Please Someone Help! :((

[Maria]

So.. my guinea pig had black specks in fur which I thought were mites so I bough him Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot on pipetes and it didn't seem to help. I have also got another guinea pig living with him and he's been treated with Beaphar aswell but they still had those black specks on their fur and small bold patches from scratching. Today after I gave them a bath and I've cut their hair I've noticed that the bold patch got bigger and it;s got like blood on it. I am scared about my piggies life. (( Is there any way I could reduce the itchiness or do anything to help him until the morning cause it's almost 11 now and I don't have any pipetes left and I can't really do anything. Please give me advice. Thank you.

Sorry if for creating a thread I just need advice cause I am freaking shaking right now and I can't think about the right place to ask about it.

 

[PottyForPiggies]

Oh that looks so sore I'm so sorry your piggie is in such upset, and that this has to be your first post
I will tag @Wiebke as she knows a lot of piggy conditions, and is online - I hope someone can help you x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Please take a deep breath and calm down! Your piggy is not going to die and it will survive until you can get it seen by a vet, even if it is very uncomfortable and you are shocked about the extent of it. We have got a piggy savvy UK vets locator on the top bar.

It is very likely to be invisible mange mites (that is a classic presentation of an advanced case), but it could also be fungal or an allergic reaction to the spray, so please do not treat on spec as you can make things even worse!

Unfortunately, shop products are low dosed and only geared for the prevention but not for the actual treatment of skin parasites. they cause a lot of harm as piggies are not being seen by a vet in time and treated properly. Mange mites need several rounds of a highly dosed ivermectin product. Fungal needs an antifungal product. Your vet will adapt the treatment to age and severity of the issue.

If it is mites, please also ask him for a painkiller/anti-inflammatory. You could ask your vet to have the ivermectin injected as the most effective way of treatment, but not all vets will do it. Also be aware that ivermectin needs at least 48 hours to work fully and that it will make things more uncomfy at first as the dying mites in skin wiggle.
Please be very careful in not administering any baths with mites, as it can cause fitting in advanced cases because the skin is painfully inflamed.

Take any companions to the vet, too, as they will also need treatment. the good news is that with the appropriate treatment, your piggy will come perfectly right again in good time!

http://www.gorgeousguineas.com/photogallery.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html

 

[Maria]

Thank you for replying! I am much calmer now but I am scared about going to the vet and the cost as now I can't even afford 20 pounds.

 

[Wiebke]

Most vets will accept a payment plan (ask when you register); but your piggy really needs help that cannot wait!

If you are on benefits, you can also try the PDSA or other charities if they have a clinic within reach. However it would be good if you put aside a bit of money each week for a vet fund; emergencies and illness never happens at a good time and there are no shortcuts for qualified vet care.