Mites

[kimberlie]

I recently took snickers to the vet because he had scabs on his back and was told it was mites. The vet gave me some treatment for snickers and i have followed the instructions.

I have noticed today however that on of my other boys Pickles (who is not living with snickers) also has the same symptons and i am therefore assuming that he has mites as well. To save on vets bills, i went out today and bought some of the same treatment from Pets At Home, and have decided to do give the other boys who live with Snickers and Pickles the treatment as well just incase.

It says on the box how much i **** give according to weight, but it does not state how often?
With snickers i am to give him 1 tube every 2 weeks for 3 applications, should i so the same with the others, or is this only because snickers mites had progressed quickly and the scabbing was bad? On the box it makes it sound like the single application is only necessary. :{

 

[Piggiewinkles]

I had to have my guinea pig ernie treated for mites twice at the vets, and like you say it does start becoming expensive. I have since changed his bedding to shredded paper which has helped, but I also bought the spot on treatment. I use one tube on him once a month and it has seemed to help keep mites away.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

The information given on the boxes can be misleading, they aim to market it as a regular preventative treatment as opposed to treating an active problem.

Two to three doses given around 10 days apart is the most 'ideal' treatment routine for Ivermectin if you are dosing to treat an active problem.

For preventative measures, one dose every three months is the usual.

 

[alcesterpigs]

A preventative dose does not stop future infestations, if it did guinea pigs would only ever need to be treated once for lifetime protection against mites.
I only treat when there is a need for treatment.

 

[Piggiewinkles]

Does anyone know if when guinea pigs nibble themselves and bite bits of their fur out if this is down to mites? Or could it be another skin condition?
Ernie nibbles at himself around his feet which leads to bald patches where you can see his pink skin. He doesn't do it constantly but this is why I have been treating him regularly. Sometimes he nibbles at his back which leaves him with a little bald patch, but once I treat him the fur grows back quite quickly. I stopped using hay and straw as bedding and now use shredded paper. His hay he eats is in a ball that hangs which is constantly filled up. What could be causing his itching? thanks

 

[Lisajazz]

If he's getting better when you treat him then it probably is mites as its getting better.

Maybe he's prone to it?

If it's not mites he could have lice, that can be treated with a shampoo from gorgeous guineas called lice and easy - it's really good.

But you say he gets better after mites treating?

 

[Piggiewinkles]

He had mites a few months ago so I took him to the vet as he'd been scratching and broken the skin and it looked sore. After being given an injection he healed very quickly so I just use the spot on treatment as a precaution really, but he still nibbles near his feet and on his back sometimes. It doesn't look sore like when he had mites, just a bit bald bless him!
I'll try the shampoo and see if that helps, thanks!
It doesn't seem to really bother him, and his coat looks healthy, but where his hair is dark you can see dry bits of skin. I was worried it could be mites again but the doc said it's just dandruff.
If it is just a case of dry skin that's a little bit itchy do you know of any products I can use....like a head and shoulders for the cavy kind!

 

[alcesterpigs]

Some pigs do chew their hair for no apparent reason, it has been suggested that it may be due to boredom. I am undecided as to whether I agree with that statement.