Mites?

[redleigh15]

My guinea pig, Vincent, is was purchased in August at about 2 months old. He was sneezing and sick a bit, so I took him to the vet for antibiotics within the first week of having him.
He's been scratching occasionally for about a month or so and had some shedding (normal?), but I didn't think anything of it - I bought all-natural puppy wipes to help clean his skin.
He has been an irate little cavy. He nibbles at everyone and it was worrying me. I was petting him today and he started to whine when I touched the middle of his back. I decided to run a comb through and this is what I found.

I don't know whether it is dander/dandruff or mites or something along those lines. Can anyone help me before the holidays?

BTW - This is his coat.

 

[Wiebke]

The dandruff can be due to dry skin from indoors heating, the beginnings of mange mites or fungal. It would be best to see a vet for a proper diagnosis. Self treating can do more harm than good if you treat for the wrong issue.

 

[helen105281]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Please could you confirm your location as that affects the advice we can give, are you in the US?

From your description it does sound like mange mites to me, especially if he has been ill recently as pigs that have compromised immune systems are susceptible to a flare up of these mites which are usually in their system. I think that what you are seeing is skin debris which is common with mites and also the fact that the middle of his back is sensitive and he is biting you is a sign too as my pigs try to take a chunk out of my arm when they have them.

I would advise going to your vet and asking for them to give Ivermectin, preferably by injection and he would need a course of 3 doses at least a week apart, but no more than 10 days. Please ask your vet for a proper diagnosis though as we cannot rule out fungal by photos alone.

 

[redleigh15]

Even if he doesn't have hair loss, do you think I should still go to the vet?
He is fine otherwise.
He was on medicine for URI for 14 days, but that was over with in the middle of August.

 

[helen105281]

If he is that sensitive on his back then there is something developing, I have not always had hairloss when mine have had mites. Even if it doesn't turn out to be mites then a vet is needed to rule out fungal. For example they can get a fungal condition in the middle of their back called "broken back" which can look similar to mites as a v shape forms and that can also be sensitive. It is the result of an overload of Candida in the gut which can be linked to diet.

 

[MerryPip]

If in doubt always have a vets advice. It is better to go and fins out he's only got dry skin than leave it and find you end up with a bigger problem with fungal infection. mange or similar. Especially with the festive period approaching and many vets closed for the holidays you don't want to get caught out and need to used out-of hours services which can be very costly.

Better safe than sorry

 

[redleigh15]

Took him to the vet today, they got him in within one hour of calling (thank God). The vet didn't know whether it was mites or lice, but knew it was one of the two (he was itchy and fidgety, and he mentioned there was no hairloss, but shedding and a lot of dandruff. He told me that I caught it right before it could become a problem. He had his first shot of Invermectin 1%. Going back in two weeks to get the second injection. Even though he bled a bit, he is doing a bit better. I cleaned out his full cage to make sure all traces were gone and he is doing somewhat better. Now to let him rest.