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Mite Drops

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PAMELAKT

PAMELAKT

Adult Guinea Pig
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Question...

I put shop bought mite drops on the boys at the start of the week, because they seem very itchy and Billy is really scratching his ears.

I knew it'd be rubbish, I don't know why I bothered (maybe because I have clocked up 100's in vet bills in the past 3 months!) Still they are itchy.

I have just spoken to my vets who are happy for me to collect the Xeno stuff.

How long do I have to wait to put that on? I will ask the vet when I go, but wanted your opinion. The shop bought stuff doesn't stay in their system long does it? I don't want to overdose, but I really want to sort it.... mallethead
 
If they have a case of mites, you have to give them three doses at 7-10 day intervals, I don't think that the itching will stop straight away with the first dose.
 
No, as Sharon quite rightly said one dose won't stop the itching if they do have a mite problem, it needs to be given 10 days apart usually around 3 times. Veterinary prescribed drops will often be stronger however pet shop stuff should still work unless it is a rather serious nasty infection and its not getting rid completely.

As for your question since it was more than 24 hours ago you should be okay to put it on once you get home bur as you said ask your vet when you see them :)
 
Vets will be tomorrow, he's so itchy & has cut both his ears with it.

I put the shop stuff on Monday, would you put the vets on tomorrow seen as its stronger?
 
Definitely, don't carry on with the shop bought one, this one will probably prove to be more helpful for your piggy. Hope he feels better soon :(
 
Will your vet just hand the stuff over? I'm surprised vets will do that. Maybe it's an idea to get the vet to check his ears & actually confirm it is sellnick mites, when mine had mites in July they didn't scratch their ears at all, in fact the only thing that made me think it was mites was the fact one of them had a little bit on her back where her fur was starting to thin a bit. I took all of them to the vet (as all of them should be treated) & the vet checked them & confirmed my suspicions as I'd never had a piggy with sellnick mites before, only hay mites/lice.
The vet gave them all a dose of Stronghold on the back of their necks, which needs only one dose, unless the symptoms come back, so I was pleased that they didn't have to have further treatment rolleyes
 
Yeah they are happy for me to just buy it from them over the counter because I'm registered with them.

I did think that, but I figured they'd only give me the xeno anyway so I may as well just buy it.

He has no bald bits, but he's very itchy & has scratched his ears by itching.
I have treated Rodney also & will treat him at same time altho he is so far ok.
 
pamelak i still cannot believe how much your piggy in your avatar looks like the baby abby i boar dated with ditto.. Miss skits so much wish it had worked out :-(
 
That's what I have used, but I don't feel it's strong enough...

Haha yes Billy is a tricky little b*gger! Even more so with sore ears!

Argh!
 
PAMELAKT said:
Yeah they are happy for me to just buy it from them over the counter because I'm registered with them.

I did think that, but I figured they'd only give me the xeno anyway so I may as well just buy it.

He has no bald bits, but he's very itchy & has scratched his ears by itching.
I have treated Rodney also & will treat him at same time altho he is so far ok.
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Have you read this page on Guinealynx regarding ear mites? This sounds more like his problem & if it is I would think it's probably best to get the vet to look inside his ears which will confirm the diagnosis as the treatment is slightly different to treating sellnick mites

http://www.guinealynx.info/earmites.html
 
Xeno says it treats ear mites tho?

He is itchy everywhere not just his ears, it's just he's managed to scratch them...
 
Possibly but personally I would want to be certain that it was sellnck mites, if they are ear mites then Guinealynx suggests injections or that the vet gives medicine orally. I don't know why they are treated differently, I don't have experience of ear mites :red

The vet would check his ears using an otoscope I think it's called, the treatment is then either orally, by injection etc not by drops on the neck. Unless you are 100% sure what sort of mites he's got then personally I would get a vet's diagnosis. Have you also checked for hay mites? They are little black specks on the hair shaft of fur mainly spotted on the fur just above the bottom of a piggy. They can make them very itchy as well.
 
Ok I'll take him, you're right.

I don't think he has hay mites...

He is SO hard to handle I'm kind of nervous to take him.

Starting to wish I had just left Rodney on his own, since I got Billy I've had c&c nightmares, and now vet bills I've spent hundreds on the vets recently!

Very disheartening, and I feel like Rodney was probably happier alone.

I'll ring in the morning & take him in afternoon I finish early Fridays... Will keep you updated! Thanks for the advice x
 
PAMELAKT said:
Ok I'll take him, you're right.

I don't think he has hay mites...

He is SO hard to handle I'm kind of nervous to take him.

Starting to wish I had just left Rodney on his own, since I got Billy I've had c&c nightmares, and now vet bills I've spent hundreds on the vets recently!

Very disheartening, and I feel like Rodney was probably happier alone.

