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Mites And Seizures

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Smudge5

Junior Guinea Pig
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I have 4 guinea pigs and over the weekend one of them took what looked like a seizure. My daughter checked her and found lice on her(creamy coloured, looked like a worm wriggling close to her skin). I then noticed that one of my other guinea pigs had a bald patch on her back.
I coated them in diatomaceous earth and took them to the vet on Monday. He couldn't see any lice but checked under the microscope and confirmed mites. He prescribed nuromectin to be given orally or topically at 0.4ml every 10 days. They got their first dose orally on monday. I've deep cleaned the cage every day and only using newspaper with hay in the hay rack. The itching doesn't seem to have improved much although they seem a bit subdued. They are all eating and drinking normally.
They all had a bath today using baby shampoo and one of them looked like she was taking a seizure afterwards. Did I make a mistake to give them a bath while they are still being treated? Should I buy the gorgeous guinea shampoo or is there anything else recommended? Also does anyone know how long the nuromectin would usually take to work and if it's better to apply it topically? Thanks.
 
As far as I am aware it's not recommended to bath them when they are having mite treatment as it can cause the mites to react wildy and cause a fit.

You can liase with your vet to determine if and when they recommend a bath.

I've used Gorgeous Guineas products on a guinea pig with mites. Although they helped greatly with the symptoms, ultimately it's the mite treatment (commonly Ivermectin) which will actually kill the mites.
 
Jaycey said:
As far as I am aware it's not recommended to bath them when they are having mite treatment as it can cause the mites to react wildy and cause a fit.

You can liase with your vet to determine if and when they recommend a bath.

I've used Gorgeous Guineas products on a guinea pig with mites. Although they helped greatly with the symptoms, ultimately it's the mite treatment (commonly Ivermectin) which will actually kill the mites.
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Thanks for your reply. Do you know if invermectin and nuromectin are the same thing?
 
Smudge5 said:
Thanks for your reply. Do you know if invermectin and nuromectin are the same thing?
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If your pig is so badly affected that she's having seizures then topical treatment won't be enough. She will need a course of ivermectin injections given by the vet. Ideally take her in the morning tomorrow as seizures can be life threatening.

If you could add your location to your profile we may be able to recommend a more piggy savvy vet in your area if you are in the uk.
 
Adelle said:
If your pig is so badly affected that she's having seizures then topical treatment won't be enough. She will need a course of ivermectin injections given by the vet. Ideally take her in the morning tomorrow as seizures can be life threatening.

If you could add your location to your profile we may be able to recommend a more piggy savvy vet in your area if you are in the uk.
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Thanks Adelle, I'm In Glasgow southside. I took them to Ardmory vet, as far as I'm aware he is quite experienced with guinea pigs but I'm happy for you to recommend a vet.
 
Smudge5 said:
Thanks for your reply. Do you know if invermectin and nuromectin are the same thing?
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@Adelle is correct.
While Ivomectin and Nuromectin are essentially the same drug, if your pig is having seizures then they need immediate veterinary intervention.
Good luck, and don't forget to let us know how you get on.
 
Swissgreys said:
@Adelle is correct.
While Ivomectin and Nuromectin are essentially the same drug, if your pig is having seizures then they need immediate veterinary intervention.
Good luck, and don't forget to let us know how you get on.
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Thanks. I'll call the vet in the morning. Is there a chance that it's not true seizures but the guinea pig just being so demented with itching that she looks like she's taking a fit?
 
Smudge5 said:
Thanks. I'll call the vet in the morning. Is there a chance that it's not true seizures but the guinea pig just being so demented with itching that she looks like she's taking a fit?
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You are literally in the same area as me! I have heard good things about the guy at Ardmory but haven't used him myself. I use the one recommended on here, Taylors at cathkin.

I'd call your vet tomorrow for an appointment and just tell them she's still frantic and do they offer the injections. No more baths for her at the moment though, it will be too uncomfortable and you will be washing off any treatment you have applied- although don't apply it again for this reason as its impossible to know if some would have already been absorbed x
 
I phoned the vet, he advised to continue with the medication as directed every 10 days. He said that they might not be having true seizures and has given me an ointment for Honey to soothe her skin. I'm concerned about her as none of the other guinea pigs have been so badly affected. Is it possible that something else is causing the hair loss? I think I'll need to take her back to the vet.

IMG_2049.webp
 
That looks typical of mange mites I'm afraid :( The seizures can be very serious, some people have put little jackets on their pigs on here to stop the scratching, but don't do anything like that unless the vet is happy about it. The injections are more effective though. Is she still scratching?
 
