Haypoke and mites :(

[Shanj19]

What an eventful day!
This morning I noticed roary squinting so I took him out to find a piece of hay in the corner of his eye. I remember this but noticed he was still squinting. I booked him an appointment for the vets and took Thomas with him for moral support.
Whilst waiting my other half noticed little white things crawling on the crown of thomases head! As you can imagine I am not beside myself thinking what next as I was already very anxious about roarys like to the eye.
After an examination she agreed that yes it was haypoke but I need to wait til tomorrow for drops to come in IF they come in. What am I going to do if they don’t? His eye itself is fine he doesn’t seem to be squinting anymore but obviously I still want him to have his medication.
She then treated them with ‘spot on’ for the mites, but didn’t say they needed any further treatment?
I’m wondering if it would be ok for me to bath them a few days after this to give them a good clean? I hate the thought of them having them and I’m beating myself up for it too! I’ve been informed these are from the hay? I’m all over the place this evening

 

[David Piggie Lover]

hi well done getting piggies to vets etc.
I'd throw away hay everything that the piggies been in contact clean.
Try not to worry as you doing well ok.

 

[Shanj19]

hi well done getting piggies to vets etc.
I'd throw away hay everything that the piggies been in contact clean.
Try not to worry as you doing well ok.

Yes the smallest thing and I think I’m there it’s there first vet trip since I’ve had them but I think the mites sent me over the edge and made me feel like I was failing them! I just prey the treatment they were given works because I’m so worried they’re on fleece so you can imagine the heartbreak of having to throw away all of that but I’d much prefer to do so then anything happen to them

 

[Wiebke]

What an eventful day!
This morning I noticed roary squinting so I took him out to find a piece of hay in the corner of his eye. I remember this but noticed he was still squinting. I booked him an appointment for the vets and took Thomas with him for moral support.
Whilst waiting my other half noticed little white things crawling on the crown of thomases head! As you can imagine I am not beside myself thinking what next as I was already very anxious about roarys like to the eye.
After an examination she agreed that yes it was haypoke but I need to wait til tomorrow for drops to come in IF they come in. What am I going to do if they don’t? His eye itself is fine he doesn’t seem to be squinting anymore but obviously I still want him to have his medication.
She then treated them with ‘spot on’ for the mites, but didn’t say they needed any further treatment?
I’m wondering if it would be ok for me to bath them a few days after this to give them a good clean? I hate the thought of them having them and I’m beating myself up for it too! I’ve been informed these are from the hay? I’m all over the place this evening

Hi!

I hope that your drops will come in tomorrow!

What you can do is getting plain artificial tear gel (preferably over drops) from a pharmacy to keep the eye hydrated. This does not replace antibiotic tear drops but it helps ease the discomfort and supports the healing process; you can give them 3-6 times in 24 hours but have to wait for at least 30 minutes after any medical tear drops to allow them to be fully absorbed.

The white crawley things are lice; however treatment for all guinea pig skin parasites is the same with ivermectin. Please be aware that you need to treat all piggies in contact and that a full course is three applications at the product specific interval (1-2 weeks). Our recommended UK brand is xeno 450 for adult guinea pigs. You have to always wait at least 48 hours to allow any topical i.e. external) treatment to work. I would recommend to see first how you get on with the ivermectin before going into overdrive.
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

 

[Shanj19]

Hi!

I hope that your drops will come in tomorrow!

What you can do is getting plain artificial tear gel (preferably over drops) from a pharmacy to keep the eye hydrated. This does not replace antibiotic tear drops but it helps ease the discomfort and supports the healing process; you can give them 3-6 times in 24 hours but have to wait for at least 30 minutes after any medical tear drops to allow them to be fully absorbed.

