Mites? Scared of my piggies :/

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XnicolaX

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We've only had our piggies a week and they are girls from Pets at Home, I've since read awful things about PAH so I'm already paranoid but....

I'm not entirely confident at handling them yet, my hubbie is much better as he had them when he was young. I posted the other day about bubble biting my daughter, I'm hoping it was from fear and a one off, she didn't break the skin. I've just been sat by the cage as they ate their veg and bubble will nip at squeak if she gets to close to her. I've also noticed them scratching and biting themselves now and again and now I'm worried they have mites?! They fight quiet a bit, not a full on fight but bubble certainly let's squeak know she's boss.

Stupidly I'm nervous about getting them out for cuddles, I don't know why I'm so scared of them! Do you think they may have mites/lice? Should I ring PAH? Can I treat them at home? Ahh I feel out of my depth with these piggies!
Nicola x
 
I know how you feel about handling them. I'm the same. Ive had mine since Sunday but I'm kinda worried about picking them up. It's the hutch more than anything as its outside and a wide door and I'm scared they will get out before I can grab them lol
 
Ours are outside too vicky and I'm the same, they run so fast between the two sides that they get stressed and I get stressed! I really hope I get more confident with them!
 
Oh, bless you. Can you put them inside a towel or an upside down pigloo when you get them out? I'm sure they will become accustomed to you soon. The bickering is probably just Bubble reminded Squeak that she is boss. Everything is still relatively new to them so they're probably a bit unsettled. If you're worried take a lot at this thread on dominant behaviours in sows http://theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=38561.

You can treat mites yourself by getting a spot on ivermectin treatment. The most common is Xeno 450 which you should be able to get from your vets.

Hope this helps.
 
You can always have your new piggies MOTed by a vet; they can also show you how to clip nails once they start growing. It would be good if you looked for a piggy savvy exotics vet as rodents don't feature much on a general vet's course.

Here are tips on how to settle in shy new guinea pigs: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36239
Once your boys have settled in a bit better, you can train them to come into a pick up conveyance with the help of a little veg treat inside, lots of praise and using the same ritual. You can use tunnels, cosies, cardboard boxes, upturned huts for that. That way, you do not have to chase them and trigger their flight reflex.
 
Thanks shellza, if they have got mites would they have had them when we got them? I'm wondering if I should ring PAH?
 
I think if they're scratching and biting themselves they should be seen by a vet, sooner rather than later as they may well end up making themselves sore. You aren't the first and you certainly won't be the last person to get guinea pigs from P@H for them to come out in mites or another skin condition. Taking them to the vets can determine exactly what the problem is, and they can send you home with the right treatment.

As for handling, they're probably as nervous as you are. They're unlikely to bite bite you, but they do use their teeth to explore so may have a little nibble. You can make catching them easier by blocking off one section of their hutch, and maybe investing in a snuggle sack or something that they can hop into.

Confidence with handling comes with experience and experience comes with practice! If you persevere, they will get better, they are likely to get better as they get older too.
 
Pah

hi, i recently got 2 boys from PAH, (a month last sunday) and after 2 weeks a small amount of scabbing appeared, less than the size of a 5p. on one of their legs so (me being paranoid and worried of getting it wrong) i took them straight to the vets where they have been treated with a course of 3 injections for mange mites, -the injection is not as awful as it sounds- 10 days apart. the infection got worse for 3 days, although they stopped scratching,then over the next 7 days first injection has seemed to do the skin well. all redness has gone ans scruffy skin has gone, they just hadthe second today.
the vet said they can carry mites for ages, and when the stress of moving home often makes them worse, or activate the little bugs!

good luck! x
 
pearlypigs said:
hi, i recently got 2 boys from PAH, (a month last sunday) and after 2 weeks a small amount of scabbing appeared, less than the size of a 5p. on one of their legs so (me being paranoid and worried of getting it wrong) i took them straight to the vets where they have been treated with a course of 3 injections for mange mites, -the injection is not as awful as it sounds- 10 days apart. the infection got worse for 3 days, although they stopped scratching,then over the next 7 days first injection has seemed to do the skin well. all redness has gone ans scruffy skin has gone, they just hadthe second today.
the vet said they can carry mites for ages, and when the stress of moving home often makes them worse, or activate the little bugs!

good luck! x
Click to expand...

Your vet has given you the right advise about pigs carrying mites :)
 
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