Xeno 450.

[jess496]

Hi, does anyone know where I can get hold of Xeno 450? I’ve looked everywhere online and it’s out of stock due to a shortage (even though it was supposed to be back in April).

I had 3 tubes left from months ago (still in date), so I gave all 3 of my guinea pigs a treatment this morning. The reason is one of them has hair falling out at the root on his back end — it comes out really easily when I gently pull or comb it. After some research, I suspect mites as he has no other symptoms. I have also seen tiny bugs on his face before, which I thought were cat fleas (we have a big issue with them despite treatments). I’ve read that fleas don’t usually live on guinea pigs but I keep seeing them on him. This time, though I think it might be mites with his hair falling out.

My question is: would you buy the 9-pack of Xeno 50 Mini and use 4 tubes each time (he’s just under 1000g), or try to track down Xeno 450 to use just one tube? Also, is it okay to only treat him, since the others already had one tube today? They live separately, though he sometimes interacts through mesh with another guinea pig during floor time.

I know the vet may have Xeno 450, but it’s expensive through them. Would you go for Xeno 50 just for him, or keep trying to find Xeno 450?.
If he has issue with mites, is it right that he needs two more treatments to get it under control to properly kill the eggs?. If so when would his next treatment be if he's had one today? I'm being told in 7 days but then I read it's 2 weeks?. I know that after two treatments, it's once a month but I know it's not really necessary to keep treating them every month as I don't do this anyway unless they really need it.

 

[Claire W]

I’m afraid that nobody on here is qualified to diagnose or recommend the correct dosage of xeno as it depends on the weight of the guinea pig and the diagnosis

Your boy could have mites, hay mites, lice (if you’ve seen bugs on him) or fungal. Guinea pigs can not get fleas. Mites can not be seen by the naked eye.

I appreciate it’s expensive but please do have him seen by a qualified vet for the correct diagnosis and treatment x

 

[jess496]

I’m afraid that nobody on here is qualified to diagnose or recommend the correct dosage of xeno as it depends on the weight of the guinea pig and the diagnosis

Your boy could have mites, hay mites, lice (if you’ve seen bugs on him) or fungal. Guinea pigs can not get fleas. Mites can not be seen by the naked eye.

I appreciate it’s expensive but please do have him seen by a qualified vet for the correct diagnosis and treatment x

He is nearly 1000g weight.
I know that he's got mite & lice issue so that's why I'm treating him now but I can't get 450 xeno anywhere? It's out of stock. I rather use 450 xeno because its just one tube rather than using 4 tubes with xeno 50 if that makes sense.
I just wanted to know if it's ok to treat just him and not others? Because it's going to be very expensive to buy all of them treatment.
Well the bugs I've seen on his face have jumped high so that's definitely cat fleas as mites & lice don't jump. I rather treat him with Xeno first and if he's still got the issues after 2 more treatments then I will take him to the vets as I don't want to stress him out by travelling an hour to vets & it's really expensive for consultation plus meds when I could treat it myself.
Thankyou for replying.

 

[Claire W]

I’m afraid I can’t comment on the dosage as I’m not qualified and do not know the answer. I appreciate vets are expensive but they should hopefully have the xeno in stock. I think all your guinea pigs will need to be treated x

 

[weepweeps]

Unfortunately all of your piggies will need to be treated if one has mites or lice.

It’s a real pain that Xeno is out of stock everywhere. I’ve had this problem twice this year. The first thing my vets told me to use Beaphar mite treatment from pets at home. Which did seem to work. But they have them again so maybe it didn’t after all. This time I had to go back to the vets as it was out of stock in the pet shops. They offered to try kitten stronghold. But you have to get the dosage right. They actually gave me 4 loaded syringes (no needle obviously lol) to use. Good luck at the vets. Hopefully you can find something to treat them with.

Here is the thread if it helps

Mange Mites

 

[jess496]

Unfortunately all of your piggies will need to be treated if one has mites or lice.

It’s a real pain that Xeno is out of stock everywhere. I’ve had this problem twice this year. The first thing my vets told me to use Beaphar mite treatment from pets at home. Which did seem to work. But they have them again so maybe it didn’t after all. This time I had to go back to the vets as it was out of stock in the pet shops. They offered to try kitten stronghold. But you have to get the dosage right. They actually gave me 4 loaded syringes (no needle obviously lol) to use. Good luck at the vets. Hopefully you can find something to treat them with.

Here is the thread if it helps

Mange Mites

Ah that's typical! They are expensive guinea pigs haha. I will check to see if a local vets has xeno in stock because they don't often see guinea pigs so hopefully I will have some luck! But if not I will have to contact exotic vets to see what they can suggest. I will check out the thread. Thankyou for your help.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes all will need to be treated.
Throw away hay etc

Xeno is three treatments with two weeks between each treatment.

