Mites!

[Rivervixen]

After finding out that all 3 piggies have mites, the vet has ordered stronghold for us and it will be here Monday or Tuesday. Apart from washing all bedding etc on a hot wash, is there anything else that needs to be done? Never had experience with this, wasn't expecting crawlies!

 

[Ramia]

Vacuum, cut the eggs off the hair, use f10 in their cages.

 

[Rivervixen]

Do we change everything now or after treatment? Sorry for silly questions, in a bit of a flap with this

 

[Truffolo]

I think two washes might be needed, the bedding she is using now and then the bedding put in fresh now, once she's back from the vet, but others might do things differently. I hope the nasty mites go away soon

 

[RescueBoyMum]

Hi, it’s so stressful to deal with, I know! Are you thinking it’s hay mites? As if so, you might be best to bin your hay. You can freeze it apparently but up to you if you can do that. Fingers crossed they are rid of them soon!

 

[Truffolo]

I think two washes might be needed, the bedding she is using now and then the bedding put in fresh now, once she's back from the vet, but others might do things differently. I hope the nasty mites go away soon

I mean they, not she. Sorry, need more sleep 🫩

 

[Roselina]

Oh no not what you needed.
When we had hay mites I got rid of all the hay
I used F10 and washed everything on a hot wash and got rid of wooden log tunnel etc
I think you would need to do 2 washes
The stronghold should do the trick !

 

[Wiebke]

Do we change everything now or after treatment? Sorry for silly questions, in a bit of a flap with this

1) Get rid of any infected hay unless you know that the hay mites have come with a new piggy in order to remove the source of any new hay mites.

2) Give all your piggies - including your short-haired ones - a good old haircut right down to the skin in order to remove as many eggcases fixed expecially to the underlayers of the coat is your first treatment job.
An Illustrated Guide to Hair Cutting

This means that you remove as many future mites as possible mechanically that you then don't have to treat cheminally and you really cut down on the outbreak in one fell swoop. Never underestimate the effectiveness of removing as many of your enemies from the battlefield before you start waging your battle! Wash your hands well before and after dealing with guinea pigs or any pets - good hygiene is the same basic principle for transferring germs.

It is unsightly and you may need to keep your piggies warmer than usual (half-heated snugglesafes and bath mats or fleece blankets to crawl underneath; just create a little entrance) but it means that you will have much less of chemical and hygiene battle on your hands for the coming weeks and the piggies will feel a lot less irritated immediately.

You can use a very thin layer or coconut oil or whatever your vet recommends for the very dry skin of your badly affected girl to really get to all the uncomfortable places which are now much easier to see and reach for you.
This is NOT recommended for mange mites.

3) Start any topical treatment immediately after the haircut and once any coconut oil has been absorbed into the skin. It takes about 2 days to be fully absorbed into skin and body. Do the full three rounds at the product specific intervals.

4) Do the deep clean once your F10 arrives and do time your further cage cleans/deep cleans ideally for 2 days after any medical treatment in order to remove any dead and dying mites with the next deep clean.

5) If you are very pushed for time, do a deep clean 2 days after your first medical treatment or as soon as your F10 arrives and then again 2 days after your last round of medical treatment. In between, you just clean/change bedding as normal.

I hope that I have been as clear and as precise as you need?

 

[Rivervixen]

Thank you everyone for your responses! Appreciate the support and love so much

 

[Rivervixen]

Vacuum, cut the eggs off the hair, use f10 in their cages.

I think two washes might be needed, the bedding she is using now and then the bedding put in fresh now, once she's back from the vet, but others might do things differently. I hope the nasty mites go away soon

Ill get on these today! We've washed the bedding this morning, just waiting for treatment to arrive at the vets

 

[Rivervixen]

Hi, it’s so stressful to deal with, I know! Are you thinking it’s hay mites? As if so, you might be best to bin your hay. You can freeze it apparently but up to you if you can do that. Fingers crossed they are rid of them soon!

Oh no not what you needed.
When we had hay mites I got rid of all the hay
I used F10 and washed everything on a hot wash and got rid of wooden log tunnel etc
I think you would need to do 2 washes
The stronghold should do the trick !

I did ask the vet if she thinks the mites arrived in the hay, she said no and she thinks the piggies arrived with the mites. Did ask in case the hay needs to be thrown away

 

[Rivervixen]

1) Get rid of any infected hay unless you know that the hay mites have come with a new piggy in order to remove the source of any new hay mites.

2) Give all your piggies a good old haircut right down to the skin in order to remove as many eggcases fixed expecially to the underlayers of the coat is your first treatment job.

This means that you remove as many future mites as possible mechanically that you then don't have to treat cheminally and you really cut down on the outbreak in one fell swoop.

It is unsightly and you may need to keep your piggies warmer than usual (half-heated snugglesafes and bath mats or fleece blankets to crawl underneath; just create a little entrance) but it means that you will have much less of chemical and hygiene battle on your hands for the coming weeks and the piggies will feel a lot less irritated immediately.

