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Pregnant With Fungal/mites

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Ellbell

Ellbell

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hello,
my local pet shop had a guinea pig dumped and the owner asked me if I could please take her. There are no rescues in my area.
I agreed and shes covered in fungal. I have on hand cansetin, imaverol, malaseb, betaine.
I'm not to sure how far along she is but I can only just feel the babies moving. Any advice on how I should treat her first? 20150322_142908.webp
 

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I am very sorry; pregnant sows are at particular risk of getting fungal and mites badly, as their body is under increased stress. Unfortunately, you can't do much about mites, as ivermectin is noxious to foetuses; you may have to wait until the end of the nursing period unless mum is so bad that she is fitting and her life gets priority over that of any pups.

I will enquire at a rescue lady which fungal products are safe to use with pregnant/mange mites sows considering the severity, but as it is a weekend, it may take a day or two for them to come back to me.
@Caviesgalore (EPGPR)
 
Thanks so much,
She's clearly in a lot of pain so I put Betadine on her scabs. I have a friend who told me the babies will get cheilitis if I don't treat her stomach. I'm so worried about that. I think I still have time though as she's not showing any signs of wanting to drop soon. Although I could be surprised. I have been giving her critt care as she seems very thin. Also with some lucerne, oxbow adult and oaten hay. Veggies are kale, celery and parsley. She just seems stressed and annoyed when she's scratching which I can imagine would be hurting her.
 
Ellbell said:
Thanks so much,
She's clearly in a lot of pain so I put Betadine on her scabs. I have a friend who told me the babies will get cheilitis if I don't treat her stomach. I'm so worried about that. I think I still have time though as she's not showing any signs of wanting to drop soon. Although I could be surprised. I have been giving her critt care as she seems very thin. Also with some lucerne, oxbow adult and oaten hay. Veggies are kale, celery and parsley. She just seems stressed and annoyed when she's scratching which I can imagine would be hurting her.
Click to expand...

Have you got metacam to help her with the pain?

Just got an answer back from a rescue lady who is used to pregnant sows coming in a bad state. She is asking you to please hold off with any treatment if that is possible until the babies are delivered, as a fungal bath could trigger a seizure because of the mites. You can give ivermectin in the early stages (first third of a pregnancy) but after that it can damage the developing pups.

I am tagging @Pebble for you to see whether a gentle wipe with F10 is possible with a pregnancy. I know that she's used it on piggies with advanced mites.

Cheilitis (lip infection) is caused by too much/frequent fruit in the diet, not by mum having a bald tummy. The acid from fruit and tomatoes causes lips and mouth to form little cracks through which fungal spores and bacteria can enter and cause cheilitis (which can be either fungal or bacterial, depending what gets into the cracks). Loss of tummy hair is not at all unusual in neglected pregnant sows; it is usually due to malnutitrion and the increased demands on the body.

Please put your little mummy on a more balanced diet; you are currently on a high calcium, protein and vitamin C rampage at the cost of everything else. One of the biggest factors for a successful pregnancy and birth is a good general and moderate diet; your girl is lacking that and that is a major risk factor for the birth.
Please correct that as much as possible; you can include energy dense carrots and sweet corn. I would also strongly recommend to include sweet peppers in the diet and to cut down on the kale somewhat. The broader a range of veg you feed, the more you can be sure that she will get all her nutritional needs covered. ;)

It is however good that you are also topping her up with Critical Care, in view of the difficulty of getting hold of pellets in OZ.

Please be aware that currently virtually all nutrients are going to the pups and not mummy. You have to straddle a very delicate balance in not overfeeding the pups, so they can cause problems during the very late stages of pregnancy and during birth. It is going to be a high risk birth anyway, as newly rescued highly pregnant sows don't have time to settle in and build up their and their pups' bodies before birth. Every week more on a good diet and in a stress-free environment will go a long way. Please read our pregnancy diet and general diet threads carefully.
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/pregnancy-and-nursing-diet.109377/
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk...or-a-balanced-general-guinea-pig-diet.116460/

I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed!
 
