• Discussions taking place within this forum are intended for the purpose of assisting you in discussing options with your vet. Any other use of advice given here is done so at your risk, is solely your responsibility and not that of this forum or its owner. Before posting it is your responsibility you abide by this Statement

Mites?

Katiedid

Katiedid

Adult Guinea Pig
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Messages
1,265
Reaction score
1,640
Points
725
Location
Jersey - Channel Islands
Oh Christ I feel like the worst guinea pig mum ever. Binky has been a little quiet for about 10 days but nothing I would put my finger on - I blamed the heat as it was worse when hot. I have just picked her up and noticed a cut by her bum, on closer inspection the hair is falling out and I didn’t notice.

I’ll book the vets first thing tomorrow but I can’t believe I didn’t see this. Poor Binky.
 
Katiedid said:
Oh Christ I feel like the worst guinea pig mum ever. Binky has been a little quiet for about 10 days but nothing I would put my finger on - I blamed the heat as it was worse when hot. I have just picked her up and noticed a cut by her bum, on blower inspection the hair is falling out and I didn’t notice.

I’ll book the vets first thing tomorrow but I can’t believe I didn’t see this. Poor Binky.
Click to expand...

Hi!

It is more likely that the hair loss/biting is a sign that your instincts are right and there amy be an underlying issue that is not causing visible symptoms but that may be lowering the immune system to give opportunists like fungal skin infections or parasites a look in.
The enormous heat over France would have provided even more stress for the body and could be reason alone. The combination of heat and high humidity are ideal for any fungal infection; I expect to see more over the coming days. :(

It is also highly likely that this is very recent, so please do not beat yourself up about it. You are an observant owners and very likely to notice fairly quickly! With the correct treatment, and in the case of a fungal infection, hygiene, you can get past it without it becoming more than a nuisance. Good that you are having her seen tomorrow. ;)

All the best!
 
Wiebke said:
Hi!

It is more likely that the hair loss/biting is a sign that your instincts are right and there amy be an underlying issue that is not causing visible symptoms but that may be lowering the immune system to give opportunists like fungal skin infections or parasites a look in.
The enormous heat over France would have provided even more stress for the body and could be reason alone. The combination of heat and high humidity are ideal for any fungal infection; I expect to see more over the coming days. :(

It is also highly likely that this is very recent, so please do not beat yourself up about it. You are an observant owners and very likely to notice fairly quickly! With the correct treatment, and in the case of a fungal infection, hygiene, you can get past it without it becoming more than a nuisance. Good that you are having her seen tomorrow. ;)

All the best!
Click to expand...

Thank you. It’s been unbelievably hot here. She is quite a fatty and just hasn’t coped - even with ice blocks and fans. She also hoots if you recall (as a result of her baby infection), I had noticed her hooting and been nebulising her as per vets instructions, it wasn’t until tonight I noticed her making the noise whilst nibbling her bum and picked her up to look. I think she was hooting as she was bent over. It could be a combination of the two. Heat and the heat causing hooting, hooting causing the stress causing the infection.

I’ve inspected the others Zigg has been itchy but I can’t find anything on her but little crunchy has a patch by her bum (a little patch about 1/4 Cm wide) I’m taking her to the vets too.

Please don’t let this be ringworm.
 
Katiedid said:
Thank you. It’s been unbelievably hot here. She is quite a fatty and just hasn’t coped - even with ice blocks and fans. She also hoots if you recall (as a result of her baby infection), I had noticed her hooting and been nebulising her as per vets instructions, it wasn’t until tonight I noticed her making the noise whilst nibbling her bum and picked her up to look. I think she was hooting as she was bent over. It could be a combination of the two. Heat and the heat causing hooting, hooting causing the stress causing the infection.

I’ve inspected the others Zigg has been itchy but I can’t find anything on her but little crunchy has a patch by her bum (a little patch about 1/4 Cm wide) I’m taking her to the vets too.

Please don’t let this be ringworm.
Click to expand...

All the best!

If you are lucky it is mange mites and Zigg is just about starting with them; but they are comparatively easy to get on top of. ;)
Heat is so much worse on piggies that already have some problem or other, and it is has been insane this week. :(
 
You have done well picking this up and I hope your Piggies are OK.

I'm back tomorrow evening after 2 weeks away and leaving my Piggies with 3 sitters so I'll be giving them a very thorough health check on Sunday. Hope that they are OK.
 
Let us know how they get on, sending lots of love and healing vibes x
 
Betsy said:
You have done well picking this up and I hope your Piggies are OK.

I'm back tomorrow evening after 2 weeks away and leaving my Piggies with 3 sitters so I'll be giving them a very thorough health check on Sunday. Hope that they are OK.
Click to expand...
I hope you had a good holiday and all is well with the tribe when you get home.
 
Lovely to see you here again, although sorry to hear your piggies have picked up something. I am sure whatever it is you will be on top of it very quickly.
 
piggieminder said:
Lovely to see you here again, although sorry to hear your piggies have picked up something. I am sure whatever it is you will be on top of it very quickly.
Click to expand...

It’s good to see you all too. I’m sure we will cope. I’m hoping it’s run of the mill fungal and not ringworm. I was just thinking that the kids school uniform hadn’t cost too much too.
 
