New Piggy Owner Please Help

[PopcornPiggies]

I have only had my guinea pigs for about 4 weeks. They seemed fine until i recently noticed that one of my guinea pigs had what looked like dandruff. At first i thought that's all it was but now I've noticed him scratching a LOT. His hair is falling out like crazy and he has close to bare skin on his sides. What do i do?

 

[anyar.dris]

He might have mites. You need to take him to the vets to get looked at what really it is.

 

[PopcornPiggies]

He might have mites. You need to take him to the vets to get looked at what really it is.

Are mites difficult to get rid of?

 

[anyar.dris]

I'm not really sure, but I think it shouldn't be. But you need to separate him with his cagemates to avoid the other piggies getting it as well. There are shampoo for piggies to get rid of mites. The vet can prescribe you what treatments you need to do.

 

[PopcornPiggies]

Okay, thank you, i don't curently have a vet but i will find one and make an appointment

 

[Teddybear22]

If you're from the UK you can use this link to find a good vet near you: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
If they are mites, I think they can't be treated with any shampoo, you will need to see the vet several times for the treatment to work. And you will need to treat all the piggies that were together.

But, the first thing is getting an apointment because it could be also fungal, and to treat your piggy correctly, you need a correct diagnosis only a vet can give.

 

[PopcornPiggies]

If you're from the UK you can use this link to find a good vet near you: Guinea Pig Vet Locator
If they are mites, I think they can't be treated with any shampoo, you will need to see the vet several times for the treatment to work. And you will need to treat all the piggies that were together.

But, the first thing is getting an apointment because it could be also fungal, and to treat your piggy correctly, you need a correct diagnosis only a vet can give.

I am not from UK, I'm in Pennsylvania (US). But thank you very much anyway :-)

 

[Winifred]

Also, once sorted see if you can determine the cause. Sometimes cheap hay harbours a multitude of bugs. Stick to the bagged stuff. I remember one of my pigs had mites years ago and the vet gave me a powder to mix in the water and bathe piggy in it. It worked a treat. Good luck x

 

[helen105281]

I agree it sounds like either mange mites or fungal, both of which need the vet and have completely different treatment. Do you have access to one that will see pigs? In the UK treatment for mange mites is usually with Ivermectin, and for fungal it is with either an Enilconazole dip or the oral medication Itraconazole (Sporanox in the US). Some vets will prescribe a cream but it does not treat the whole pig.

 

[Wiebke]

I have only had my guinea pigs for about 4 weeks. They seemed fine until i recently noticed that one of my guinea pigs had what looked like dandruff. At first i thought that's all it was but now I've noticed him scratching a LOT. His hair is falling out like crazy and he has close to bare skin on his sides. What do i do?

Hi!

Here is a link for recommended vets in Pennsylvania (Guinea Lynx website): Guinea Lynx Records :: Topic - Veterinarians: Pennsylvania

I agree that it is most likely mange mites, but it could also be fungal; they can look rather similar in the early stages. Please do not treat on spec with low dosed shop products. Mange mites need a good quality ivermectin product to get on top of; when done properly, it is not a huge problem. You need to apply the product you are using at least three times at the specified interval to prevent mites from making a come back. The itching should go down noticeably within a couple of days of the first round and cease completely after the second round.
Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites

 

[PopcornPiggies]

I agree it sounds like either mange mites or fungal, both of which need the vet and have completely different treatment. Do you have access to one that will see pigs? In the UK treatment for mange mites is usually with Ivermectin, and for fungal it is with either an Enilconazole dip or the oral medication Itraconazole (Sporanox in the US). Some vets will prescribe a cream but it does not treat the whole pig.

I do have access to quite a couple vets that will see guinea pigs

 

[PopcornPiggies]

Hi!

Here is a link for recommended vets in Pennsylvania (Guinea Lynx website): Guinea Lynx Records :: Topic - Veterinarians: Pennsylvania

I agree that it is most likely mange mites, but it could also be fungal; they can look rather similar in the early stages. Please do not treat on spec with low dosed shop products. Mange mites need a good quality ivermectin product to get on top of; when done properly, it is not a huge problem. You need to apply the product you are using at least three times at the specified interval to prevent mites from making a come back. The itching should go down noticeably within a couple of days of the first round and cease completely after the second round.
Guinea Lynx :: Mange Mites

When i first thought it was dandruff, i tried to moisturize his skin. I hope that didn't make it worse.........Thank you for the Links :-)

 

[7squeakers.]

Hello and to the forum! Good luck with getting rid of the mites/fungal problem.

 

[Wiebke]

When i first thought it was dandruff, i tried to moisturize his skin. I hope that didn't make it worse.........Thank you for the Links :-)

No, the moisterising won't have made it worse if it is mites.