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Percy Is Itchy

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AlbiePercy

AlbiePercy

Teenage Guinea Pig
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So I think it all started out about a month ago with a small sore on Percy's shoulder. We thought it was a wayward tooth or toe from their bonding process with the two newbies. He went to the vet and had a course of Baytril just in case. It won't heal as it's itchy when the scab occurs so he just scratches it off. He's now scratching at different patches on his back and the same scabbing process is occurring. He's also chewed/licked the fur from his tummy between his front paws. He's been back to the vet since, but the vet was convinced it was Scabies. I treated all 4 pigs anyway, but I really don't think so. None of the other 3 are showing symptoms.
I think the answer lies with making him comfortable so he stops scratching and lets the scabs heal and fall off on their own. But does anyone know how to do this? My nearest cavy savvy vet is around a 4.5 hour one way trip. I'll be going there on Tuesday anyway, and will take him with me if it'll actually help, but I don't want to stress him out for no reason either.
 
Awwww I'm very sorry to hear of your piggies current predicament- that doesn't sound nice at all. I don't really know how to stop him from picking at them so I would ask the vet but could it mites or a reaction to something? Sorry couldn't be of more help. Good luck at the vets.
 
The itching is being caused by something, and it sounds like it could be mites. Which needs Ivermectin from the vet to cure.

If your vet won't prescribe it I would suggest you try another vet.
 
Jaycey said:
The itching is being caused by something, and it sounds like it could be mites. Which needs Ivermectin from the vet to cure.

If your vet won't prescribe it I would suggest you try another vet.
Click to expand...
They've all been treated with Ivermectin as part of the scabies treatment. :(
 
We had a similar thing with Eddi a while back.
The scabs on his shoulders were from mites, and none of the other 3 had any symptoms at all.
He was treated with Ivermectin injections (3 in total, 8 days apart), and the others were treated with Ivermectin spot on.

How many Ivermectin treatments was he given?
I know they need a full course of at least 3, and in some cases 4 are necessary.

And to help with the sores and itching in between treatments we used neem gel from Gorgeous Guineas, but I would also suggest using Pawpaw ointment, which I know you can get easily. I am a big fan of pawpaw from Australia.
 
Swissgreys said:
We had a similar thing with Eddi a while back.
The scabs on his shoulders were from mites, and none of the other 3 had any symptoms at all.
He was treated with Ivermectin injections (3 in total, 8 days apart), and the others were treated with Ivermectin spot on.

How many Ivermectin treatments was he given?
I know they need a full course of at least 3, and in some cases 4 are necessary.

And to help with the sores and itching in between treatments we used neem gel from Gorgeous Guineas, but I would also suggest using Pawpaw ointment, which I know you can get easily. I am a big fan of pawpaw from Australia.
Click to expand...

Oooh I want Neem gel! Alas, postage from GG says 7-10 days and we're moving house in 10! I don't want it to get lost! I'll buy some pawpaw when I wake, and try smearing him in that. Our pawpaw is pretty good haha!
They have all been treated with 0.3ml of ivermectin orally, two doses a week apart as advised by the vet.

I'm really, really skeptical about it being a bug of some sort... He just had one spot, which I'm pretty sure was caused by Ollie... and then when that was itchy as it healed and we were discouraging him from scratching he's moved onto other spots because he's just so miserable!
 
I really just need something that will take the itch away and allows it to heal...
 
The vet might have something you can rub on it. Try to find some way to keep him from scratching or chewing the fur off. Maybe distract him. It sounds like mites, though.
 
Okay, so I overslept and missed the chemist to get the pawpaw :( But I did order some GG stuff and shipped it to a friend's house instead! Thanks @Swissgreys
 
I'd have the vet check him over to check what it is. Poor little fellow.
 
He's been to the regular vets twice for it. I live over 450km from the nearest specialist vet and I think that's too much for him, especially in the middle of summer. He'll fret that long on his own and to take another with him will upset the already very fragile group dynamic that I have :(
 
I'm not sure but I would assume Ivermectin works best when it is put directly on the skin.

They'll also need a longer treatment than two weeks to make sure the whole cycle of mites are killed.

Speak with your vet about pure aloe vera gel. I had success with that to ease itchiness when one of my boars had mites.
 
Update: My GG order arrived yesterday (finally) but I haven't been able to grab it off my friend yet. But... Percy's healing! He's stopped scratching and his skin is now completely unbroken. It's still dry and flaky and his fur needs to grow back, but at least he's not miserable anymore!
 
Wow that's good news that he is healing, sounds like the poor boys had a rough time but hopefully on the mend now :)
 
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