Megan - Mites or Fungal?

[sport_billy]

Off to the emergency vets in half hour with Miss Moo, noticed a dark scab through her fur then upon closer insepection more scabs on her neck/upper back last night. Thought it was fungal but much larger area than what cookie had the other month, so put some canesten on last night...
This morning she's knocked the scabs off and doesn't want to be touched in that area. Don't want to chance it being mites as we don't have enough experience with skin problems to definitely say its fungal.
We don't have much faith in the emergency vets due to previous bad experience, if it is mites is it Xeno that they will be prescribing?
Feel a failure for not seeing it earlier, Megan had been through so much pain in her life and feel like I've let her down. Just can't understand how we haven't seen it earlier she is out with us everyday.
Any advice on medication is welcome as we are off in a short while...

 

[hazeyg]

You havent let her down. Shes found a lovely home in you. I too have skin porblems at the moment and its getting me down. I keep telling myself that we will get to the bottom of it and it will be OK because she's not stopped eating and is still running about. Although not ideal for christmas day, I wouldnt worry yourself too much as most people wouldnt catch it this early or even take a piggie to an emergency vet on xmas day.
Xeno is the treatment for mites yup. Invermectin is the drug used, but it comes under diff brands, Xeno being one. Just be sure to get it prescirbed so its the correct strength.
Fungal- you'll need to F10 her cage and as your doing use the canestan, also Bath in Nizoral works wonders as well. If it gets really bad , Ive heard Imverol(I think thats what is called) is best.
Hope she gets on OK. For fungal relief, smothering in olive oil helps ease the symptoms and keep piggies comfortable, it also kills the spores and the hair falls out easier. 24-48 hours on and then shampoo off.
xxxxx

 

[sport_billy]

Thanks Hazel x

Just got back from vets. With Baytril for the wounds, and 3 pipettes of Xeon 450. She has had one on her back and to have another in 14 days, will be checking in with our piggie vet as soon as we can as she knows Miss Moo's history.
The vet seemed knowledgable, and found evidence of skin problems further down Meg's back and Megan was very flinchy when been touched there.

 

[Hanwombat]

Poor Meg, hope she's well soon. Don't beat yourself up about it either, we all miss things.
Poor Loki is suffering from mange and he has a partially bald back!

 

[hazeyg]

I'm glad yoou got a goood vet, santa must have been reading over the forum today. Get well soon Miss Moo!!

 

[helen105281]

I have been asked to post the following by Karen Malt who runs the guinea pig clinics in Broxbourne:

Please be aware the advice to smother a pig in Olive Oil presenting with a fungal or any other skin problem, is wrong. Why? Pigs presenting with fungal problems, usually have red fluoresced skin, indicating inflammation. As guinea pigs cannot sweat and cannot regulate their body temperatures, the hotter they become, the more irritated the skin becomes, which is why in severe infections, they tear themselves open and can go on to have seizures. By applying anything oil based, is in essence frying the pig.



Also by smothering an animal in any oil or other product, you will have to apply several baths to remove it, think of birds that are struck by oil slicks, it totally unbalances the natural PH of skin, blocks pores and can potentially lead to further problems.



Into my clinic we have animals where this practice has been applied, the animals have collapsed with heat stroke like symptoms, dehydration and we have had fatalities, so please always consider your sources when reading information on treating your animal for any medical problem.



Removal of hair that is infected due to fungal spores, needs nothing to ease it out, it should tease out easily enough with just warm water applied, or if you use a shower head, as you wet the animal you tease it out under the warm jet.



The only product that should be used to smother a guinea pig, is a treatment designed for fungal problems, Imaverol. This product is a light emollient in presentation, and prepared at the correct ratio, after bath in an appropriate antifungal shampoo, is all you need.

 

[Silly]

Thanks Hazel x

Just got back from vets. With Baytril for the wounds, and 3 pipettes of Xeon 450. She has had one on her back and to have another in 14 days, will be checking in with our piggie vet as soon as we can as she knows Miss Moo's history.
The vet seemed knowledgable, and found evidence of skin problems further down Meg's back and Megan was very flinchy when been touched there.

