Mysterious scabs

[Teatae23]

For the past 2 months I have noticed some mysterious scabs on my boar's body. First it was on his leg and stomach and now there are 3-4 scabs on his back.
When I first noticed that I took him to a vet and they haven't found any parasites or anything of that sort but they still gave me antibiotic/antifungal/antimycotic cream just in case. The scabs healed pretty well, they dont last very long and other than that he seems pretty normal. I just can't figure out why the scabs keep on appearing. (Backstory: he is living alone for a while and there are two females living above him in a hutch so I'm worried he maybe might be biting himself because of psychological reasons, is that possible?)

 

[Wiebke]

For the past 2 months I have noticed some mysterious scabs on my boar's body. First it was on his leg and stomach and now there are 3-4 scabs on his back.
When I first noticed that I took him to a vet and they haven't found any parasites or anything of that sort but they still gave me antibiotic/antifungal/antimycotic cream just in case. The scabs healed pretty well, they dont last very long and other than that he seems pretty normal. I just can't figure out why the scabs keep on appearing. (Backstory: he is living alone for a while and there are two females living above him in a hutch so I'm worried he maybe might be biting himself because of psychological reasons, is that possible?)

Hi!

Has your vet considered mange mites? They are treated with ivermectin.

More information on fungal skin infections and skin parasites in this link here: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

 

[Teatae23]

Hi!

Has your vet considered mange mites? They are treated with ivermectin.

More information on fungal skin infections and skin parasites in this link here: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

The vet took a small sample of his skin around the wound and apparently there wasn't anything. She also looked at him under a special light so I assume she excluded those options. I will take him again for a checkup

 

[Wiebke]

The vet took a small sample of his skin around the wound and apparently there wasn't anything. She also looked at him under a special light so I assume she excluded those options. I will take him again for a checkup

Neither of these methods is unfortunately conclusive. As fungal treatment has not worked, I would strongly consider to treat with ivermectin for mange mites, just to be on the safe side since mange mites are a potential killer.

We have seen a number of cases on here over the years where mange mites have been excluded by vets not that experienced with guinea pigs too quickly.

 

[Teatae23]

Neither of these methods is unfortunately conclusive. As fungal treatment has not worked, I would strongly consider to treat with ivermectin for mange mites, just to be on the safe side since mange mites are a potential killer.

We have seen a number of cases on here over the years where mange mites have been excluded by vets not that experienced with guinea pigs too quickly.

Can I purchase ivermectin at the pharmacy? And how should I use it on my guinea pig?

 

[Wiebke]

Can I purchase ivermectin at the pharmacy? And how should I use it on my guinea pig?

You may be able to order an ivermectin product online; in a pinch a selamectin product can also do. They are sold under various brand names (recommended UK brand: xeno 450 (ivermectin) or advantage (selamectin); US brand: ivermectin or revolution (active ingredient selamectin). In the UK, advantage is prescription only while spot-on xeno isn't. Please look for a product suitable for use in rabbits and guinea pigs because overdosing can be dangerous; the concentration and amount are weight specific.

A full course for an acute mange mite outbreak consists of 3-4 applications onto the skin at the product specific interval (1-2 weeks between each application). The length of the interval depends on the concentration and strength of the product. A two week interval is the one used with the best quality UK product (brand name: xeno).

More information on guinea pig mange mite (trixacarus caviae) treatment on this US based site: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites
(including citing a case of where mange mites had been initially ruled out as not found in a skin scraping)

Please follow the instructions on the package of your product but the link below is the most complete practical information on spot-on ivermectin I could find; including how to apply it. I would however not order from there; it is from a UK site and expensive!
Xeno 450 Spot On

Fungal vs. mange mites identification tips: Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Skin problems gallery: Gorgeous Guineas Identification

I hope that this helps you?

 

[Teatae23]

You may be able to order an ivermectin product online; in a pinch a selamectin product can also do. They are sold under various brand names (recommended UK brand: xeno 450 (ivermectin) or advantage (selamectin); US brand: ivermectin or revolution (active ingredient selamectin). In the UK, advantage is prescription only while spot-on xeno isn't. Please look for a product suitable for use in rabbits and guinea pigs because overdosing can be dangerous; the concentration and amount are weight specific.

A full course for an acute mange mite outbreak consists of 3-4 applications onto the skin at the product specific interval (1-2 weeks between each application). The length of the interval depends on the concentration and strength of the product. A two week interval is the one used with the best quality UK product (brand name: xeno).