The white crawley things are lice; however treatment for all guinea pig skin parasites is the same with ivermectin. Please be aware that you need to treat all piggies in contact and that a full course is three applications at the product specific interval (1-2 weeks). Our recommended UK brand is xeno 450 for adult guinea pigs. You have to always wait at least 48 hours to allow any topical i.e. external) treatment to work. I would recommend to see first how you get on with the ivermectin before going into overdrive.
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

The vet didn’t say about anymore treatment she did use xeno on them, now I’m worried as I do not have any to give! Why would the vet not say that they need more? :/ thank you for your advice it’s very much appreciated x

 

[David Piggie Lover]

you don't throw away the fleece as a hot wash 90 should kill them. You doing well.
You could ring the vets with more knowledge now and ask.
Where are you uk or ?

 

[Wiebke]

The vet didn’t say about anymore treatment she did use xeno on them, now I’m worried as I do not have any to give! Why would the vet not say that they need more? :/ thank you for your advice it’s very much appreciated x

Some general vets unfortunately seem to think that a single application is enough.
You can order xeno 450 easily online; it is not a prescription-only medication. The next application is due in two weeks' time, so you have got plenty of time.

Healthy guinea pigs with a fully operational immune system are usually doing fairly well at fending off lice, so you can hopefully get on top of them easily.

PS: Please do not throw away any furniture or bedding. Lice do not live in there; they need guinea pig blood to survive for any length of time. A good wash at 60 C and a cage deep clean with a vet grade disinfectant like F10 (widely available online) are perfectly adequate.

 

[Shanj19]

Thank you all so much for your advice I’m currently awake still feeling very sorry for my piggies I’m just so glad we were in the right place when we saw the lice. I suffer with anxiety and as you can imagine my mind is playing all kinds of tricks on me

 

[Siikibam]

You’re doing a good job of looking after them.

As for the treatment, I didn’t know it was standard to give more than one. When the boys had them, I took them to the vet and she applied it there. She also gave me some to take home in case they still had them. I didn’t need to apply again, and it was the same when the girls had them. They seemed to go after one dose.

Maybe ask for confirmation from the vet and also buy some in for the next dose.

 

[Betsy]

When Dennis had mites the vet treated him and gave me one more application to put on 2weeks later and said I didn't need to treat the other 4. I bought xeno on line and treated them all 3 times anyway as I didn't want an endless round of mites.

 

[Shanj19]

When Dennis had mites the vet treated him and gave me one more application to put on 2weeks later and said I didn't need to treat the other 4. I bought xeno on line and treated them all 3 times anyway as I didn't want an endless round of mites.

Is it safe to buy online I always worry about it? If you could send me a link that would be great

 

[Shanj19]

You’re doing a good job of looking after them.

As for the treatment, I didn’t know it was standard to give more than one. When the boys had them, I took them to the vet and she applied it there. She also gave me some to take home in case they still had them. I didn’t need to apply again, and it was the same when the girls had them. They seemed to go after one dose.

Maybe ask for confirmation from the vet and also buy some in for the next dose.

Thank you! I did wonder after she put it on about the next dose, hopefully they are dying now the thought of anything crawling in my babies hair breaks my heart.
When do you think it’s best to bathe them? I don’t want to do it too early incase it effects the treatment

 

[David Piggie Lover]

Calm on this forum are lots links and people who have had things like this happen take your time and have a good read.
I'm sure your piggies will be fine in time. x

 

[Betsy]

Is it safe to buy online I always worry about it? If you could send me a link that would be great

What dose of Xeno did your vet give your piggy? There are different doses depending on the weight of your piggy. If you can't remember give the vet a quick ring and ask them. Then you just order the same dose online.

 

[Shanj19]

You’re doing a good job of looking after them.

As for the treatment, I didn’t know it was standard to give more than one. When the boys had them, I took them to the vet and she applied it there. She also gave me some to take home in case they still had them. I didn’t need to apply again, and it was the same when the girls had them. They seemed to go after one dose.

Maybe ask for confirmation from the vet and also buy some in for the next dose.

Can I ask how long it took before you stopped seeing them crawling around in their fur,

 

[Siikibam]

I can’t really remember to be honest. It was most likely less than a month. I didn’t check incessantly if that makes sense. I just checked one day and there were none.