room you see) I think the older boy might have to go back to the vet if he doesnt stop scratching - but the vest idea is a great one!:))
 
going back to the vets

spoken to Gwen at the rescue and she has advised taking them straight back to the vet this afternoon. The chocolate fox boy has ringworm for sure - ive just loosened a round scab from his nose and he has ignored his dandelions - he is unhappy :-( The itchy rex boy I have soothed some aloe gel onto his wounds but he needs looking at again :-(
 
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