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Hair Loss, Wight Loss, Voice Loss, eating/ sleeping healthily...

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AudioHeart

AudioHeart

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Hello again my lovelies,

I need you're help once again, it's with Maisie. My mummy in law doesn't think that the vet has diagnosed the right illness for Maisie Moo, as Dylan too is now losing his hair and becoming very thin.

:(

Symtoms: Shivering (currently been kept inside, cosies, blanket over the cage and heat lamp), Hair loss all over in particular clumps of hairloss, in particular backside, underbelly bleeding from itching at the neck, back of shoulder blades. Irritable when picked up, weight loss. Itching.

Vet Visits: x2. Vet tested for diabetes in Maise (pos), and tested for mites, lice and ticks (negative) however did prescribe mite shampoo for Dylan (as she was unsure why he too had a small bald patch on his rear). Concluded Maisie was dying keep warm.

Ages of Animals: 5-6 years (Maisie), Dylan 4 years.

Housing: Housed initially (four weeks ago) with two other sows, who are both well, and showing no symptoms of illness.

We're going to have another vet visit next week to a different vet to see if they can diagnose something different.

Photos: i haven't got many, Maisie is either not sitting still long enough or curled up in bed.

This is a photo from earlier this week, but things have gone down quite quickly. I will however get another photo on saturday/sunday.

DSCF3335.jpg


Now I know we need a vet, which we're going to see next week. But I was wondering if anyone else had experienced the same symptoms with their piggies to.
Thank you,

Laura x
 
Just a quickie as I have no time just now - but at first glance I would say to give extra Vit C and Ivomectin injections. If pigs turned up at the rescue looking like that this is what I would do. Will check back again when I get a minute.

Suzy x
 
Oh and they both have lost the ability to wheek it comes out like a whisper :(
 
Suzygpr said:
Just a quickie as I have no time just now - but at first glance I would say to give extra Vit C and Ivomectin injections. If pigs turned up at the rescue looking like that this is what I would do. Will check back again when I get a minute.

Suzy x
Click to expand...

Thank you for your quick reply hun! No worries about replying back later we're giving them both extra Vit C, and syringe feeding them three times a day with CC (they are eating,popping and weeing fine) Do you get Ivomectin injections from the vets? :)

xxxxxx
 
Will be back online later, my brother in law and his girlfriend have just turned up (they've came down from scotland for the weekend) so i'll be poping offline for a little while. :) Many thanks for the replies!

laura x
 
You can get the spot on from the vet, or use beapar anti parasite spot on (lots of pet shops sell this including the dreaded P@H)

The beapar isnt as strong as the xeno the vet will prescribe, and even though it says apply only once, my vet said it needs to be done 3 times over a 6 week period (once every 2 weeks)

However, they look real poorly and i would recoment seeing a vet and asking for the stronger xeno before then, or even having it injected. (only the vet can inject it)
 
Have they had any other tests? Xrays or scans? I would treat them again and more agressively for the skin. But the weight loss would worry me to think that there is something systemic going on. I think they need more diagnostic tests? I would see a different vet.

x.
 
I can't be 100% certain but that looks horribly like mange mites, they can't be detected by skin scrapes :

http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

Have a read of that & if necessary print it off then take it to a cavy savvy vet as it seems that your present vet isn't aware of the condition in piggies :)
 
Hi, me again.

My first course of action would be Ivomectin injections, every 10 days for three treatments. This would need to be done at the vets. Give a supplement of Vitamin C daily. A high quality pellet that has good levels of fats and proteins to rebuild the lost bodymass. I prefer Burgess Excel.

The weightloss is very common with a heavy infestation of mites - the pigs are so busy scratching that they do not eat well and they are expending so much energy scratching that the weight falls off them. The level of discomfort means they do not relax and they burn off even more energy.

Suzy x
 
Just wanted to wish them both well and hope that all others are ok and no caught anything. fingers and paws crossed, she looks a poor thing. Hugs x
 
Update: The vet has done so far:

blood tests, skin scrapings (both pigs), and (I'm going to have to ask my mum in law what it is called) they were both given oral medicine just in case they had mites (five day course).

Dil isn't itching as much a Maisie, nor is he in a bad state as Maisie but I'm thinking its a fungal infection? They were treated with Johnsons Mite, Flea and tick shampoo only five weeks before this cropped up. (they are done at the same time as my boys once every 6-7 weeks).

We're a bit confused too as surely if Maisie and Dil have the same issue why isn't the other two girls infected or ill too? Hmm!

