What Does My Guinea Really Have?

[Kerrie74]

I've posted about this problem before but now I'm wondering if the vet is right because of her misdiagnosing our other guinea pig.

We have Snow and Storm, they share a cage, Snow is white so we can check him better.

1. No skin problems, so it's not mange mites.

2. Itching

3. Black specks at the back end

4. A little bit of fur loss

5. Can't see any dandruff looking stuff.

Treatment:

Tried invomec spot on for 2 - 3 weeks, then took Snow to the vets, a tape test was done and the vet said they were "rare mites" never told my son the correct name or wrote it down. We were advised to get Seleen and then treat with Invomec again. We treated with lice n easy, left the guineas for 48 hours just to make sure and then used the Invomec drops on them. We've washed all bedding on 60 degree's and cleaned their cage before putting them back. When Snow had the tape test she said some were dead.

 

[Wiebke]

It sounds very much like what is often called static lice or fur/hay mites (chirodiscoides caviae). What you see, are the egg cases. Usually, lice'n'easy shampoo does the trick with them, especially in combination with ivermectin (i.e. that is what your ivomec). Fur mites (so called because the egg cases, which are the visible bit) are sitting on the hair and the mites tend to live on the debris on the skin and bum hair, rather than burrowing into the skin. In that respect, they are the mildest form of skin parasites a piggy can get. Fur mites typically come in untreated hay.
http://www.guinealynx.info/furmites.html

So with a bit of patience, your treatment will hopefully lead to success. I would strongly suggest to get rid of the hay you were using when they started developing the symptoms, if you still have it.

 

[Kerrie74]

Thanks @Wiebke

There is something I'm curious about, they were diagnosed with lice last year around Christmas all four boars, they were treated with xenos, is it possible that Snow and Storm could have still had them after treatment?

The other guinea's don't seem to be having the same sort of problems as the two youngest ones. Maybe I should treat them all?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks @Wiebke

There is something I'm curious about, they were diagnosed with lice last year around Christmas all four boars, they were treated with xenos, is it possible that Snow and Storm could have still had them after treatment?

The other guinea's don't seem to be having the same sort of problems as the two youngest ones. Maybe I should treat them all?

Running lice are visible, so you'd see it if your piggies still had them! As long as you are keeping your newbies well away from the other ones, there shouldn't be a risk. if you are really worried, then give the other a bath, too.

PS: it is very likely that you misheard "rare mites" for "fur mites".

 

[Kerrie74]

LOL your right, I misheard it as rare rofl, my son said fur mites haha. My hearing isn't that great all of the time.

Yeah the little boys are in the living room, Big and the three sows are all in my room.

 

[Wiebke]

LOL your right, I misheard it as rare rofl, my son said fur mites haha. My hearing isn't that great all of the time.

Yeah the little boys are in the living room, Big and the three sows are all in my room.

Then you shouldn't worry at all about your other piggies needing any treatment. And you can be reassured that your vet has got it right this time.

 

[Kerrie74]

Hehe Ok, I'm only trusting her because of what your saying!