More information on guinea pig mange mite (trixacarus caviae) treatment on this US based site: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites
(including citing a case of where mange mites had been initially ruled out as not found in a skin scraping)

Please follow the instructions on the package of your product but the link below is the most complete practical information on spot-on ivermectin I could find; including how to apply it. I would however not order from there; it is from a UK site and expensive!
Xeno 450 Spot On

Fungal vs. mange mites identification tips: Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Skin problems gallery: Gorgeous Guineas Identification

I hope that this helps you?

Thank you so much!

 

[Teatae23]

You may be able to order an ivermectin product online; in a pinch a selamectin product can also do. They are sold under various brand names (recommended UK brand: xeno 450 (ivermectin) or advantage (selamectin); US brand: ivermectin or revolution (active ingredient selamectin). In the UK, advantage is prescription only while spot-on xeno isn't. Please look for a product suitable for use in rabbits and guinea pigs because overdosing can be dangerous; the concentration and amount are weight specific.

A full course for an acute mange mite outbreak consists of 3-4 applications onto the skin at the product specific interval (1-2 weeks between each application). The length of the interval depends on the concentration and strength of the product. A two week interval is the one used with the best quality UK product (brand name: xeno).

More information on guinea pig mange mite (trixacarus caviae) treatment on this US based site: Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites
(including citing a case of where mange mites had been initially ruled out as not found in a skin scraping)

Please follow the instructions on the package of your product but the link below is the most complete practical information on spot-on ivermectin I could find; including how to apply it. I would however not order from there; it is from a UK site and expensive!
Xeno 450 Spot On

Fungal vs. mange mites identification tips: Gorgeous Guineas Identification
Skin problems gallery: Gorgeous Guineas Identification

I hope that this helps you?

I still can't really figure out if this is mange mites or something else, what do you think?
Also, I tried to find ivermectin online but I can't really find anything similar to xeno 450 spot on from the link you posted, is there a place online where I could buy something like that for a bit cheaper?

 

[Teatae23]

I still can't really figure out if this is mange mites or something else, what do you think?
Also, I tried to find ivermectin online but I can't really find anything similar to xeno 450 spot on from the link you posted, is there a place online where I could buy something like that for a bit cheaper?

Also the scab used to be much bigger, now it seems like it's healing

 

[Wiebke]

Also the scab used to be much bigger, now it seems like it's healing

Because the area has been treated, it is rather impossible to tell now what it is, but it is not at all untypical for self-inflicted mites wounds. It doesn't like ringworm to me; those areas generally round (although you can also get the bloody areas under the scabs).

Can you google amazon or ebay for 'spot-on ivermectin' for rabbits in Croatian? Ideally you opt for a 1% solution.
I am sure that you must have products for small animals of ca. 1 kg and not just for cats, dogs etc.

 

[Teatae23]

Because the area has been treated, it is rather impossible to tell now what it is, but it is not at all untypical for self-inflicted mites wounds. It doesn't like ringworm to me; those areas generally round (although you can also get the bloody areas under the scabs).

Can you google amazon or ebay for 'spot-on ivermectin' for rabbits in Croatian? Ideally you opt for a 1% solution.
I am sure that you must have products for small animals of ca. 1 kg and not just for cats, dogs etc.

Do you think this is okay? Active ingredient is ivermectin, 10.0 g and one drop contains 0.2 g of ivermectin
And this is used for treating rodents

 

[Wiebke]

Unfortunately I cannot access the product information, but it looks like a comparable brand.

 

[Teatae23]

Unfortunately I cannot access the product information, but it looks like a comparable brand.

Just one more question, I got the ivermectin drops and now I'm wondering should I treat him with it even though his scab has now healed almost completely, leaving a bald patch.
And it don't see any new scabs for now
Should I use it as a prevention?

 

[eileen]

I would still treat as there are no conclusive tests for mites.as Wiebke has suggested above,and scabs have been found previously.two drops in total.repeat again in 7 days time to clear any hatched eggs that have happened since the treatment 7 days previously. you can not see these mites with the naked eye.good luck.

 

[Wiebke]

I would still treat as there are no conclusive tests for mites.as Wiebke has suggested above,and scabs have been found previously.two drops in total.repeat again in 7 days time to clear any hatched eggs that have happened since the treatment 7 days previously. you can not see these mites with the naked eye.good luck.

@eileen has given you the advice I would have given you, too. Please treat to make absolutely sure that this potentially fatal and very painful angle is closed out.

Invisible mange mites are one of the potential killer conditions/illnesses which when in doubt one always prefers to treat for rather than not. The ivermectin will not harm your piggy if applied properly. Treat for the full course at the product specific interval between each application (three applications in all) for all guinea pigs in contact with an affected one.