Hi Sport Billy,

My 2 guineas have had mites since I got them in August. I have been prescribed xeno since then. They are due their 3rd one of this round by Friday but I have seen on the internet (can't remember where) it is 10-14 days it was posted by Wiebke somewhere. Could someone confirm this, I know it is Christmas Day but someone will be reading this I am sure. By day 10 they are itching again. The xeno works but around about day 8-10 they start itching again. Day 12 is today will it be ok to put xeno on in the morning (day 13) and blitz their cage again. I don't want to wait until day 14. The vet has said this isn't fungal either it is mange. Sorry to pinch your thread Sport Billy just that I don't understand the 14 days thing, when some say 10-14 days apart x 3.

I have read that by 14 days the itching will have gotten hold again and the cycle never gets rid off. Does anybody know why they aren't going are injections going to be the only option. They have no open wounds but they are scratching. It is as if the xeno keeps it at bay then it gets hold on them again.

Any help anyone?

S

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Hi Sport Billy,

My 2 guineas have had mites since I got them in August. I have been prescribed xeno since then. They are due their 3rd one of this round by Friday but I have seen on the internet (can't remember where) it is 10-14 days it was posted by Wiebke somewhere. Could someone confirm this, I know it is Christmas Day but someone will be reading this I am sure. By day 10 they are itching again. The xeno works but around about day 8-10 they start itching again. Day 12 is today will it be ok to put xeno on in the morning (day 13) and blitz their cage again. I don't want to wait until day 14. The vet has said this isn't fungal either it is mange. Sorry to pinch your thread Sport Billy just that I don't understand the 14 days thing, when some say 10-14 days apart x 3.

I have read that by 14 days the itching will have gotten hold again and the cycle never gets rid off. Does anybody know why they aren't going are injections going to be the only option. They have no open wounds but they are scratching. It is as if the xeno keeps it at bay then it gets hold on them again.

Any help anyone?

S

My vet used Stronghold last July when mine had Selnick (Mange) mites & used just one dose which cleared them all. I would suggest that your piggies probably have been cleared of mange mites if their hair is growing back again, but they probably have hay mites which require different treatment. If you read this : http://www.guinealynx.info/furmites.html there are 2 types of lice, running ones which you can see, & hay mites/lice which appear as tiny black specks on the hair shafts on the lower back & rump. Lift the piggy's fur up towards their back end, & stick a little sellotape on, then you will see black specks on the tape. Treat with bathing in Gorgeous Guinea's Lice & Easy or Flea or Die shampoo, then treat again 2 weeks later.

Only bath them 48 hours after any topical treatment like Xeno. HTH

Sport Billy I hope she feels better soon

 

[piggyfan]

I am really sorry little Megan is poorly. There is no way this is your fault and you have not let her down. As soon as you found something was wrong you rushed her to the vets. I hope she clears up soon.

 

[hazeyg]

Apologies, I got this information from a good vet that I wont name and have used it myself on my own, albeit in my house which is a constant 18 degrees, insulated and constantly heated. I had no issues with it and only took two shampoo's in one bath to get it out. But I didnt have her dripping in the stuff just rubbed into all the the skin on her body (perhaps smother was a bad choice of word). It brought her great relief actually. She was much less irritated, hence why I offered this advice. I was told to watch the temperature and keep on eye on her temp, shes albino so I can monitor her by her ear colour, as her veins go very pink and ears very flushed when warm.
Please thank "Karen Malt"(vet?), its very generous of her to be giving out free information on xmas day. I'm not sure many vets (?!?) would allow there name to be splashed all over a forum, how very kind of her, please send her my thanks and I shall let the vet who told me of this treatment that others advise against.
My vet has also advised that I use caneston and another treatment that has antibiotic and anti- fungal properties, Sorolan or something before with fungal infections. I will howevere bring it up that Karen says the only treatment is imaverol and ask his opinion if I encounter any fungal problems in the future (we have a very open and honest relationship lol)

 

[helen105281]

Karen is not a vet but is a guinea pig health and welfare specialist. She volunteers her time alongside 2 vets in Broxbourne and her advice and time is always free for the sake of the pigs. She really helped my pigs when we had fungal issues.

