My Guinea Pig is Biting Herself Raw

[lucymontayne]

Hi guys. Thought this would be a good place to ask this question. One of my guinea pigs named Salt has been biting herself for a good while now. Sometimes it's really bad and she'll have no hair on her back or legs and other times her hair is just patchy. I went to the vet and she said it could be liver cancer or it could be mites. Salt got injections to treat for mites and it calmed down the biting and hair loss for a while. I was wondering if their was suggestions of anything that could help stop her itching and biting herself. As it has started back up again and the vet had said there may be a possibility of having to put her down because the biting may be causing her pain. I will do whatever is best for her but I want to see if there is anything else that may work for my gorgeous piggie.

 

[Wiebke]

Hi guys. Thought this would be a good place to ask this question. One of my guinea pigs named Salt has been biting herself for a good while now. Sometimes it's really bad and she'll have no hair on her back or legs and other times her hair is just patchy. I went to the vet and she said it could be liver cancer or it could be mites. Salt got injections to treat for mites and it calmed down the biting and hair loss for a while. I was wondering if their was suggestions of anything that could help stop her itching and biting herself. As it has started back up again and the vet had said there may be a possibility of having to put her down because the biting may be causing her pain. I will do whatever is best for her but I want to see if there is anything else that may work for my gorgeous piggie.

Hi!

You are likely dealing with and advanced case of mange mites or ringworm (fungal infection). What as has your vet treated with and how long has this been going on for? Could you please take a well-lit and clear picture and post it in this thread.
How piggy savvy is your vet?

Normally mites are treated with ivermectin or selamectin in several rounds. You need to protect her back with a kind of jumper made from a sock to allow Salt to heal and minimise the risk of fitting. Mange mites, if not properly treated, can lead to a miserable slow death in agony from painfully inflamed skin.
Here is more information on both mange mites and ringworm with further links. What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

It would help us if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details sp we may be able to put you in contact with an experienced person.
Please accept that we are a UK based forum and it is coming up to midnight here.

 

[5StarPigs]

I would reccomend that you take Salt to a more piggy savvy, or in other words experianced exotic or small animal vet for her to get treated for mange mites or riingworm. Please update and let us know what the new vet diagnoses her with and what she puts her on if you do decide to take her to another vet.