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HELP: scabs AGAIN

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MrsM

MrsM

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Hi

My boys Bertie and Finlay have scabs again. It comes and goes. Last time it flared up, we had them both checked for the 2nd time for mites. On both occasions, both vets were categorical it wasn't mites. i have tried the Coconeem melt and the Manuka and neem shampoo and although it seems to calm them down for a few days, they still end up scratching and getting scabs in the end.

The scabs are whitish, not red or brown with blood and usually go after a few days but it makes their skin very crusty.


They're eating well and drinking plenty. I've not noticed any hair loss apart from the usual daily moult. Nothing unusual apart from the scratching and the scabs. This is really stressing me out now because we've been trying to shake it off since December.:(:(:(
 
just a thought - have they been tested for ringworm? ?/

a couple of years ago my piggies had what I thought was recurring mites. we did the usual injections but it wouldn't go. Eventually the vet did skin scrapings & it turned out to be ringworm rather than mites.

The treatment was baths with medication once every 3 or 4 days for 4 doses. the piggies didn't like it grrrr(nor the dog for that matter as all the furries had to be treated!) but it did the trick! x)

If you've already tried this, I don't know what else to suggest.

I hope they all get better soon. there is nothing worse than a sick or sad piggie.

Hugs & squeaks from my manly quintet

Michele
 
no they haven't. I didn't know that they could get ringworm. What other symptoms should they show. For example mine never seem satiated but don't put on much weight, they drink A LOT, plus there's always the issue of Bertie's lump in his abdomen
 
Vets cannot see burrowing mites under the skin though. Skin scrapings and cellotape tests are not always effective at identifying parasitic problems.

Treat for both fungal and mites, to ensure it clears up. Dose both boys with some Ivermectin (topical or oral), giving three doses 7-10 days apart. Bathe them in anti-fungal shampoo between doses; they'll want at least two baths for this. Something along the lines of:

Day 1 - Ivermectin
Day 5 - Antifungal shampoo
Day 10 - Ivermectin
Day 15 - Antifungal shampoo
Day 20 - Ivermectin
Day 25 - Antifungal shampoo.

Treating for both should make sure that neither parasitic nor fungal is active on them, and hopefully clear them up once and for all. The third dose of Ivermectin and the third bath may not be necessary - sometimes two rounds of treatment is enough.
 
I prefer to give Ivomec second dose 10-12 days after the first. It gives a better chance of killing the mites which have hatched. Oral dose is 2 drops. I find that if the oral dose doesn't have the desired effect, then Ivomec by injection does, dose 0.2ml.
 
The ringworm was similar presentation to mites, although the skin was more flaky & the although fur came out, it wasn't in the same quantity as with a bad case of mites. That said, when you gently tugged the fur it came out - like mites.

My boys were OK during this time, but not their usual selves. It was very vague & non-specific.

My vet decided to do the skin scrapings as the mite treatment just never quite got rid of it.

Have you been back to the vet & started treatment yet? If so, how are they doing?

Michele
 
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