Scratching Too Much? Lice/mites?

[badger2503]

Hi, I posted on the behaviour section a little while back that I had some bitey boars when being handled. One is worse than the other with giving particularly hard bites that hurt/have broken skin. I cannot see any reason other than nerves/fear that he would be doing this, as I've only had them for just under two weeks, although I know they were regularly handled previously. I read up on biting and kind of dismissed "pain" because they had no signs of injuries and illness, then I noticed today about pain from mites/lice/parasites.

I have noticed that they do scratch frequently. Not constantly, but I do notice it. Also using their teeth to groom their back end/side area. Problem is that, as a new piggy owner, I'm not sure what is normal or what counts as excessive! How much grooming/scratching would you count as excessive? I've not seen any balding spots or movement on them. Could it be mites? What would the signs of mites be, other than the scratching?

 

[Wiebke]

As a new owner, it is always worth to have any new guinea pigs vet checked unless they come from a good rescue with mandatory quarantine and medical care. UK vets often have a reduced fee for a first/registering consultation. In addition, if your vet decides that your piggies need mites treatment (whether that is for mange mites or hay mites or a fungal infection), you can reclaim the vet cost from your pet shop if the problem falls into the period where exposure/infection must have happened before the sale.
Here is a our recommended vets locator: Guinea Pig Vet Locator

Please do not treat on spec with low dosed broad spectrum pet shop products that are not designed to cure any acute outbreak and will not do anything if you happen to deal with fungal. Pet shops are not allowed to sell medication strength products.

Mites are invisible to the naked eye. Mange mites burrow their eggs in the skin while the tiny egg cases are glued to hairs at the bum end and often invisible in darker haired guinea pigs. it always pays to have somebody experienced make an informed diagnosis and then treat accordingly with a good quality appropriate product. Any mites course should be three rounds to make sure that any emerging eggs get caught to and there is no comeback.

 

[badger2503]

As a new owner, it is always worth to have any new guinea pigs vet checked unless they come from a good rescue with mandatory quarantine and medical care. UK vets often have a reduced fee for a first/registering consultation. In addition, if your vet decides that your piggies need mites treatment (whether that is for mange mites or hay mites or a fungal infection), you can reclaim the vet cost from your pet shop if the problem falls into the period where exposure/infection must have happened before the sale.
Here is a our recommended vets locator: Guinea Pig Vet Locator

Please do not treat on spec with low dosed broad spectrum pet shop products that are not designed to cure any acute outbreak and will not do anything if you happen to deal with fungal. Pet shops are not allowed to sell medication strength products.

Mites are invisible to the naked eye. Mange mites burrow their eggs in the skin while the tiny egg cases are glued to hairs at the bum end and often invisible in darker haired guinea pigs. it always pays to have somebody experienced make an informed diagnosis and then treat accordingly with a good quality appropriate product. Any mites course should be three rounds to make sure that any emerging eggs get caught to and there is no comeback.

Hi, thanks for the response! I've booked them into the vets next week for a health check-up and I mentioned the scratching concern. They were from Pets Corner and have a 21 day health guarantee, so I'd presume that any issue would have been prior to us purchasing them so would fall under this period. Thank you

 

[sport_billy]

Please let us know how they get on

 

[badger2503]

Please let us know how they get on

They went yesterday. The vet checked their skin/fur - no sign of scurfyness (I think that's the word) or dry, irritated skin/scabs/signs of parasites. Heart and breathing perfect, eyes clear and bright, teeth and claws OK, weight good for their age - so the boys have a clean bill of health! I think I was just being a paranoid new mama
And the visit was free of charge, which is good for my health too!

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the update and good that there is no problem!

 

[Tiamolly123]

With mine biting has indicated pain. Did you go to a savvy vet?

 

[badger2503]

With mine biting has indicated pain. Did you go to a savvy vet?

Hi, I used the vet locator but the nearest one was too far from me (and I don't have a car). However, the vet I saw was a former piggy owner herself and currently training in exotic pets, and she was pretty knowledgeable - talked me through the piggy basics (all the stuff I've already read on this forum and guinea lynx, but I was happy for the confirmation) and answered my questions on impaction in boars.

Django doesn't bite, he's only ever licked my hand . If it was mites wouldn't they both have symptoms? I think Lemmy is just a funny character. He's happy to be petted and touched normally - I feel like if it was caused by pain, he'd react to his skin being touched in anyway. It's just the act of picking him up for health checks/floortime/laptime that he nips a bit, although it's less frequent and less hard now, so he's getting used to it. He didn't nip at all when he was picked up to go in the carrier. So I'm pretty happy with the vet diagnosis, but of course I'll keep an eye on it just in case. I went just to be safe, and as Wiebke pointed out, it was definitely a good idea to go for a first time check-up as they were not from somewhere that does a vet check prior to me adopting them. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Tiamolly123]

My vet has guinea pigs, somehow you seem to trust them more.As you can't see mites I would have thought routinely she would have given a course of invermectin. Yes I argree better safe.

 

[Tiamolly123]

Where's pics of your piggys, we'd love to see them.

 

[badger2503]

Where's pics of your piggys, we'd love to see them.

Meet the boys! Django is the black and white teddy, Lemmy is the crested brown and white. As you can see, Django is a total camera hog and loves to cuddle up, especially with my partner (he thinks the beard is hay). Lemmy likes his own space and that's fine. Had them both for almost three weeks now
Sorry for the photo spam! It's their first pictures on here and I've only just figured out how to get photos on a post!

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