They are both going back to see a different vet next week.
I do have some pigtures, just uploading them now :) Thank you for all the replies :)

Connie said:
You can get the spot on from the vet, or use beapar anti parasite spot on (lots of pet shops sell this including the dreaded P@H)

The beapar isnt as strong as the xeno the vet will prescribe, and even though it says apply only once, my vet said it needs to be done 3 times over a 6 week period (once every 2 weeks)

However, they look real poorly and i would recoment seeing a vet and asking for the stronger xeno before then, or even having it injected. (only the vet can inject it)
Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply i have taken these notes down to take to the vet next week.

Abi_nurse said:
Have they had any other tests? Xrays or scans? I would treat them again and more agressively for the skin. But the weight loss would worry me to think that there is something systemic going on. I think they need more diagnostic tests? I would see a different vet.

x.
Click to expand...

They've had blood test, skin scrapings and a culture test (i have no idea what thats for) but no x-rays or scans. We are going to another vet next week, the vet we did see has been brilliant in the past and was recommend for cavies by the RSPCA.

Poppy'sMum said:
I can't be 100% certain but that looks horribly like mange mites, they can't be detected by skin scrapes :

http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

Have a read of that & if necessary print it off then take it to a cavy savvy vet as it seems that your present vet isn't aware of the condition in piggies :)
Click to expand...

Thank you I've had a read through that link quite a few times, its scarey isnt it:( Thank you for your advice ill print it off and take it to the vet next week.
Suzygpr said:
Hi, me again.

My first course of action would be Ivomectin injections, every 10 days for three treatments. This would need to be done at the vets. Give a supplement of Vitamin C daily. A high quality pellet that has good levels of fats and proteins to rebuild the lost bodymass. I prefer Burgess Excel.

The weightloss is very common with a heavy infestation of mites - the pigs are so busy scratching that they do not eat well and they are expending so much energy scratching that the weight falls off them. The level of discomfort means they do not relax and they burn off even more energy.

Suzy x
Click to expand...

Thank you Suzy for taking the time to reply back :)

I'll take them too the vets for Ivomectin injections, and I'll tell my mum in law to slowly introduce burgess excel to them both.

Thank you again, I've wrote down everything to take to the vets! fingers crossed this time they'll be diagnosed :)
 
Just to let you all know :)


We went to a different vets on monday who treated them both for mange mites, they received treatment and need to go back twice in the next month.

However although it is early days, Maisie has already put weight on, and her hairs no longer falling out. She has also regained her 'wheek' and is much more active. So looks like things will continue to get better for the wee girl and her huspig. Will keep you all updated on her progress :)
 
Will also get some photos uploaded too!

Oh and does anyone know.....with mange mites......do i need to wash the cosies Maisie and Dilly use seperatly from the other pigs? And on what setting?

I've been washing them on a 60s on their own currently as i was unsure if the mites could travel through furnishings :)

EDIT: Oh and to be another pain......any tips, or advice on how to help the two? :) Thank youuuuuuuuu x
 
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I went hunting to find out how little Maisie was and came on this thread.....sorry i'm so behind ")

I'm sooooo happy to hear she's eating and got her wheeeeek back

COME ON MAISIE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


GOod luck sounds like this new vet's got things in hand now :)
 
Thank goodness she's feeling better, but how frustrating that the vets didn't pick up on something as basic as mites in the first place which resulted in her getting so unwell! malletheadmalletheadmallethead some vets make me angry!
 
Glynis said:
I went hunting to find out how little Maisie was and came on this thread.....sorry i'm so behind ")

I'm sooooo happy to hear she's eating and got her wheeeeek back

COME ON MAISIE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


GOod luck sounds like this new vet's got things in hand now :)
Click to expand...

Ohhh no worries Glynis I know life can get so busy and then you remember something and it takes agges finding where it was and whats happened between times!

It's lovely hearing her wheek, and shes become so friendly over the past month too!

Guinea pigs <3 said:
Thank goodness she's feeling better, but how frustrating that the vets didn't pick up on something as basic as mites in the first place which resulted in her getting so unwell! malletheadmalletheadmallethead some vets make me angry!
Click to expand...

I feel terrible as I suggested the vet (shes been brilliant with Percy-Roo, Thimble and the boys) and was very knowledgeable but i don't know it didn't go very well in this instance in the end we took her to see the vet who sees Ellie (the pony) and he gave both of them treatment straightaway.

I do find it harder finding a cavy savy vet in middlesbrough, the vet was suggested by the RSPCA and the only other one nearest to us is a four hour round trip@) which is not helpful in an emergency!
 
I'm so pleased to hear that Maisie seems to be improving with the right treatment. Kisses for both piggies. xx>>>
I don't know what to suggest about the fleece. Suzy or Pebble might be able to advise on this.
 
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