Scratching hard after 2nd mites shots

**A4PigHome** · #1 05-30-05, 08:35 am

One of my guinea pigs, Buster, has been scratching quite a bit again late yesterday and this morning. Almost constant at times. Buster had his second shot this past Wedensday for mites.

Is it normal for them to still go through these scratching fits? He is the only one doing it, although I see 2 of the others do it a few times a day. Buster was fine most of the last few days. It's just that he seems to be scratching A LOT since yesterday afternoon. Poor thing. I just feel terrible for him. I am loooking over at him now and he is trying to sleep on his pigloo, but he has to keep sitting up and scratching. Did another batch of eggs just hatch?

I'm just so afraid that these mites aren't going to go away after the third shot. Has anyone ever heard about that happening?

He seems to be asleep now. When he wakes up, I'm going to check him for open sores. I bet he has them again from all the scratching.

**Guinea_Gal** · #2 05-30-05, 08:44 am

I thought that my three sows had mites because they were scratching so excessively, but it turned out to be cists that were releasing so much estrogen into them is very itchy.

That is very common in sows, but i'm not sure about boars.

I not sure that your pig has mites if he is still scratching.

**A4PigHome** · #3 05-30-05, 09:27 am

The vet did find eggs in his skin, so we know for sure that he has mites. She did a couple of skin scrapings...which I do NOT recommend! She also checked Buster's skin over for conditions, but she said he was fine otherwise.

Does anyone know how ivermectin works exactly? After the first shot, they pretty much stopped scratching until it was time for the next dose (about 10 days later), then they started scratching again, especially Buster. Now other than an occasional scratch, it's only Buster who is scratching like crazy and it has only been 5 days since the 2nd shot. Darn Petco for putting me and my poor pigs through this!

**lindsey's boys** · #4 05-30-05, 09:30 am

I'm not too sure about that. I would scrub out the cage if you have not already. Hope your pigs get better! Good luck.

**Eventrocker33** · #5 05-30-05, 09:48 am

I have a question...I gave my two guinea pigs a bath on Saturday and now they seem lke they are itching more than before. Could they be itchy from the bath and washing away their oils or could it be something else?

Daisy Duke · #6 05-30-05, 10:22 am

Hmmm.. maybe mites. I am not sure, honey and Coco never itch when they take a bath. Maybe they are itching normaly, but you never noticed.

**A4PigHome** · #7 05-30-05, 11:39 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by lindsey's boys

I'm not too sure about that. I would scrub out the cage if you have not already. Hope your pigs get better! Good luck.

I have been every other day, as well as fresh bedding. I've gone through a gallon of vinegar in the last two weeks alone. It's been a pain, but it's worth it if it will take care of this mite problem! Thanks for the "good luck"...I'll need it!

**Eventrocker33** · #8 05-30-05, 11:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daisy Duke

Hmmm.. maybe mites. I am not sure, honey and Coco never itch when they take a bath. Maybe they are itching normaly, but you never noticed.

Yeah maybe. I never usually watch Peanut as much but since we got Tutu I have been watching them more.

**daftscotslass** · #9 05-30-05, 05:46 pm

Ivermectin works by paralysing and killing the parasites, and also preventing them from reproducing. It can take several treatments over a course of weeks or even months to kill off them all. Make sure any cagemates he has are treated too, regardless of whether or not they are showing symptoms. The itching could be several things in addition to mites. What sort of bedding do you use - there is a chance of allergies with several types. Perhaps a fungal infection in addition to the mites.

I have had the same problem with my older female - my vet believes that some (weaker) guinea pigs are just predisposed to being extra-sensitive towards the mites on their skin, as many are present on the skin of healthy pigs. A long shot, as my vet also suggested, is to sterilise hay by freezing (in an airtight bag, of course), so that mites from THAT cannot carry back over onto the guinea pig. I can't say I've ever needed to go that far, but it might be worth a shot.

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #10 05-30-05, 09:22 pm

You're doing ivermectin shots? I have had good results by dosing them topically.

**A4PigHome** · #11 05-30-05, 09:33 pm

Thanks, daft, for the explaination. I know for sure I will going for at least 3 doses. I just checked Buster again and he doesn't have any bleeding sores, which kind of suprised me for all the scratching he has been doing. I am going to keep an eye on his the rest of the evening and maybe bring him into the vet tomorrow.

I have heard there is a small chance of mites getting passed on by hay. I bought mine bagged at a local store (Timothy Hay). Hopefully that wasn't the case. Would freezing the hay make it soggy?

**A4PigHome** · #12 05-30-05, 09:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbitsncavyluv

You're doing ivermectin shots? I have had good results by dosing them topically.

Yep, I am doing ivermectin shots...or at least the vet is. I wonder if topically would be better in Buster's case. Anyone know if topically is better at times?

**daftscotslass** · #13 05-31-05, 03:36 am

If you freeze it in small batches in airtight bags then no, it shouldn't get soggy.

**A4PigHome** · #14 05-31-05, 06:20 am

Good to know. Thanks!

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