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Gertie is scratching and shrieking again, mites?

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helen105281

helen105281

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Some of you may remember that a while back Gertie had a bad case of mites and gave herself lots of nasty open wounds which have now healed but she has been left with some scarring. When she had mites she used to shriek when she scratched.

The OH has called me at work this morning to say that she is doing it again so he has had a look at her and she has an open wound in the area of one of her scars, she also did not like being touched.

Anyway we have an appointment for all 4 piggies tomorrow morning in case it is mites but I am more inclined to think her scar was itching and she has scratched it so much she has opened the wound back up. OH has looked through all 4 piggies' hair and can't see anything going on.

If the vet says Gertie needs antibiotics what am I best asking for as the baytril made her ill last time? Obviously we will need a probiotic too. Also if the vet says they all need mite treatment do the little ones need something different? I think they are just about 12 weeks old and weigh 465g and 479g.

I also wondered if it was a bite wound but there is no blood and if anyone is going to bite another I think it would be Gertie herself. Also the fact that she was scratching it makes me think mites or itchy scar.

Thanks for your help :)
 
I am so sorry for poor Gertie's suffering!

It is more likely that the mites have come back. All your guinea pigs need to be treated accordingly; your vet will take the weights into consideration.

The most effective way is by injection (followed by oral and only then by spot on). The treatment needs to be repeated at least twice within 10-14 days, and I would recommend three times for Gertie. My vets always insist on four rounds to make sure that they really get on top of the mites.

You could ask for septrin instead of baytril. It's much easier on the guts, especially after your last experience with bayril. An increasing number of vets is now open to suggestions and is prescribing other antibiotics.

Perhaps you can print out this page that lists safe antibiotics for guinea pigs for your vet. Septrin is an orally given form of bactrim.
http://www.guinealynx.info/antibiotics.html
 
Thanks Wiebke, Gertie had the injections last time, I think she had three in total. I will print that page off and take it with me I was thinking Septrin would be good. Hopefully she won't need any antibiotics though. Think of us first thing tomorrow trying to round them all up should be interesting lol.
 
Hi Helen, sorry to hear Gertie seems to be struggling with itchiness again. Just on question for now...did you bath her after her final dose of ivermectin last time? Worth doing this time, just to wash off the dead mites/their debris, as these can irritate as much as live mites themselves.

Another round of ivermectin and a bath would be a good treatmet path for now. :)
 
Thanks Laura, yes she has been bathed a couple of times since then as it was a good few months ago now. How soon can we bath after the ivermectin, do we have to wait until after all of the doses are done?
 
A couple of days after each dose, or after the last dose. Maybe worth using a specific anti-parasitic shampoo this time, thinking Lice 'n' Easy or Fleaordie. :)
 
Have got lice and easy so that's good, will definitely use it then thank you. I have a whole range of GG shampoos, had a spend up when we first got Gertie. Can the little ones have lice and easy? Sorry for the questions.
 
Double check with Chrissie on that one, although I am sure it is noted that Lice n Easy is fine for guineas over 12 weeks.
 
UPDATE:

Off we went to the vets with all 4 in carriers, they were not happy piggies. The vet thought with Gert's history it could be mites and so we have started the ivermectin jabs but she didn't want to treat the others. I am keeping a close eye on them though and will take them back to the vets at the first sign. All are going to be bathed tomorrow with lice and easy in case. I am not convinced Gert even has them now though as she is not scratching and the wound is starting to heal. The vet said she could have pulled the skin away on her scar and she does over scratch. I think it's from when she had mites before we got her and wasn't treated in time and so her automatic reaction is to scratch vigorously when anything itches.
 
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