Medications Revolution + still itching! - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**Porky's Mom** · #1 10-22-09, 04:25 pm

My pigs were given Revolution on Monday for a suspected mites infection. Since then their house has been scoured and their fleece washed. I am concerned because they seem to be itchier instead of less itchy. Pumpkin, who I have posted about before, has had 2 seizure-like episodes that I have seen since Monday. I work during the day so who knows how many he has then. It is awful to watch and he seems terrified right afterwards. Snowy, his sister, is still itching a lot too. The vet said it would take 1-2 weeks before they were all the way better but I didn't expect them to get worse before they got better. The vet is not open today but I left them a message and am hoping to hear back tomorrow.

Has anyone had a similar experience? And advice on what to do? I am afraid to dose with Ivermectin on my own, especially after they have already had a dose of Revolution. I am just worried since they appear to have gotten worse - especially Pumpkin. They are all still eating/drinking/pooping/peeing okay, just very very itchy, dislike being handled, and Pumpkin is having these seizures.

Help!

**akstrohm** · #2 10-22-09, 05:51 pm

Mites can flare up after the initial treatment. Your vet is right--you need to give it time. Revolution kills the mites as they hatch, so it takes a few weeks for it to clear up. Do not give Ivermectin on top of the Revolution.

While I do understand your concern with wanting to wait for a vet, this is the reason I suggested that you start Ivermectin right away instead of waiting almost a week for a vet appointment when mites was very likely to be the cause--it does take a while for your pigs to get comfortable, and the less time they are in pain the better.

Hopefully they will start feeling better soon. Good luck.

**Porky's Mom** · #3 10-22-09, 05:57 pm

I definitely appreciate your advice and I understand that I probably should have treated on my own instead of waiting. I haven't experienced mites with my pigs before and am a cautious person in general and was very afraid of doing more harm than good by treating on my own. Now it is my fault that they are itching and hurting for longer than was necessary and I definitely feel responsible for that. It just makes me nervous to treat with an antibiotic without being under a doctor's care.

Hopefully he will get to feeling better within the next few days. Until then I will just try to make sure he doesn't hurt himself when he has these seizures. He is just pitiful. : (

**akstrohm** · #4 10-22-09, 06:15 pm

It's okay--I know that you're doing the best you can for your pigs, and I do understand your concerns. Don't worry too much--they will start feeling better soon. Ivermectin is one of the only things you should give a guinea pig without a vet appointment assuming mites is a likely cause (it's safe even if your pig doesn't have mites, and it's available without a prescription). But it is still harmful if not dosed properly, and you don't want to overlook other problems.

Oh, and not that it really matters, but ivermectin and revolution are not antibiotics. Antibiotics are compounds that kill bacteria.

**Porky's Mom** · #5 10-22-09, 07:45 pm

Right - I should have said anti-parasitics.

**Porky's Mom** · #6 10-23-09, 04:51 pm

Vet said to let the meds run their course. I put some Bag Balm on Pumpkin (I did this previously and it seemed to help) and haven't noticed any seizures since. Porky is doing quite well and Pumpkin and Snowy haven't been itching as much.