I'll ring in the morning & take him in afternoon I finish early Fridays... Will keep you updated! Thanks for the advice x
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It's okay, unless you are really certain I wouldn't treat him yourself, make sure the vet looks inside both ears too. Apparently you can see ear mites, whereas you cannot see sellnick mites. Mine had very early stage sellnick mites in July, they picked them up whilst boarding when we were away :( I was very upset as I have never had a pig with sellnick mites before. I spotted the hair thinning on the back & took all three along for checking & treatment. However they weren't really scratching & I caught it very early. If your vet charges one fee to see both then I would take them both to be checked in case.

Good luck ;)
 
Rodney was perfect, but Billy was kept outside & clearly has come to me with mites...

I'll ring them first thing & take him in the afternoon.

Do you think when this is sorted he'll be easier to handle? He's so fiery compared to my cuddly little Rodney :(
 
The mites may be making him uncomfortable with being handled so it could possibly help .
 
Lil-Ninnibig said:
I usr beaphar mite drops on ditto to prevent him getting them and you can only administer that once every 4 weeks?
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I will be taking my two to the vets so will be checking, but do you know what age you can start giving mite drops for prevention purposes? I think I read somewhere that it is 6 months, but I have read so much my head is spinning!
mallethead
 
Thanks guys, wish me luck! Well actually wish the vet more luck, he's a right little ginger menace! inbreeding
 
PAMELAKT said:
Thanks guys, wish me luck! Well actually wish the vet more luck, he's a right little ginger menace! inbreeding
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Lol! Is Billy the cute Aby one? Yes mites can make them harder to handle apparently. However in my experience Abys are live wires, very lively characters & if he's like my piggy Ziggy he'll be a "Pig on springs" rolleyes But that's why I love them. Rodney if he's a Rex, they are normally very laid back friendly piggies. Don't despair my last Aby Peaches was lively but became the most loving piggy ever & would sit & kiss my arm when I held her x)

Have a look at Rodney's fur on his back; lift the fur up to check to see it there are any thinning patches as both my Rex showed thinning hair when they had mites, yet Ziggy the Aby didn't show any hair loss. As I said if you ask the vets they may only charge one consultation to look at both of them rolleyes
 
Yes that's him, I had started to warm to him but I'm finding it so hard. I just feel like he'd have my hand off if he wanted!
I can't help but worry for Rodney I feel like he's in there with a ticking time bomb. There's no bullying he lets Rodney eat & isn't blocking him from anything, but Rodney spends most of his time avoiding getting humped & running off. Feel like he was probably happier alone...

Can't see any thinking hair on Rodney but I'll assume he has them ;/
 
You may find that once his mite treatment starts to work he is a different pig. At clinic we have had pigs that have mites that chew at our sleeves when stroked because they are so sensitive and my own Gertie used to do this too.

I think you are struggling with Billy as he is such a different character, as someone said above, Abys are livewires whereas Rex's are very laidback so it's just a case of getting used to his personality.
 
Yeah I mean I have had guinea pigs before & they weren't as wonderful as Rodney is, but with Billy I sort of don't trust that he wouldn't go for me! He makes me a bit nervous! He seems to have a temper - but then I do keep checking his ears which must be sore so he must probably be a bit fed up of me.

He takes food off me & has done since day 1 so he's a confident little guy!

Hopefully he will improve soon, just hope he behaves for the vet inbreeding
 
When pigs are having constant treatment etc I think they do get really fed up of us, Terk chattered at us constantly for a while after her recent round of treatment for oral thrush but now she is fine. Hopefully once he realises that you aren't going to hurt him he'll be ok.
 
Hopefully, I don't mind him being a wriggler I just don't want him to have a fiery temper with it! :{
 
Well he was good as gold not a squeek!

He has mites but she couldn't confirm which, not hay mites some kind of burrowing mite. So gave me the zeno.

What could have cost £30 cost almost £60 - I knew they'd just fob me off with that!

Can't use til Monday because I used the shop stuff..

She said to clean them obv everytime I use it, they are on fleece. Do I throw all the fleece away or will the washing machine be enough to kill it?
 
PAMELAKT said:
And is my flat going to be infested? I feel dirty!
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Not at all, they are particular to piggies. Did you get enough treatment for both of them? My vet charged £40 for seeing all three of mine including treatment so I am shocked if she has charged that for one pig within normal hours!

I stripped all their bedding, hot washed it & then chucked any cardboard chubes etc or if you have igloos wash them in hot soapy water. The mites don't survive for long off the hosts apparently.

At least you can be sure (hopefully) that is just mites, not ear mites or an ear infection. I hope she looked in both his ears too. Once the treatment has finished, leave 48 hours after the last one then bath them in Gorgeous Guineas Manuka & Neem shampoo, it gets rid of any surface dandruff etc.

This would explain his temperament so hopefully soon he will be more amiable!
 
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