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Help Re Lice Please

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Briony_S

Briony_S

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Hi I posted some time ago about one of my girls having lice. It's been about a week since the vets they've had injections (they did all my pigs just incase) I have some spot on to do on Christmas eve and then 2 weeks later. I have also used micro Neem and lice and easy which I will repeat on Friday. My question is regarding some nasty skin patches on lacey.

It appears my two new girls brought lice with them and then as lacey is long haired she seems to have got the worst of it, off them jumping ship.

I am posting some pics just to check that what I have found is due to scratching. I will also post a picture of ruby who seems to have a scar behind her ear that has healed so she must have had issues before?
 
Sorry having a "moment" pics on my phone but no photobucket on my phone so having to download the app.. will post pigtures in a sec they are the best I could get as area quite small but I will explain the photos
 
Ok so this is the ear which I think is just scratched the scabs are in lines, I would say the scabbed area is no bigger than 1 cm squared

 
This is behind other ear, again not massive as you can tell by the size of my fingers but it kind of looks scaley to me.

 
I should say that presently I cannot find any lice on them, I used a flee comb after the bath to get rid of any stragglers so fingers crossed but will be continuing with the treatment regardless
 
this is ruby who has what looks like scarring from scratches she seems free of any fresh scratches and no patches of bad skin, the third cagemate seems fine also

 
Hmm is difficult to tell, it could be from scratching, could be the start fo fungal or could be a reaction the the products you have used. Are they still scratching?
 
If anyone who has experienced lice before confirm whether we need to continue treatments or go back to vets first? Not sure if laceys ears were like this before the vet visit, as I checked her rump and found lice there and I am kicking myself now but should have checked her ears too! Rubys scarring does look like it has healed so must be older.
 
yes they are still scratching, I did a test with the products first as stated on the instructions and all seemed fine
 
I think there is still a problem then, whether it is the same one or something different is difficult to tell.
 
ok many thanks I thought so but I didn't want them thinking I'm a nutter again after I turned up with 6 last time!
 
I am getting increasley cross at the place I got them from. It was a pet shop and I know better but was having a bad day and its no excuse but I felt sorry for them as there were 6 probably 4 month old pigs in a small cage which I estimated to be 80cm or smaller they were climbing over each other to move :( they had no hideys just a water bottle food bowl and a bit of hay thrown in :(
 
Injections for lice? If lice are present as they don't bite the skin spot ons and injections won't kill them, only shampooing can do that. Spot ons and injections work for skin biting parasites such as mites but no lice. So I would wash with lice n easy following the instructions of a two week period. Its hard to tell from the photos could be like Helen said the start of fungal which manuka and neem oil would clear up, stress of a new home could have brought this on etc.... If you worried see your vet :)
 
I called them up and was very polite and told them that my vet said that the two I got from them gave lice to my girl lacey (I should have quantined I know) hindsight is a wonderful thing. I said he had better get the others treated and explained what to look for and he said he would. I feel like going down there to check up on them
 
Sounds horrible :( makes me think it is possible that there is another issue then such as mange mites of fungal if they were kept in bad conditions.
 
Thanks Lacey is my 2 year old she caught lice of the two newcomers, it could be stress from the bonding but that was about 6 weeks ago!
 
degu_rock said:
Injections for lice? If lice are present as they don't bite the skin spot ons and injections won't kill them, only shampooing can do that. Spot ons and injections work for skin biting parasites such as mites but no lice. So I would wash with lice n easy following the instructions of a two week period. Its hard to tell from the photos could be like Helen said the start of fungal which manuka and neem oil would clear up, stress of a new home could have brought this on etc.... If you worried see your vet :)
Click to expand...

If it is fungal, I can give other treatment methods which I have used succesfully.
 
I know I am going to get them checked again at the vets as they definitely had lice as I saw them crawling around in her hair (yuck) and got to see one under microscope too! they could have multiple things I suppose
 
I will get diagnosis from vets and get back to you. At least the invermectin will take care of any mange mites in the process though!
 
Yes it will do. I can also give you tips pn stopping them scratching if needed. Just PM me.
 
Got an appointment for 2.35 my vets is fantastic and quick! Just got to bundle them all up and see what they say!
 
helen105281 said:
If it is fungal, I can give other treatment methods which I have used succesfully.
Click to expand...

I have used other stuff for fungal myself but found the manuka and neem to be amazing and not so harsh on the skin. I had a piggy handed in to me half bald had bad fungal it was everywhere as been allowed to spread as bred for snake food and kept in appalling conditions. Vet checked him over for me as wanted to make sure he was mite free and was happy for me to use my own products on him. Took 3 months of treatment and stopping him scratching with a mixture of bandages and covering his nails before he was completely clear and 6 months on he has a full coat of hair and never looked better :)
 
Good luck with this. My Guinea Pig has also struggled with lice/mites throughout her life, recently it's been discovered that there was an underlying cause (ovarian cysts) which made her very susceptible to them so please make sure they check the piggies thoroughly for things unrelated to skin problems too.
 
Yes I will keep up with the lice and easy and invermectin (just to be safe of mites). The vets confirmed it was hard to tell as it could just be scratching, I do think it looked a little scaley though. They have taken a sample from my three that live together and said if they show any signs they will repeat on my other 3 to be safe. Got to wait a maximum of 12 days for it to grow / not grow!

Any useful advice for general sore skin and less itching that would not risk making it worse would be good. It is only around the naturally bald area of the ears so could just be scratches as no fur to protect them there but I know that is also where nasties like to hide.

I was thinking maybe E45 cream could help whilst I await a diagnosis, but I wouldn't want to use it unless I knew it was safe for them? I also have some sudecrem don't know if that may help as I know it works magic on people - again I wouldn't use it unless I know it is safe
 
I have been using micro neem prior to the lice and easy already, does certain beddings make itching worse? they are currently on newspaper and hay
 
Scaley skin can also be a sign of mites too, depends how itchy they are?

Sudocream is good to use as softens the skin and stops the itching somewhat plus it helps kill off fungal spores, I use it along side the manuka and neem shampoo. If they are scratching them a tip is to cover the nails with surgical tape, they can scratch but do no damage as the nails are covered. Hay might irritate it, could try them on fleece see if makes any difference.
 
Ok thanks - well that's a job for tomorrow then I will swop them to fleece and see if that helps, I would have done it today but having taken 6 pigs to the vets most of my fleeces now need a wash! Fingers crossed it'll clear up with the invermectin and neem & lice and easy combo. I am going to order the manuka & neem and a coconeem melt and kwench lotion just incase as last posting day tomorrow and may need it before new year if it turns out to be fungal! I do have some in the cupboard but I'm pretty sure it is out of date so in the bin it goes!
 
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