Itchy Girls

[Cuddles With Cavies]

For the past few months now I've been battling with itchy pigs. They seem to be okay for a while then they break out itching and moulting. I treat them with a course of Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On and it seems to clear up. Then a few months later its back!

I've checked the pigs skin and fur and I can't see anything crawling around. However, when I've been cleaning them out during one of their itchy spells I have noticed tiny bugs crawling around in the dust and hay. They almost look like little crabs but are no bigger than a pin head. This got me wondering on whether if what's been making them itchy has been coming from the hay. I buy my hay in bulk from a farm shop so its not been in airtight bags and what not.

I've gone and brought some more spot-on today and intend on disinfected the cages later. I've also brought some Pets@Home hay to see if it keeps them clear for a time.

Does anybody have any ideas or thoughts on this problem?

 

[DM030819]

Beaphar isn't a strong enough dose of Ivermectin to kill off any mites. So, it's probably only doing part of it's job. It can sometimes help as a prevention method but not a cure.

The vet can give you a stronger dose. Or the stuff I use is called Easimec and is from here Easimec Ivermectin 0.5% 10ml

It's definitely worth swapping the hay. Visible bugs in it is never a good things. It might be worth letting the place you get it from know.

Hope your piggies are better soon

 

[sport_billy]

Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On is not strong enough. If it were mites they would need something like xeno 450 from the vets. But there are more causes to itchy skin than just mites.

Is any of the skin red, scabby or cut?

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On is not strong enough. If it were mites they would need something like xeno 450 from the vets. But there are more causes to itchy skin than just mites.

Is any of the skin red, scabby or cut?

Thank you. I'll have a look for some stronger stuff.

Any no, that's what puzzles me. There is no sign of mite or anything creeping in the fur. Their skin isn't sore or red or even flaky. The only pig out of the four that have a little bit of dandruff is Bonnie. She's the one that tends to moult quite a lot when they get itchy.

 

[sport_billy]

Thank you. I'll have a look for some stronger stuff.

Any no, that's what puzzles me. There is no sign of mite or anything creeping in the fur. Their skin isn't sore or red or even flaky. The only pig out of the four that have a little bit of dandruff is Bonnie. She's the one that tends to moult quite a lot when they get itchy.

Best to get them seen by the vet. They will be able to tell you what is causing the issue and treat accordingly

@helen105281 is very knowledgeable on skin

 

[helen105281]

Agree that a stronger Ivermectin product is needed but I would also get them to the vet to rule out mange mites or fungal. Mange mites ideally need to be treated with Ivermectin injections but you would need to tell the vet what you have already used. The treatment for fungal is completely different. If there are bugs in the hay though then that could be why they are scratching.

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Update on the girls. I cleaned the cage tonight and I found the little bugs in the dust again. I've throughly cleaned and disinfected the cage, toys and everything else that can be! I treated the pigs with the spot on. I know it might not cute then but hopefully it'll help if the little blighters are crawling on them.

I've got a video of the bugs that I'll try and upload soon.

 

[Cuddles With Cavies]

So the video wouldn't upload so I took a screenshot and blow it up a bit. I've circled the bugs but its not very clear I'm afraid.

 

[gizzy]

If you google bugs and go to photos , thay look like a bug you might find on a human