All treatments have to be done to break the life cycle of the mites.
The treatment does not kill the eggs, it only kills hatched mites so any eggs present when you treat will still hatch and can perpetuate the infestation hence the need for the second treatment and third treatments. The third treatment is a catch all to make sure any stragglers are also killed off.

It is fine to use the xeno 50 but it’s obviously going to take a considerable amount to do all necessary treatments.

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

 

[jess496]

Yes all will need to be treated.
Throw away hay etc

Xeno is three treatments with two weeks between each treatment.

All treatments have to be done to break the life cycle of the mites.
The treatment does not kill the eggs, it only kills hatched mites so any eggs present when you treat will still hatch and can perpetuate the infestation hence the need for the second treatment and third treatments. The third treatment is a catch all to make sure any stragglers are also killed off.

It is fine to use the xeno 50 but it’s obviously going to take a considerable amount to do all necessary treatments.

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

Do you mean throw the hay away that's currently in their cage or will I have to buy a different hay? I did wonder if the hay brand is causing the problem. I buy nature's own Devon hay from Charlie's, I checked online and it says it is dust extracted as it doesn't say that on the bag but I know that can't get rid of them completely.
Yeah that's what I meant by third treatment will get rid of them completely. Yeah I agree I think xeno 50 is going to be too much hassle using so many tubes as I rather use 450. I will have to ask vets if they have any or offer other alternatives.
Thankyou.

 

[Piggies&buns]

The guide I linked in explains everything about dealing with mites - throw away all hay (change supply) and disinfect the cages

Yes a third treatment should make sure everything is gone.

Is there a v shaped mark in the hair on his back?

 

[jess496]

The guide I linked in explains everything about dealing with mites - throw away all hay (change supply) and disinfect the cages

Yes a third treatment should make sure everything is gone.

Is there a v shaped mark in the hair on his back?

No V mark at all but his hair on back seems to come out very easily with the root if I gently pull it or comb it. I've took a photo but it was worse than this. This photo was taken because I tried to shake a bug off the fleece into the bath quickly so I can look at it but it disappeared & also a photo for the vet just in case.

 

[weepweeps]

My Patrick has had lice twice. But his hair didn’t fall out like that.

Maybe your piggy is itching themselves so much they are causing sores on their skin and these are the scabs falling off with the hair attached. Just a guess. That’s why it’s a good idea to get them seen and diagnosed correctly. Also could be fungal.

 

[jess496]

My Patrick has had lice twice. But his hair didn’t fall out like that.

Maybe your piggy is itching themselves so much they are causing sores on their skin and these are the scabs falling off with the hair attached. Just a guess. That’s why it’s a good idea to get them seen and diagnosed correctly. Also could be fungal.

I had a guinea pig who had lice and his hair didn't fall out either so I thought it could be mites. Yes I've seen him biting there and also have noticed that he seems uncomfortable like laying in funny positions, maybe it's not even mites & could be a health issue. I'll email my vet and see what he says about it.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I would definitely get him seen by the vet.

Are there egg casings stuck to the hair shaft? You can feel them by running your fingers down the hair. It feels like little beads and the casings will be stuck fast.
That is a sign of hay mites.

 

[jess496]

I would definitely get him seen by the vet.

Are there egg casings stuck to the hair shaft? You can feel them by running your fingers down the hair. It feels like little beads and the casings will be stuck fast.
That is a sign of hay mites.

Yes I think I will have to, I was hoping to avoid going to the vets but I don't want him to get sick. I just checked on him and weirdly a cat flea was in his back end fur and it jumped so fast so they must like him? I get the problem with cat fleas myself as they keep biting me etc. It's a nightmare.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Fleas are species specific so they will not stay on a guinea pig but they can briefly be on them.
I’m sure you are already aware, but do make sure you don’t get any flea treatment anywhere near your piggies as it is toxic to them

 

[jess496]

Hi everyone,

The exotic vet has been away but I finally managed to get a reply from him this evening. I sent photos of what’s living in my guinea pigs’ fur and he confirmed they are definitely a flea species — so it looks like fleas can live on guinea pigs after all.

He recommended using Advantage for rabbits, and said he has used it successfully on guinea pigs before. I know someone on here mentioned not to use flea treatments because they can be toxic, and that’s what worries me. But if an exotic vet is saying it’s safe, should I trust his advice? I’m just really anxious about the risk of poisoning them.

My other concern is accurate dosing. The pipettes come in flat plastic tubes and I’m not sure how I’d be able to measure out the correct dose for each piggy. I plan to email him back to ask if there’s an easier or safer way to do this.

I’ve done some research and it looks like Advantage is ok as long as it’s the imidacloprid-only version — has anyone here had experience with it?