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Piggies scratching

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J

Jane

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Hey :)

Well.. if you don't know, I got the piggies on Tuesday afternoon from someone in the Admag. For the first day, they semed perfectly healthy, but then again, they didn't really do much :P

I noticed though, yesterday and today they have been scratching more than I think is usual.. I think they may have mites.. are their any other symptoms except scratching that they would have?

A few people said to get shampoo from the pet shop, but I'm not sure whether to try that first, or go straight to the vet? Also, cost isn't really an issue, but how much does your vet charge for mites? (ie, seeing them and treatment)

Thanks.. oh yeah, how much scratching is normal?

Jane
 
Maybe they're just getting used to heat being indoors (they did live out doors didn't they?). I would suggest bathing them but as a first time piggy owner this will probably be a terrifying prospect! Maybe give them a good brush every day to get any loose bits out of their coat to see if this helps. Having veg for the first time may be acting like a detox, I know when I detox my skin itches sooo much with the toxins coming out. You never know why our little monsters do what they do! Mites are unfortuantely a common thing though.
What area do you live in - maybe someone here might be local & be able to have a llook & advise ?
 
hils78 said:
Maybe they're just getting used to heat being indoors (they did live out doors didn't they?). I would suggest bathing them but as a first time piggy owner this will probably be a terrifying prospect! Maybe give them a good brush every day to get any loose bits out of their coat to see if this helps. Having veg for the first time may be acting like a detox, I know when I detox my skin itches sooo much with the toxins coming out. You never know why our little monsters do what they do! Mites are unfortuantely a common thing though.
What area do you live in - maybe someone here might be local & be able to have a llook & advise ?
Click to expand...

I really hope you're right.. I will try brushing them, I will have to get a brush tomorrow.. is there any type you'd recommend? If they do have mites, would I be able to see them or not? Can they kill? :-\ Yes, they did live outside before.. I live in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.. I don't know of anyone who could help tell me, but maybe there is someone near.. do you think I should try brushing them first, MAYBE a bath.. it sounds scary.. do they have to be bathed at the same time or can they be done seperatly? Is there any shampoos I should avoid? Which are good? I know people recomend 'Gorgeous Guinea' or something, but my pet shop isn't very big and wont have a lot.. I've heard of people using baby shampoo before too? What about kitten shampoo?

Thanks for the link bev..

someone say (I think it's Kelly.. can't remember :P)
"If it's more than a few scratches in an hour then I would say it's possible they have mites. All my lot lot have the odd quick scratch but no more in than 2 in about an hour, sometimes longer"

It is only two or three scratches an hour.. but someone on another forum said they'd only seen their pig scratch once or twice in two years? :-\ Confuzzled..
 
Get a natural bristled brush. Wilkos do a small dog/cat one for less than £2. It has a wooden handle. I have never seen mites on mine when they've had them but seen them under the microscope - gruesome!

If you do decide to bath them do them at the same time but not in at the same time - I tried this a couple of weeks ago, big mistake! Everyone has their own way to bath - but I prefer to fill the kitchen sink with about 5cm of warm (but not hot) water with a teatowel or large flannel in the water so its no too slippery for the pig & on the draining board I have a couple of large saucepans of water of the same temperature. I have a towel next to the sink & the shampoo bottle ready opened. I gently lower the pig into the water usually sitting her on my left hand so my right hand can do the shampooing. I always keep my hand under the pig. WHen I've shampoo'd & got most of the bubbles off with the sink water I pull the plug & then do a final good rinse with the reserved water. Then they get wrapped up in a nice towel & dried. I try not to use the hair dryer too much because it freaks them out a bit! You really do have to be confident because they'll sense if you're nervous & play merry hell!

I use gorgeous guineas shampoo but I'm sure others here will recommend a shop brought one...
 
hils78 said:
Get a natural bristled brush. Wilkos do a small dog/cat one for less than £2. It has a wooden handle. I have never seen mites on mine when they've had them but seen them under the microscope - gruesome!

If you do decide to bath them do them at the same time but not in at the same time - I tried this a couple of weeks ago, big mistake! Everyone has their own way to bath - but I prefer to fill the kitchen sink with about 5cm of warm (but not hot) water with a teatowel or large flannel in the water so its no too slippery for the pig & on the draining board I have a couple of large saucepans of water of the same temperature. I have a towel next to the sink & the shampoo bottle ready opened. I gently lower the pig into the water usually sitting her on my left hand so my right hand can do the shampooing. I always keep my hand under the pig. WHen I've shampoo'd & got most of the bubbles off with the sink water I pull the plug & then do a final good rinse with the reserved water. Then they get wrapped up in a nice towel & dried. I try not to use the hair dryer too much because it freaks them out a bit! You really do have to be confident because they'll sense if you're nervous & play merry hell!

I use gorgeous guineas shampoo but I'm sure others here will recommend a shop brought one...
Click to expand...

