My guinea pig has sore skin & he keeps biting - pictures attached - help!

[FrankstaH09]

Hello everyone,

I have two guinea pigs, both of which i've had for around 6 months. They are both very lively and we look after them very well.

Recently my guinea pig (Arnold) has developed a sore / itch on the very centre of his back, which he keeps on biting!

I initially purchaed some Johnson's Tea Tree Skin cream to try and help, but it seems that the sore has became worst and he has continued to bite himself.

Last night i checked his skin very closely with a magnifying glass, for mites - but i could not see anything moving in his skin. All i can see is that he has a lot of hair loss, and also some dandruft.

I yesterday gave him some anti-parasite spot on - which seems to have stopped him biting his skin, but it is too early to tell whether or not he will improve.

I would also like to mention that my second guinea pig (Dillon) is not suffering in any way, shape or form of anything - which further leads me to believe it may not be mites?

Picture below of Arnolds skin

Please if anyone has any idea i will be eternally greatful, i am so worried for my guinea 8...

 

[FrankstaH09]

The picture does not seem to have showed

The link is : http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/sorem.jpg/

 

[hayls<3]

It does look like mange mites to me.
The location of the sore, itchyness and the dandruffy skin are all symptoms of mange mites. Mange mites burrow under guinea skin, making them very itchy, the sore is because of this.
Please see a vet to confirm this for you, they will prescribe them both a spot on like Xeno 450 as mange mites are blood suckers and can only be killed with iveomec. Even though you other guinea isn't showing signs, both pigs need to be treated. You will need three rounds by using one pipette per pig every two weeks. The dandruffy skin can be taken care of once the rounds have finished, this will help to get rid of dead skin and help promote hair regrowth, have a look on gorgeous guineas: http://gorgeousguineas.com/recommendations.html
HTH

 

[Wiebke]

I sounds like mange mites. Please have your guinea pigs seen by a vet for a proper diagnosis and a good ivermectin product. Supermarket products are usually dosed too low. You can do more harm than good by treating for the wrong thing or not treating properly.

A complete course comprises three rounds of treatment, spaced 10-14 days apart in order to catch any emerging eggs.

http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

 

[Sodapops]

Has he seen a vet?

Personally rather than self-medicating him with solutions that may make matters worse, i would be popping him along to the vets for a proper/firm diagnosis and correct treatment/medication.

Until you have a firm diagnosis i would keep handling to an absolute minimum.

 

[hayls<3]

Please see a vet to confirm this for you, they will prescribe them both a spot on like Xeno 450 as mange mites are blood suckers and can only be killed with iveomec

Appologies, just realised, I meant ivermectin not Ivecomec.

Iveomec is the injections in which you can have instead of a spot on. I personally wouldn't recommend this. Its very stressful for pigs to keep being transported and injected.

 

[FrankstaH09]

Thank you everyone,

I will get him to the vet asap