Itchy Pigs!

[Jessiepat123]

Hi everyone, wondered if anyone could give me any advice...

my pigs are about 7months old now and ive noticed they've been scratching their backs quite frequently - both with their noses and their feet.
Could this just be a habit or should i be worried?
I thought about giving them baths, would this help if they do actually have mites or anything?

They live indoors so i don't think they could have picked anything up from outside.

Thanks x

 

[Toffeewoffee]

What cage materials do you use?

 

[Wiebke]

Please have your guinea pigs checked for mites by a vet for a proper diagnosis. Please do not self treat until you know for sure what you are dealing with. You will always have to give a full course of ivermectin to make sure that you also kill as many eggs in the skin as possible to prevent another outbreak. Sometimes, fungal complaints can overlap symptoms, so you need to be careful that you treat for the right thing.

Mites are invisible to the eye and can happen at any time despite the best of care. They are not transmittable to other species. Untreated mites can kill.

http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html
http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/photogallery.html

 

[Jessiepat123]

i just use sawdust to line the cage, so you would definately suggest i take them to the vets?

Thanks for all the feedback x

 

[Lady Kelly]

I would definitely suggest a trip to the vets, I took my two for the same symptoms you are describing and after the vet ruled out everything else with tests they both had an injection for mites and haven't been scratching as much since... their fur looks even glossier now too

 

[Toffeewoffee]

I would take them to the vets to be on the safe side.

It could be possible that the sawdust is irritating them also, it can dry their skin out, so therefor make their skin dry and flakey, alot of people advise against using it.