Scratching Does hair loss cause itching?

No, don't spray her with the flea and tick spray. Guinea pigs groom themselves, and will ingest whatever compound is in the spray. Given their delicate digestive tracts, I wouldn't recommend putting anything on them that they can possibly get in their mouths.

The hair loss, especially from ovarian cysts, will not cause itching. In any case, until she's spayed or otherwise treated, it's not likely to be growing back at this point. She may have dry skin, since it's winter (I'm assuming you're in the US), but it's more likely to be mites.

You could get the vet to give you some ivermectin when you take her in for the spay -- there should be at least three doses, given a week apart, and he can give you the other two to give at home. Or you can treat her yourself -- see https://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html and follow the ivermectin links.

Just don't let the vet do a skin scraping for mites. It's painful for the pig, and misses the mites half the time. The usual procedure is to treat for mites anyway, even if the scraping is negative, so save your pig and your pocketbook the pain and just tell the vet you don't want a scraping done.

Where would she come in contact with fleas or ticks? Is she housed outside?

I do live in the US. I will ask the vet about the ivermectin! Do I just ask him to treat with ivermectin? If she doesn't have any, will that cause her to get sick?

She looks nothing like those pictures in the link you posted. Okay, thanks. I won't let him do the skin scraping.

I'm not sure where she could have gotten the flea. She and her cage buddy are kept inside.

No, as long as she weighs over 350 grams, which she surely should at her age, she can be safely treated with ivermectin. I'd just tell the vet that she's scratching quite a bit, and you'd like to have her treated for mites.

I see a red flag here, though. Mites can't be seen with the naked eye, as they burrow into the skin. I'm not sure I'd trust a vet who said he didn't "see any mites," and I'm real sure I wouldn't want him operating on my pig. Is this an exotic vet with experience in guinea pigs? Dog-and-cat vets get very little education and exposure to exotic pets while they're in vet school, and most reputable ones will refuse to see guinea pigs.

Okay, thanks.

Now I am worried about the operation. Yes, it is an exotic vet. I'm not sure what to do now. :< I don't know any other exotic pet vets in my area.

Maybe he just meant he didn't see any evidence of mites (broken skin from scratching, V-shaped pattern of hair loss over the rear end, etc).

I think that is more of what he said, in any case, I will ask him to treat her for mites. Should I get her cage mate treated as well?

Yes, you should treat all your pigs at the same time.

So, I got the Ivermectin today. It says I must give one .22 and the other .20. Do I have to dilute this like it says on the guinea-lynx website?

What ivermectin product did you get? The application method depends on the type.

I got it from my vet, they told me to just give to them orally every 7-10 days, for 8 weeks.

Hope things get better for your little piggie baby!

GuineaGoose said:

I got it from my vet, they told me to just give to them orally every 7-10 days, for 8 weeks.

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Then you don't need to dilute it.

Thank you both.

She got her sugery done early Tuesday. She has not been eatng her pellets very well. We have to hand her the hay so she eats. Is this normal? It's been maybe 12 hours since her surgery. We gave her the pain medication. She doesn't move much. I'm worried! (Even though it hasn't even been 24 hours.)

Keep her eating anything. You may need to hand feed--
https://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

What type of pain meds? How much?

foggycreekcavy said:

Keep her eating anything. You may need to hand feed--
https://www.guinealynx.info/handfeeding.html

What type of pain meds? How much?

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She has been eating more today, drank water.

Only got one pain med, it's liquid: Meloxicam?

Yeah, that's a good one. What's the dose?

foggycreekcavy said:

Yeah, that's a good one. What's the dose?

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.07ml is the dosage, she seems to be perfectly fine now. She eats, drinks water, and poops. She moves around more, so I assume she is much better now.