mites?

[Tbag]

Can anyone provide me with pictures of what mites/lice look like on piggies please?
I've noticed Cash seems a bit dandruffy round his back end but don't want to jump to any hasty conclusions. He doesn't mind being touched round the area (well not anymore than normal!), but he did seem to be shedding a lot when I was stroking him (or was that my imagination jumping to conclusions already?!) He isn't itchy either.

Tango's absolutely fine, no dandruff or anything.

Any help much appreciated, just want to be cautious!

 

[Wiebke]

Mites are not visible to the eye, but you always also need to make sure that you are not dealing with a fungal complaint; they can look much more like than the show pictures suggest! itching is not always an indicator - a piggy can have mites and not be seen itching.

Please see a good, preferably piggy savvy exotics vet if in the least doubt; home treating can do more harm than good. I always have my piggies double checked by a vet for a second opinion if a problem is not textbook! Treatments available in shops are usually too low dosed to really work.

PS: You always need to treat all piggies living together.

http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html
http://gorgeousguineas.com/indentification.html

 

[Tbag]

Thanks for the gorgeous guineas link, very helpful (i had checked guinealynx before posting here). Will have another intensive look at him following those guidelines and then get him an appt to see Ann (got our exotics vet well covered here!). Thanks again

 

[Tbag]

Ps. Would never dream of home treating!

 

[Pebble]

Hi sweetie

Get yourself some easimec (ivermectin for mites)

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/searchprods.asp

Won't do any harm on the mites front...but if fungal beckons you will need "other stuff"

We can help with fungal products & dosages if you supply weights and any ongoing symptoms..

x

 

[WhinnyPig]

my new pig just got diagnosed with lice last night at the vet. there were tiny yellow/white bugs that i first noticed on her face, mostly around her eyes. i would definitely get your piggy checked out! they had me bleach the cages (1:10 bleach and water)and now she has lice treatment! very worth the vet visit!
good luck!

 

[Pandora]

Hi sweetie

Get yourself some easimec (ivermectin for mites)

http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk/searchprods.asp

Won't do any harm on the mites front...but if fungal beckons you will need "other stuff"

We can help with fungal products & dosages if you supply weights and any ongoing symptoms..

x

just follow the instructions on the easimec, one drop per 500g of weight is a good guideline (though i've used it for years, even on minipigs brought home almost bald from auctions, and the odd accidental extra drip has never done any harm)

going to the vets if you're not sure will be the best option for you though

home treating is fine, but you need to be able to recognise what you're up against first.

my current fungal problem mimicked the first stages of a mite outbreak at first, so i started easimec treatment, when their condition didn't respond to it, i took another, closer look and found that the fur around the affected boar's bald spots came out very easily in quite substantial chunks and the skin had started to become flaky, as per the symptoms in the gorgeous guineas chart.

 

[Tbag]

Thanks for the extra info guys! If I can be surer on what I'm dealing with (mites v fungal) after using the chart I may try the easimec, if not we'll still be off to Ann (which is probably likely haha)

 

[Tbag]

After doing an intensive check with the chart it looks much more likely its fungal, also found some dandruffy stuff on Mr t. Will be off to see Ann!

What's the usual procedure for treating fungal? Thanks!