Drezella
Adult Guinea Pig
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the long post, but I feel that I need to explain the events of the past week so that you can get the full picture of what's been going on with my boys.
I'm just wondering whether anyone knows what these symptoms might be? Last Tuesday 24th March I took my boys to the vets as Rohan my white boar had started twitching and nipping when being held, so I suspected that he and Paddy might have mites. The vet diagnosed that they have lice but she didn't specify what type. She examined Paddy but couldn't find anything, then she examined Rohan. We noticed small white flecks of what seemed to be dandruff near Rohan's rump, so she took a fur sample and had a look under the microscope and said that they have lice. I had taken in my own treatment (Beaphar ivermectin anti-parasite drops) to ask whether this could be used to treat the boys or used as a preventative measure for future use. The vet said that this would be suitable to treat the boys as she would have presecribed a topical skin treatment of ivermectin for them anyway. However the drops that she would have provided would have been more concentrated and applied more frequently. She said that the treatment should work, and to repeat it in 4 weeks as directed on the packet, to breaks lifecycle. But obviously she said that I could always go back if it didn't seem to be working or any other problems occurred.
The boys are eating, drinking, sleeping and going to the loo as normal. However, I am concerned as the boys had these drops put on them last Tuesday 24th March and since then they've still been itching quite a lot and twitching, and I've noticed that they've both now got what looks like dandruff in their fur, and whitish flecks towards the ends of the stands of hair, but no visible running lice. I've also found small clumps of fur when I've been cleaning out the cage and they are shedding a lot of fur when I hold them. There are no visible scabs either or rough patches of skin. They have also been chewing and nibbling things a lot more. That could be unrelated though.
I gave the boys a bath this Tuesday 3rd March just with normal shampoo to clean their grease glands as they needed cleaning, and I repeated the lice drop treatment once they were dry. The packet says repeat the treatment every 4 weeks, but the vet did say that her drops were more concentrated and that they repeat the treatment every two weeks, so I figured that it wouldn't hurt them as they've had a bath so the old dose of ivermectin will have been washed off. I also bought some Beaphar anti mange mite spray which I applied tonight (just a few sprays onto the skin) just in case they have mites. I know that mites would need injections of ivermectin, but I thought that it was worth applying it as it's got ivermectin in it, so if they have lice at least it will kill those off and soothe their skin a bit.
In terms of hygiene I change their fleece bedding fully every 3-4 days and I change the puppy pads in their beds 2-3 times each day, as well as poo picking 3-4 times a day and replacing the hay fully every 2-3 days. I also change my tops each day when handling them and wash my hands between handling each pig to try and reduce the possibility of spreading anything between them.
I am wondering whether the vet could have misdiagnosed them and whether they have got mites instead of lice, does anyone have any ideas or experience of this? Paddy did seem quite sore this evening when I sprayed his skin, so I don't want to keep treating them for lice if they've got something else, as so far they don't seem to be improving. I hate seeing my boys uncomfortable.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Sorry for the long post, but I feel that I need to explain the events of the past week so that you can get the full picture of what's been going on with my boys.
I'm just wondering whether anyone knows what these symptoms might be? Last Tuesday 24th March I took my boys to the vets as Rohan my white boar had started twitching and nipping when being held, so I suspected that he and Paddy might have mites. The vet diagnosed that they have lice but she didn't specify what type. She examined Paddy but couldn't find anything, then she examined Rohan. We noticed small white flecks of what seemed to be dandruff near Rohan's rump, so she took a fur sample and had a look under the microscope and said that they have lice. I had taken in my own treatment (Beaphar ivermectin anti-parasite drops) to ask whether this could be used to treat the boys or used as a preventative measure for future use. The vet said that this would be suitable to treat the boys as she would have presecribed a topical skin treatment of ivermectin for them anyway. However the drops that she would have provided would have been more concentrated and applied more frequently. She said that the treatment should work, and to repeat it in 4 weeks as directed on the packet, to breaks lifecycle. But obviously she said that I could always go back if it didn't seem to be working or any other problems occurred.
The boys are eating, drinking, sleeping and going to the loo as normal. However, I am concerned as the boys had these drops put on them last Tuesday 24th March and since then they've still been itching quite a lot and twitching, and I've noticed that they've both now got what looks like dandruff in their fur, and whitish flecks towards the ends of the stands of hair, but no visible running lice. I've also found small clumps of fur when I've been cleaning out the cage and they are shedding a lot of fur when I hold them. There are no visible scabs either or rough patches of skin. They have also been chewing and nibbling things a lot more. That could be unrelated though.
I gave the boys a bath this Tuesday 3rd March just with normal shampoo to clean their grease glands as they needed cleaning, and I repeated the lice drop treatment once they were dry. The packet says repeat the treatment every 4 weeks, but the vet did say that her drops were more concentrated and that they repeat the treatment every two weeks, so I figured that it wouldn't hurt them as they've had a bath so the old dose of ivermectin will have been washed off. I also bought some Beaphar anti mange mite spray which I applied tonight (just a few sprays onto the skin) just in case they have mites. I know that mites would need injections of ivermectin, but I thought that it was worth applying it as it's got ivermectin in it, so if they have lice at least it will kill those off and soothe their skin a bit.
In terms of hygiene I change their fleece bedding fully every 3-4 days and I change the puppy pads in their beds 2-3 times each day, as well as poo picking 3-4 times a day and replacing the hay fully every 2-3 days. I also change my tops each day when handling them and wash my hands between handling each pig to try and reduce the possibility of spreading anything between them.
I am wondering whether the vet could have misdiagnosed them and whether they have got mites instead of lice, does anyone have any ideas or experience of this? Paddy did seem quite sore this evening when I sprayed his skin, so I don't want to keep treating them for lice if they've got something else, as so far they don't seem to be improving. I hate seeing my boys uncomfortable.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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