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Scratching My piggies are scratching a lot! is this mites?

KeraMDavis

KeraMDavis

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Feb 26, 2014
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152
Over the past weeks I have noticed that both my piggies Kirby & Kingston have been scratching. I read that it was normal so I didn't worry about it. Each day I see that they are shedding a lot and the scratching has increased. I just noticed a small spot that looks like its balding. Do they have mites? Do I need to take them to the vet? or can I just treat them for the mites. I don't have pictures but I'm pretty sure its mites. They are scratching too much.

Please HELP! I'm really worried about them.
 
If you think they have mites you can treat them yourself without going to a vet using Ivermectin:
https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30325
https://www.guinealynx.info/topical_ivermectin.html
https://www.guinealynx.info/dose_calculator.html

Vet's will give you Revolution (the kind for puppies/kittens/cats) which I think is prescription only. And a lot of vets will do a useless skin scrapping, which 1. Hurts and 2. Almost never shows anything (I've watched a vet do this to a rabbit and it's awful, but they can charge you for it so they do it anyway).
 
A lot of scratching is always a good reason to treat for mites. The easiest thing to use is Durvet .5% Pour-on ivermectin, which should be available online. (That's POINT five percent, not five percent!). Or if you can find the 1% injectable ivermectin, you can use this chart for dosing: https://www.guinealynx.info/topical_ivermectin.html. Just put it behind the pig's ear, fold the ear over, and rub in gently.
 
Thanks, is there a direct link I can use to buy the Ivermectin?
 
KeraMDavis said:
Thanks, is there a direct link I can use to buy the Ivermectin?
Click to expand...

I bought my from amazon. I just bought which ever was cheapest for what I wanted that day.
 
KeraMDavis said:
Is there a certain amount to get?
Click to expand...

I got 50mL for like $30. It's the "injectable" and it doesn't come in much smaller bottle.

Also it will last forever.
 
However much you buy will be tons more than you'd ever use for dozens of guinea pigs.

I would NOT buy the cheapest thing I could find on Amazon. The 1% injectable or the .5% pour-on are by far the easiest to use. If you google them, you'll get hits of places where you can buy them.
 
bpatters said:
I would NOT buy the cheapest thing I could find on Amazon. The 1% injectable or the .5% pour-on are by far the easiest to use. If you google them, you'll get hits of places where you can buy them.
Click to expand...

By cheapest I meant the cheapest 1% injectable, just to clarify!
 
I hope you get that treated ASAP. Mites can be a serious issues. My friend's guinea pig actually had a seizure because of mites digging into the nervous system.

Your case definitely sounds like mites, but you should be sure if you don't plan on going to the Vet. Another possibility would be lice. But if you used a comb to brush its hair, you would be able to see the lice since they are visible to the human eye.

I hope your piggy the best!
 
richguinea said:
Your case definitely sounds like mites, but you should be sure if you don't plan on going to the Vet. Another possibility would be lice. But if you used a comb to brush its hair, you would be able to see the lice since they are visible to the human eye.
Click to expand...

The vet usually can't "confirm" mites, they can just rule out other things. And if it's Lice the treatment is the same so no harm in trying the Ivermectin!
 
PrincessAngel said:
The vet usually can't "confirm" mites, they can just rule out other things. And if it's Lice the treatment is the same so no harm in trying the Ivermectin!
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
bpatters said:
However much you buy will be tons more than you'd ever use for dozens of guinea pigs.

I would NOT buy the cheapest thing I could find on Amazon. The 1% injectable or the .5% pour-on are by far the easiest to use. If you google them, you'll get hits of places where you can buy them.
Click to expand...


Thanks you guys! I'm going to get them treated as soon as I get the medicine.
 
Need help to pick the right medication for mites

In my previous post I mention that my guinea pigs have mites ( they are drinking LOTS of water, scratching alot, Kirby have a small bald spot and they both are shedding alot) I decided to just treat them myself. I found some of the Ivermectin online but i'm not sure what to get. Can some one help me choose the right one? Pleaseeeee!!

This is the pour on
https://www.amazon.com/Ivermectin-P...TF8&qid=1408834650&sr=1-3&keywords=Ivermectin

This is the paste
https://www.amazon.com/Ivermectin-P...TF8&qid=1408834650&sr=1-1&keywords=Ivermectin
 
Re: Need help to pick the right medication for mites

Either will do, and either will need to be diluted. The pour-on is easier to use.
 
Re: Need help to pick the right medication for mites

bpatters said:
Either will do, and either will need to be diluted. The pour-on is easier to use.
Click to expand...


What do you mean by diluted?
 
Re: Need help to pick the right medication for mites

The medication is WAY too strong for a guinea pig. Those are to treat a 1000+ pound horse or cow, and you can't accurately measure a dose small enough to be given to a guinea pig. So you'll have to dilute it with water. See https://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin.html and follow the links -- that will explain it.
 
Actually the pour on linked there has 5mg/ml, this means it is the 0.5% concentration. If you have a 1cc syringe then you can measure this one without diluting, it works out to be 0.1cc per 1 kg of weight. So if the pig weight 1.2kg then you would give just over 0.1cc. It doesn't matter too much if you don't get the exact precise dose, just so long as you aren't severely overdosing.

Here is the link for the dosing chart for the 0.5% pour on https://www.guinealynx.info/topical_ivermectin_pour-on.html
 
alright thanks you guys.. i got the pour on. it suppose to get here on Aug 29th
 
Related question how much scratching is "a lot" cause i see my pigs scratching sometimes but I'm not sure how much is normal or too much?
 
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