It looks like it’s mites with a secondary bacterial infection. Poor girl. I’m hoping that is all. They are culturing from her fur (I know what isn’t conclusive) and I’ve treated all the pigs. Need to look up what to do with the cage now.
 
Katiedid said:
It looks like it’s mites with a secondary bacterial infection. Poor girl. I’m hoping that is all. They are culturing from her fur (I know what isn’t conclusive) and I’ve treated all the pigs. Need to look up what to do with the cage now.
Click to expand...

Just give the cage a good clean.
Mange mites are most often coming from eggs already buried in the skin that are normally kept under control by a working immune system but that can make an appearance once the immune system is weakened or overloaded, like in frail/ill piggies, pregnant sows etc...

The best measure against mange mites is a good hay based diet (grass and hay are actually guite high in vitamin C; which is why guinea pigs are not making their own, unlike rabbits) that means that they are for the long term as healthy and fit as possible and that their own bodily defences can actually do the work they are designed to do.

Sustained low dosage 'prevention' ivermectin is only something you may consider for guinea pigs with a long term underlying health issue and a known mange mite problem; otherwise it is much better to hit them prompt and hard with a good quality product in an acute outbreak to prevent mites from developing resistance to ivermectin/selamectin.
But the adviability of this is something you would rather like to discuss with your own vet.
 
Wiebke said:
Just give the cage a good clean.
Mange mites are most often coming from eggs already buried in the skin that are normally kept under control by a working immune system but that can make an appearance once the immune system is weakened or overloaded, like in frail/ill piggies, pregnant sows etc...

The best measure against mange mites is a good hay based diet (grass and hay are actually guite high in vitamin C; which is why guinea pigs are not making their own, unlike rabbits) that means that they are for the long term as healthy and fit as possible and that their own bodily defences can actually do the work they are designed to do.

Sustained low dosage 'prevention' ivermectin is only something you may consider for guinea pigs with a long term underlying health issue and a known mange mite problem; otherwise it is much better to hit them prompt and hard with a good quality product in an acute outbreak to prevent mites from developing resistance to ivermectin/selamectin.
But the adviability of this is something you would rather like to discuss with your own vet.
Click to expand...
Thank you. They do get a high hay diet with a good quality pellet (though that is limited to the recommended weight per pig) and they get grass.

I think for her the hot weather started her breathing issues up and wiped her out. Which led to the mites making a move. Each hot day she has literally been flat out and barely moved. I wouldn’t consider long term dosing unless it really does recur. But next summer I will be extra careful to keep her cool.
 
Katiedid said:
Thank you. They do get a high hay diet with a good quality pellet (though that is limited to the recommended weight per pig) and they get grass.

I think for her the hot weather started her breathing issues up and wiped her out. Which led to the mites making a move. Each hot day she has literally been flat out and barely moved. I wouldn’t consider long term dosing unless it really does recur. But next summer I will be extra careful to keep her cool.
Click to expand...

If it is any consolation for you, I am in the same situation - the hot weather has really made the mange mites my 8 1/2 year old and very frail Ffwlbri is currently dealing with so much worse; again is it a defective immune system problem.
Unfortunately, I can't take her to the vets until Monday for a more efficient ivermectin injection (or pts if the vet thinks it is the kinder thing in view of her other issues) when the first dose has worn off. :(
 
Wiebke said:
If it is any consolation for you, I am in the same situation - the hot weather has really made the mange mites my 8 1/2 year old and very frail Ffwlbri is currently dealing with so much worse; again is it a defective immune system problem.
Unfortunately, I can't take her to the vets until Monday for a more efficient ivermectin injection (or pts if the vet thinks it is the kinder thing in view of her other issues) when the first dose has worn off. :(
Click to expand...
I’m so sorry you are facing this too. The hot weather can be very cruel to these piggies. I hope you can get it sorted.
 
Katiedid said:
I’m so sorry you are facing this too. The hot weather can be very cruel to these piggies. I hope you can get it sorted.
Click to expand...

So do I! But you have to take these things as they come and make any decisions with the wellbeing and comfort of your piggies upmost in mind.
 
Willow has just been admitted to the emergency vets. She had been showing no signs of mites but couldn’t be treated today as she hadn’t been seen in the last year. She was fine this morning. This evening not eating and behaving oddly. I offered them melon and she didn’t go for it and then refused grass so we were at the vets within 15 min. They are kept her in to give her gut stimulants, painkillers and X-ray her.
 
Katiedid said:
Willow has just been admitted to the emergency vets. She had been showing no signs of mites but couldn’t be treated today as she hadn’t been seen in the last year. She was fine this morning. This evening not eating and behaving oddly. I offered them melon and she didn’t go for it and then refused grass so we were at the vets within 15 min. They are kept her in to give her gut stimulants, painkillers and X-ray her.
Click to expand...

I am so sorry! Fingers very firmly crossed for her!
 
Oh I'm so sorry to learn that sad news. She is out of pain now at the Rainbow Bridge reunited with her friends who have been waiting for her. Sleep well Willow x
 
I am so sorry to hear your very sad news. Sending you hugs and my very best wishes.
RIP sweet Willow
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top