Just as the title says. I recently rescued 4 female guinea pigs from someone who didn't want them anymore. One is very heavily affected by mange and the other 3 have small symptoms starting up and they are also pregnant. One gave birth to 5 babies yesterday and both all babies and mum are looking very healthy so far, apart from the slight mange starting up on mum. The other 2 look like they are due in 2 or 3 weeks.
We have tried ivomectin and that hasn't made an effort that we've noticed so far. I've seen around that coconut oil is a good treatment but I just wanted to double check for myself.
Hi! and welcome!
Coconut oil is completely useless, as are low dosed shop products. Please see a vet for a course of appropriately high dosed ivermectin; it is the only thing that will get on top of the mange mites. Ideally we recommend a course of injections for badly affected guinea pigs; that is the most effective way of getting on top of them. An appropriate course of ivermectin consists of 3-4 rounds of treatment (or more, depending on the severity), 1-2 weeks apart depending on the product used. Because the immune system of pregnant and nursing sows is rather beleaguered, they can come down with mites rather badly.
Please be careful in handling affected sows because their skin is extremely painful; mites can cause fitting in an advanced state. Any topical treatment has to be extremely careful to avoid fitting. Baths are not recommended.
However, you cannot treat until the babies are born and have ideally started to eat for themselves, as the ivermectin can permanent damage to foetuses and young babies. It is always a very tough time. If the mites are really bad, you and your vet may have to weigh up the risks and chances mum and any babies. It is not a decision you want to make on your own. any babies will also have have to be treated for mites as soon as they are old enough.
Your vet also needs to check for a fungal infection; they can often look very similar and both are opportunists. Neglected guinea pigs can often suffer from both. In combination with mange mites, it is advisable to treat any fungal with an oral product (they are all prescription-only; itrafungol or sporonox is generally used with great success), so your vet will have to make any decisions upon his findings. Please be aware that any lab tests usually only test for ringworm, but there are many other forms of fungal.
PLEASE do not home treat on spec - you can easily make things much worse instead of better!
Please open a thread in our pregnancy section for ongoing support. We have got guides (including a diet guide) for the whole of the pergnancy until separation and sexing at the top of it. You may find them helpful in making sure that your poor girls are getting optimal nutrition and care.
to the forum Jess. 