Poppy'sMum said:
That looks typical of mange mites I'm afraid :( The seizures can be very serious, some people have put little jackets on their pigs on here to stop the scratching, but don't do anything like that unless the vet is happy about it. The injections are more effective though. Is she still scratching?
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She's scratching near her ears now but doesn't look too sore there. I think she's scratching more during the night. I've applied the ointment but I don't know how else to help her.
 
I had a pig with very similar wounds. He had two cagemates and I treated all 3, but it was only him that had the issues.

It might be worth asking the vet about treating them all as a precaution.

I think you need to keep a close eye of her and her wounds. If they seem to be getting worse and if she seems to be seizing as often, or more than before you'll need to contact the vet and either speak to them for advice or go to see them.

The itching really aggravated my boar and it took a few different lotions before we found one that helped soothe the itchiness. One of them was really bad and I had to wipe it off him immediately.

A combination of Ivermectin and lotion helped us to deal with it and the scabs eventually went away and his hair grew back.
 
A random idea. The bit of hair that's between the two wounds. Do you think that you could trim it short? It looks like it could tickle or rub the sore parts and set her off biting or scratching.
 
They're all being treated with nuromectin but I've only applied the ointment to Honey as she's the only one with hair loss and bleeding. She hasn't had any seizures but 2 of the others have had what looked like seizures.
 
Jaycey said:
A random idea. The bit of hair that's between the two wounds. Do you think that you could trim it short? It looks like it could tickle or rub the sore parts and set her off biting or scratching.
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I'll phone the vet tomorrow and ask his advice about that, I don't want to handle her too much just now to do anything.
 
Poor little piggies. You're doing the very best you can, hopefully the combo of treatment and ointment will help.

It might be worth asking the vet about using ointment on the other two if they seem to be suffering with seizures too.

You're watching them very carefully and there's not really much more you can do, other than take them back to the vet, or phone for advice if they get worse.

How was Honey after you put the ointment on?
 
Jaycey said:
Poor little piggies. You're doing the very best you can, hopefully the combo of treatment and ointment will help.

It might be worth asking the vet about using ointment on the other two if they seem to be suffering with seizures too.

You're watching them very carefully and there's not really much more you can do, other than take them back to the vet, or phone for advice if they get worse.

How was Honey after you put the ointment on?
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She seemed ok but she's hiding in her house now. I feel awful at the thought of going to bed and leaving her in pain with it all night. The other 3 guinea pigs are having the occasional scratch but other than what looked like seizures over the past few days they have no other symptoms. I'm just hoping she doesn't have a fungal infection on top of the mites.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
Oh & they need some pain relief too, if the sores are that bad, at the very least some Metacam :)
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Thanks, I'll ask the vet for that tomorrow when I phone. It's the F10 Germicidal barrier ointment I'm using just now so I'm hoping it will be soothing her sore bits.
 
That looks really sore bless her. Was the vet aware of her wounds when advising about the ointment?

If the rest have had what look like seizures they all need to see a vet this weekend, and I'd say that your girl above looks like she needs injectable ivermectin now as any topical treatment that inevitable runs down the coat will really hurt her open wounds and make trigger another seizure with the stress. I wouldn't wait till Wednesday.

If she where mine I'd try wrapping up her back feet purely so her nails can't tear at that skin but I'm Not even sure this would be effective as she could easily pull the dressings off her feet.

I'd try get her to Taylors in Cathkin and ask for Laura Cawley, nikki or Eileen. They are open tomorrow until
2 and if you explain she has open wounds they should fit you in.
 
I had actually hoped to see the vet again with her, I did tell the receptionist that she had open wounds and was bleeding but as I was taking the cat for an appointment today the vet advised for me just to pick up the ointment and said that the treatment just needs time to work. I'll phone him in the morning and if I don't get anywhere I'll phone Taylors. I'm in Castlemilk but don't have a car so Cathkin isn't the easiest to get to.
 
Smudge5 said:
I had actually hoped to see the vet again with her, I did tell the receptionist that she had open wounds and was bleeding but as I was taking the cat for an appointment today the vet advised for me just to pick up the ointment and said that the treatment just needs time to work. I'll phone him in the morning and if I don't get anywhere I'll phone Taylors. I'm in Castlemilk but don't have a car so Cathkin isn't the easiest to get to.
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The 46 bus goes to Cathkin roundabout I'm sure if that helps any? They also have practices in clarkston toll and East Kilbride village but those are further away. Cathkin is the main branch x
 
It will get better a lot more quickly with injections of ivermectin. Make sure you tell the vet that you have already used spot on to avoid an overdose. Metacam is essential. I would leave off with any ointments and creams and baths. They will heal quickly with the injections.
 
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