Mites

[Toni Dring]

Hello, I am new to the forum. I stumbled on the site today.

Just been to the vets with my three female Guineapigs.

'Star' has been diagnosed with mites. She has some scaring and loss of fur under her eye. I only noticed a problem last week. I am gutted!

I have looked at previous discussions on the forum, which I found useful. I will look into buying better hay to see if this will help with prevention.

It has cost me £100 today (for treatment and a new cage). I have to treat all three over 2 months. I have to separate them for a while to prevent cross infection. The vet also advised to put vasilene on the infected area to prevent itching.

Does anyone know if the fur grows back?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello, I am new to the forum. I stumbled on the site today.

Just been to the vets with my three female Guineapigs.

'Star' has been diagnosed with mites. She has some scaring and loss of fur under her eye. I only noticed a problem last week. I am gutted!

I have looked at previous discussions on the forum, which I found useful. I will look into buying better hay to see if this will help with prevention.

It has cost me £100 today (for treatment and a new cage). I have to treat all three over 2 months. I have to separate them for a while to prevent cross infection. The vet also advised to put vasilene on the infected area to prevent itching.

Does anyone know if the fur grows back?

Hi and welcome!

Loss of hair underneath the eye is typically associated with fungal issues and requires different treatment. Could you please post a picture?
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Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
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What kind of mites has your vet diagnosed and how are you treating them?
Mange mites are invisible to the naked eye and burrow their eggs in the skin, which is very painful. You can typically see a guinea itching really badly and even biting the skin bloody. Most guinea pigs have dormant mite eggs in their skin, which are usually kept in check by a working immune system. If the immune system is not yet fully developed and/or lowered by stress or illness, this can lead to an acute outbreak. Typically starting with a bald v-shaped feature in the middle of the back.
Fur/hay mites lay their eggs in cases on the hairs, usually at the bum end; these egg cases are what you usually notice. it typically looks like somebody has used a pepper mill over the back end of the guinea pig. Fur/hay mites (also known as static lice for their egg cases) are a less harmful than mange mites as they don't affect the skin and typically come with hay. There is usually not hair loss associated.
Guinea Lynx :: Parasites
Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Gorgeous Guineas Photo gallery

Whether you are dealing with fungal or parasites, you need to treat all guinea pigs in contact with the infected guinea pig to prevent the others from also coming down with the same problem.

How piggy savvy is your vet? We have got a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar. In view of us having members from all over the world, you can help us a lot by adding your county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is really relevant and available where you live and can give you local tips where possible. Please click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

 

[Toni Dring]

Hi and welcome!

Loss of hair underneath the eye is typically associated with fungal issues and requires different treatment. Could you please post a picture?
How To Post Photos

Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
How To Post Photos

What kind of mites has your vet diagnosed and how are you treating them?
Mange mites are invisible to the naked eye and burrow their eggs in the skin, which is very painful. You can typically see a guinea itching really badly and even biting the skin bloody. Most guinea pigs have dormant mite eggs in their skin, which are usually kept in check by a working immune system. If the immune system is not yet fully developed and/or lowered by stress or illness, this can lead to an acute outbreak. Typically starting with a bald v-shaped feature in the middle of the back.
Fur/hay mites lay their eggs in cases on the hairs, usually at the bum end; these egg cases are what you usually notice. it typically looks like somebody has used a pepper mill over the back end of the guinea pig. Fur/hay mites (also known as static lice for their egg cases) are a less harmful than mange mites as they don't affect the skin and typically come with hay. There is usually not hair loss associated.
Guinea Lynx :: Parasites
Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Gorgeous Guineas Photo gallery

Whether you are dealing with fungal or parasites, you need to treat all guinea pigs in contact with the infected guinea pig to prevent the others from also coming down with the same problem.

How piggy savvy is your vet? We have got a recommended UK vet locator on the top bar. In view of us having members from all over the world, you can help us a lot by adding your county to your details, so we can always tailor any advice to what is really relevant and available where you live and can give you local tips where possible. Please click on your username at the top, then go to personal details and scroll down to location. Thank you!

Thanks for the reply. I will try and take a photo tomorrow. The vet did not specify what types of mites. She ruled out ring worm. There does not appear to be any evidence on the rest of her body. I have now treated all Piggys and they are currently living separately. She does not appear to be in any pain and is eating well. The type of treatment was placed at the back of the neck and I have to repeat in a month.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the reply. I will try and take a photo tomorrow. The vet did not specify what types of mites. She ruled out ring worm. There does not appear to be any evidence on the rest of her body. I have now treated all Piggys and they are currently living separately. She does not appear to be in any pain and is eating well. The type of treatment was placed at the back of the neck and I have to repeat in a month.

There are lots of different forms of fungal other than ringworm (which is the most aggressive and transmittable form of fungal, and the only one that labs test for). The recent warm and humid weather has brought a spate of fungal infections.
Ivermectin, which is the active ingredient in your spot-on, is going to suppress the fungal, but it will not cure it; it is going to hopefully take care of any mites.

 

[Toni Dring]

Can you recommend any solutions for fungal problems for bathing? Will order F10 or Virlcan.

Many thanks.

 

[Toni Dring]

Just been on Amazon. Good reports on Beaphar. Will see how that goes. Thanks for the very informed information. Don't like to see animals suffering.

 

[helen105281]

Do you mean Beaphar spot on?

For fungal I like Imaverol dips. Imaverol is sold on Hyperdrug as Enilconazole for small animals. You basically dip the pig and leave to dry, don't rinse off. It can be applied around the eyes with a sponge which you would need to throw away after. Don't use within 48 hours of any mite treatment though.

 

[Toni Dring]

RING WORM:
Your site has been so helpful. I went back to the vet for a second opinion as the initial vet said it was mites. The area got worse and they confirmed it was ring worm. The affected area is just under the eye so I am using Clotrimazole cream twice a day. I separted the Guinea Pigs and the others do not appear to be affected.I felt bad separting them, but I know it is the right thing to do.
Used F10 to clean the cages.
STAR the affected guinea is feeding, but I have not got on top of things yet. I am persisting twice a day. Fingers crossed.

 

[VickiA]

I'm so glad that you got a second opinion but sorry that it is ringworm. Please take precautions yourself as ringworm is contagious to humans, too. Wash all bedding at 60 degrees or higher, soak all wooden items in f10 or destroy them. Did the vet prescribe anything other than cream?

 

[Toni Dring]

I'm so glad that you got a second opinion but sorry that it is ringworm. Please take precautions yourself as ringworm is contagious to humans, too. Wash all bedding at 60 degrees or higher, soak all wooden items in f10 or destroy them. Did the vet prescribe anything other than cream?

Hi. Thanks for the reply. Yes, I am taking precautions. He did not prescribe anything else. I have thrown somethings away. Its a bit tricky as it is under the eye. Had a look today, I think its gone above the eye. The cream seems to be smoothing it somehow. I think it has spread a bit further. I guess the delay did not help. She is eating, but sometimes a bit listless.