Thanks so much for your advice. I have never had a pregnant guinea pig before.
I will absolutely correct her food and take on your advice. Fingers crossed all goes well. Keeping her on soft vetbed at the moment and making her as comfortable as possible. Doing some research and refreshing my mind on pregnancy :)
 
Ellbell said:
Thanks so much for your advice. I have never had a pregnant guinea pig before.
I will absolutely correct her food and take on your advice. Fingers crossed all goes well. Keeping her on soft vetbed at the moment and making her as comfortable as possible. Doing some research and refreshing my mind on pregnancy :)
Click to expand...

Please read our guides at the top of this section carefully; they have been specifically written for people finding themselves with an unplanned pregnant. The pregnancy guide has been proof-read both by a vet as well as an experienced rescue person. Ignore the breeder myths and tricks that abound on social media - they are really just that. Get your girl on a good balanced diet like we recommend, that is currently the best thing you can do to get them into as good a shape as possible. Don't grossly overfeed, despite the temptation, especially not on pellets and also don't grossly overfeed on veg. The more fibre your girl gets, the better for the pups.

Be aware that you are very much starting at the deep end and that there is quite a high risk of the pups or even little mummy not making it. Try to see it from the perspective that whatever you do is going to contribute to up the chances of success, but don't count on success.
 
Thanks again and I will read your links carefully. It's tough not knowing the best actions to taken when put in a new situation which is why I find this forum so fantastic. I was never expecting to have to rescue a guinea pig. Trying my best to give her the best possible chance.
Hopefully everything turns out for the best.
 
Re using F10 spray (also some new f10 products that may also help with mites)........I am seeing my vets tomorrow evening and will ask him whether it is safe for pregnant pigs and come back to you
x
 
Pebble said:
Re using F10 spray (also some new f10 products that may also help with mites)........I am seeing my vets tomorrow evening and will ask him whether it is safe for pregnant pigs and come back to you
x
Click to expand...

Thanks! That would be Tuesday morning in Australia...
 
I don;t know if the babies moving = third trimester....but my vet has said if you suspect mange mites then an INJECTION of ivermectin treatment in the third trimester will not harm the babies as their organs have developed. You do however have to weight up the stress caused to any pregnant female of being restrained/ given the injection....however vet says better to give the injection than not if the mange mites is a bad case and she is in a lot of pain.

Imaverol anti-fungal dip would also be safe to use - but you have to get the pig wet and then syringe it on and again there is the risk of stress/fitting owing to handling
If you wish to avoid handling - then F10 disinfectant (I use F10SC diluted 1/250 in warm water) can be sprayed onto the skin to help with any fungal or bacterial skin infection/wounds

HTH
x
 
Pebble said:
I don;t know if the babies moving = third trimester....but my vet has said if you suspect mange mites then an INJECTION of ivermectin treatment in the third trimester will not harm the babies as their organs have developed. You do however have to weight up the stress caused to any pregnant female of being restrained/ given the injection....however vet says better to give the injection than not if the mange mites is a bad case and she is in a lot of pain.

Imaverol anti-fungal dip would also be safe to use - but you have to get the pig wet and then syringe it on and again there is the risk of stress/fitting owing to handling
If you wish to avoid handling - then F10 disinfectant (I use F10SC diluted 1/250 in warm water) can be sprayed onto the skin to help with any fungal or bacterial skin infection/wounds

HTH
x
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying this for us, @Pebble! Mites in pregnant sows are not that rare, and they can be devastating due to the body being under stress.
 
Thanks so much for your help.
She's defiantly under a lot of stress so I'm going to just use the imaverol. Paw paw seems to be soothing the scabs a fair bit but I just want to be careful I don't handle her to much. I will keep you updated and let you know how I go. She was making burping noises and talking a lot! while eating. She's also lost her voice. Could this all be connected to something?
 
Poor girl! Fingers VERY firmly crossed for her!
 
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