You can use a very thin layer or coconut oil or whatever your vet recommends for the very dry skin of your badly affected girl to really get to all the uncomfortable places which are now much easier to see and reach for you.
This is NOT recommended for mange mites.

3) Start any topical treatment immediately after the haircut and once any coconut oil has been absorbed into the skin. It takes about 2 days to be fully absorbed into skin and body. Do the full three rounds at the product specific intervals.

4) Do the deep clean once your F10 arrives and do time your further cage cleans/deep cleans ideally for 2 days after any medical treatment in order to remove any dead and dying mites with the next deep clean.

5) If you are very pushed for time, do a deep clean 2 days after your first medical treatment or as soon as your F10 arrives and then again 2 days after your last round of medical treatment. In between, you just clean/change bedding as normal.

I hope that I have been as clear and as precise as you need?

You've been very clear, thank you so much. With big haircuts do you recommend scissors or clippers? Only ever done bum trims will order some f10 from amazon, think I saw a link from Betsy on a thread somewhere. Edit: just saw the hair link, thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

You've been very clear, thank you so much. With big haircuts do you recommend scissors or clippers? Only ever done bum trims will order some f10 from amazon, think I saw a link from Betsy on a thread somewhere. Edit: just saw the hair link, thank you!

If you have clippers, use them.

 

[Rivervixen]

All piggies have had a haircut, forgot to get picture of Bruno as he was getting antsy. They don't look too bad really, OH is good with the clippers

 

[Roselina]

I’m glad your Vet is on the ball.
I had to use over the counter stuff as xeno450 is unattainable
Luckily it sorted the hay mites but I don’t think it would have any other type of mites

 

[Rivervixen]

I’m glad your Vet is on the ball.
I had to use over the counter stuff as xeno450 is unattainable
Luckily it sorted the hay mites but I don’t think it would have any other type of mites

Hoping we can get on top of it quickly. Glad yours got sorted when it happened, wasnt what we were expecting at all!

 

[Truffolo]

All piggies have had a haircut, forgot to get picture of Bruno as he was getting antsy. They don't look too bad really, OH is good with the clippers

Lot of fur but it means the eggs are gone thank heavens ❤

 

[Rivervixen]

Just picked up their treatment, the lady said to keep on top of it we might need to do it again in a month. How many rounds could we be looking at? Sorry for silly questions, just don't want to do it excessively if it wont be needed

 

[piggieminder]

Just picked up their treatment, the lady said to keep on top of it we might need to do it again in a month. How many rounds could we be looking at? Sorry for silly questions, just don't want to do it excessively if it wont be needed

With Xeno it's 3 doses 2 weeks apart. I thought Stronghold was the same and the lady at your vets is wrong, best to check with your vet if the stronghold doesn't have the dosage on the packet. Hope they have given you enough.

 

[Rivervixen]

With Xeno it's 3 doses 2 weeks apart. I thought Stronghold was the same and the lady at your vets is wrong, best to check with your vet if the stronghold doesn't have the dosage on the packet. Hope they have given you enough.

Edited over our details, but this is what we were given

 

[piggieminder]

So that's one each for one treatment to last a month as I understand the instructions. If the Stronghold stays in the body and kills any mites that bite the piggy during that month the piggies hopefully aren't going to be reinfested with mites as long as the source is gone so their thinking could be that one dose that lasts a month is going to be enough. You really need to check with the vet if you are not sure.

 

[Rivervixen]

So that's one each for one treatment to last a month as I understand the instructions. If the Stronghold stays in the body and kills any mites that bite the piggy during that month the piggies hopefully aren't going to be reinfested with mites as long as the source is gone so their thinking could be that one dose that lasts a month is going to be enough. You really need to check with the vet if you are not sure.

Thats as I understand it as well just making sure its a first time for us with mites

 

[piggieminder]

Fingers crossed it works and will be the end of the mites for you.
I wish the supply of Xeno would get back to normal you know where you are with Xeno! I used a different Ivermectin when I had 2 piggies with mites 2 years ago, it was okay but I had to measure the dose from a bottle with a 1ml syringe as it wasn't in pipettes.

 

[Rivervixen]

Fingers crossed it works and will be the end of the mites for you.
I wish the supply of Xeno would get back to normal you know where you are with Xeno! I used a different Ivermectin when I had 2 piggies with mites 2 years ago, it was okay but I had to measure the dose from a bottle with a 1ml syringe as it wasn't in pipettes.

Thank you, I hope so too. Noticed the itching has gone down by a fair bit already so thats a plus glad that its in pipettes, makes it much easier

 

[AidaB]

We have been prescribed stronghold kitten before- usually it’s one dose/pipette, reapply in a month if necessary.
So yes, from reading your prescription label it sounds the same as we have had.

Good luck.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Xeno (ivermectin) is definitely fortnightly but stronghold (selamectin) can be monthly without issue, and it can remain active for longer. The frequency can depend on the strength of the product also

 

[Rivervixen]

Thank you both sounds as if we're on the right track