What do you mean by 'natural bristled'? I've bought one.. but I dunno if it is natural bristled...?
 
Rather than metal or plastic spikes try a one with something made from a natutal fibre (but for the life of me can't think what it is!). On retrospect one of my good brushes is made from nylon bristles Really Jane, today I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about!
 
hils78 said:
Rather than metal or plastic spikes try a one with something made from a natutal fibre (but for the life of me can't think what it is!). On retrospect one of my good brushes is made from nylon bristles Really Jane, today I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about!
Click to expand...

Haha.. well, I think it has nylon bristles? It's plasticy stuff anyway.. It's one of these.. http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0002DJHHM.01-AQNNCQOPF4SX1._AA200_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg are they okay? It seems fine to me and it's really soft?

Also, nothing to do with scratching, but does anyone have these nail clippers, and if they do, are they any good? They look cute, but I dunno if they are actually worth buying ;)
http://www.bunnybasics.net/images/critterclip.jpg
 
The last one - I don't have the bunny face, but they look like the scissors I have and use for my lot. Normal nail clippers seem too fiddly, but others get on well with them :)
 
kellyandpiggies said:
The last one - I don't have the bunny face, but they look like the scissors I have and use for my lot. Normal nail clippers seem too fiddly, but others get on well with them :)
Click to expand...

Do you get on with them okay? I dunno which ones they have in the pet shop.. pretty sure they have the 'guinea pig' ones though.. we do have normal human nail clippers, but I can't even cut my own nails with them, never mind a wriggling piggy! :P

edit: someone has recommended me buying 'ivermectin' from pets at home.. I thought you should only use it a vet tells you to but they said it will be fine aslong as i dont use too much.. what do you guys think?

edit 2: apparently she means this - http://www.ferretsrus.co.uk/ferretsabout/acatalog/Ivermectin_Spot_On.html

any ideas?
 
Well when i had Holly the beginning of the month she had mites i gave her a bath in our big bath upstairs it was just easier for me to manage her because she is a big girl. The Spot on stuff is what i used after the bath its very good and have used it again on all 3 of my girls because i thought i spotted something *i changed hay and noticed something different)

The nail clippers i use are normal ones however for holly i need to find some that are wider cos her nails are really thick
 
minky said:
Well when i had Holly the beginning of the month she had mites i gave her a bath in our big bath upstairs it was just easier for me to manage her because she is a big girl. The Spot on stuff is what i used after the bath its very good and have used it again on all 3 of my girls because i thought i spotted something *i changed hay and noticed something different)

The nail clippers i use are normal ones however for holly i need to find some that are wider cos her nails are really thick
Click to expand...

DO you mean the Spot on stuff in that link? Is it safe to use? even if they don't have mites? Where did you buy it from and how much did you use? hope you don't mind Qs :P
 
mum does our piggies nails with the same clippers as we use for the dog and it seems to work ok although the braindead dog lays down waiting as if hes having his done next ::)
Ive got heaps of scratches all over from pigs with longish nails,I swear ill never be able to show my boobs in a bikini,lol
 
Yeah, their nails are really sharp, hoping to get them cut in a couple of days when they calm down more.

Well, I asked my cousin earlier about whether their pigs have ever had mites and he said they have and they got some treatment from the vet, he doesn't really know much about it though, so I'm going to ask my other cousin (ie his sister) later or tomorrow when she's online.
 
Jane said:
minky said:
Well when i had Holly the beginning of the month she had mites i gave her a bath in our big bath upstairs it was just easier for me to manage her because she is a big girl. The Spot on stuff is what i used after the bath its very good and have used it again on all 3 of my girls because i thought i spotted something *i changed hay and noticed something different)

The nail clippers i use are normal ones however for holly i need to find some that are wider cos her nails are really thick
Click to expand...

DO you mean the Spot on stuff in that link? Is it safe to use? even if they don't have mites? Where did you buy it from and how much did you use? hope you don't mind Qs :P
Click to expand...

I used ivermectin from Pets at Home, it's about £5 and has a few doses, and you put one ampoule on the back of their neck and it should get rid of mites.
 
Jane said:
minky said:
Well when i had Holly the beginning of the month she had mites i gave her a bath in our big bath upstairs it was just easier for me to manage her because she is a big girl. The Spot on stuff is what i used after the bath its very good and have used it again on all 3 of my girls because i thought i spotted something *i changed hay and noticed something different)

The nail clippers i use are normal ones however for holly i need to find some that are wider cos her nails are really thick
Click to expand...

DO you mean the Spot on stuff in that link? Is it safe to use? even if they don't have mites? Where did you buy it from and how much did you use? hope you don't mind Qs :P
Click to expand...

When i did Holly i used half a tube because she is a big girl i got it from Pets at Home but asda does it as well its about £3.50 i think
 
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