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Mange Mites, Lice?

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Fizzbomb290

Fizzbomb290

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About two week ago i noticed the hair on one of my guinea pigs (Big Mamma) was becoming fine. Her sister Munchkin (who hasn't got any hair loss) was nibbling at Big Mamma's rump area. I just thought she was barbering her. Then last week I noticed Jupiter was also loosing hair. From doing research on this amazing forum and gorgeous guineas i believe it is mange mites. There was white dandruff like bits on the fur, with a few white clumps.

I have ordered some shampoo, spray and spot on treatment. I have treated all three with Johnson's insecticidal shampoo on Sunday just gone. Tomorrow (Wednesday) i'm going to use spot on treatment (i need to allow 48 hours). Since their bath which they were very well behaved the white dandruff stuff seems to have calmed down.

Some history of why i think they might have mites. I changed the hay and the bedding to:-

"20kg shredded teabag soft tissue paper pet bedding guinea" and "20Kg Quality soft Sweet Meadow Hay Bale" (£4.50). I think the hay is the culprit from a farm possibly not filtered like shop bought i could be wrong.

Since i bought the hay two of them (Jupiter and munchkin has pneumonia - who are recovering well after 2 weeks on baytril)

Since then i have ordered some hay from the Hay experts the trial pack to see which one they prefer.
20151011_113605.webp
The above is big mamma who got the hair loss first.

20151011_120110.webp
The above is Jupiter who has only just recently got it...

Any advice would be grateful, i can always get better pics if these are not good enough..
 
The broken shafts of hair do point to a parasitic infestation. Mange mites burrow under the skin, so only an injection of ivermectin will be effective. Shampoos and spot on treatment only works on running lice. Is the dandruff accompanied by clumps of hair falling out (maybe with a small tug?). If so there may be a fungal problem, either on its own or in combination with lice/mites. Either way, I'd recommend getting a vet to confirm the diagnosis.
 
Big Mamma has always had the odd piece of hair falling out. However there is sometimes clumps falling out but I've only seen one it when i brush her.

I read online if piggies do not like the injection to get the pipettes with ivermectin. If this is not the case I will take them the vets tomorrow.

Seems strange only two out of the three have this condition :(

How do piggies get fungal infections? I always make sure their bedding is changed every other day.
 
Because the mange mites are under the skin the injections are more effective. They may shout when they have the injection but they soon get over it and will feel much more comfortable if it is mange mites. They usually need a round of at least 3 injections just over a week apart. Fungal can occur out of the blue, or if a pig is already run down, from humid conditions or even from too much yeast in the gut. There are many different types. Any vet the test does for fungal though will only test positive if it is Ringworm and from the pictures it does not look like that.
 
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