 

[sport_billy]

Megan, is tucking into her Christmas dinner of parsley and mashed pellets and was doing her croaky hoarse wheek when she heard us come in. She seems well in herself just looks very sore

Hoping the Xeno 450 will do the job soon and get our special little girl itch and pain free, she took the baytril really well. Always dreaded piggies getting mites - another thing to chalk to experience
thank you all for your kind words and advice and taking time out on christmas to comment, your all very special people.

hope everyone is having a happy Christmas x x

 

[piggyfan]

At least she is eating. Mine have never had mites and I am so scared of them getting it too. I really hope they go soon.

 

[Guinea pigs <3]

poor Meggy Moo, you're doing everything you can for her though. Sending her healing vibes x

 

[Silly]

Hi Sport Billy,

My 2 guineas have had mites since I got them in August. I have been prescribed xeno since then. They are due their 3rd one of this round by Friday but I have seen on the internet (can't remember where) it is 10-14 days it was posted by Wiebke somewhere. Could someone confirm this, I know it is Christmas Day but someone will be reading this I am sure. By day 10 they are itching again. The xeno works but around about day 8-10 they start itching again. Day 12 is today will it be ok to put xeno on in the morning (day 13) and blitz their cage again. I don't want to wait until day 14. The vet has said this isn't fungal either it is mange. Sorry to pinch your thread Sport Billy just that I don't understand the 14 days thing, when some say 10-14 days apart x 3.

I have read that by 14 days the itching will have gotten hold again and the cycle never gets rid off. Does anybody know why they aren't going are injections going to be the only option. They have no open wounds but they are scratching. It is as if the xeno keeps it at bay then it gets hold on them again.

Any help anyone?

S

Just to update I did the drops again at 11 days and I am glad I did as there isn't as much loose fur on them and they have calmed down. If again by day 9 ish next week they are like it again I will bring it up at a different vets that I have seen even on Gorgeous Guinea's website mites should be treated 10-14 days with ivermectin. I agree with this as by day 14 I know it is the cycle we are treating but I have read conflicting opion on the internet that it should be about day 10.

Before my old vets got took over by another one I used to see an elderly man and he used to put 1 drop of something out of a big bottle not the pippettes in a box and I am sure it was something like stronghold for kittens and he always said one more in a week. Within the first day they had stopped itching. Just wish I knew what it was so I could ask for it for these but all records are gone.

 

[sport_billy]

Just updating on Miss Meggy Moo. We went to Rosie our piggie vet yesterday who confimed it was mites and clearing up nicely. We have stopped Baytril as all the cuts have healed, there is still a lot of dandruff left but Rosie assures us this is normal and will clear. We are due to use the topical Xeno 450 Pipette again in 3 days time.

Megan is eating well, not scratching and is nearly back to her normal self ( well, as normal as megan is ) Hoping our special little girl will be well again soon. Is there anything that can be done to prevent Mites?

 

[piggyfan]

That is wonderful to hear. Hopefully she will be all cleared soon. Give her a kiss from me.

 

[Toffeewoffee]

Jan usually worms our piggies every 3 months with ivermectin or whatever its called, and we have only had a case of mites once with Lilly just before they were due to go and see her.

Glad she is doing well, give her a kiss from me.

x

 

[sport_billy]

That is wonderful to hear. Hopefully she will be all cleared soon. Give her a kiss from me.

I will do, I know you have a soft spot for little Moo-Cow, She'd love to meet you I'm sure. x

Jan usually worms our piggies every 3 months with ivermectin or whatever its called, and we have only had a case of mites once with Lilly just before they were due to go and see her.

Glad she is doing well, give her a kiss from me.

x

Thanks for that, I may mention it to Rosie. Meggy as you knwo is a delicate piggy and often gets a little run down, so I suppose she can be prone to things. I will give Moo a cuddle in a protective suit for you

 

[piggyfan]

Aww I would so love to meet her!

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Aw, poor Meggy Moo So glad to hear she's getting over her nasty visitors - do you think as she's such a delicate girl that the slightest tinge of stress may be the cause ?
I only took two of our boys in the car for 30 minutes when we first had piggies and they ended up with mites due to the journey...:... I was mortified and felt like a rotten mummy until I heard stress can bring mites on.
Give Miss Moo a hug from us and healing vibes sent x>>