Vet I took Thunder to the vet yesterday

[LightningPig1]

So I took Thunder to the vet yesterday. While I was there I also noticed at bald spot on his back. And on it was a whole lot of dander and it was very ruff. that is probably why he's sensitive on his back. So that plus the scab and the crusty dander near the bald spot next to his bald spot behind his ears. He said all this was happening because he is adjusting to a new diet and a new environment and is getting healthier than the unhealthy diet he was in before so he is growing new hair and with all the dander that's because it itches so that's the reason he's itching. We thought that pad on his foot was coming off but it was just calis!! He pulled it off in a second and the guinea pig didn't even squirm or or make any noise.He just sat there. He checked for internal parasites also and checked everything. He said this was the healthiest guinea pig he had seen all week. He had already delt with six that week and this was the seventh. He said that one guinea pig came and didn't have any hair at all!! (It wasn't a skinny pig) it had very bad parasites he said. But he still said to wait one or two weeks just in case before I can introduce thunder to Lightning. I just wanted to tell y'all how the vet trip went.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Mites are microscopic. Sometimes vets will do skin scrapings to look for them, but even so they often miss them. I would bet that's why your guinea pig has dander and bald spots and is so sensitive--he has mites. You can treat for mites yourself with ivermectin. Read up on mites at http://www.guinealynx.info/mites.html

The thing on his foot was most likely a spur. Some guinea pigs are prone to forming them-- http://www.guinealynx.info/feet.html#spurs

 

[LightningPig1]

He pulled "the spur" right off and said it was calis so it's not even there anymore. I would like to treat just in case but I am not very good with doses or anything so I will need some help. But I definitely want to treat just in case. That's what I was thinking also. Does this mean he's a bad vet? Even the humane society here recommends this vet for all types of animals.

 

[foggycreekcavy]

No, I doubt he's a bad vet. It's just that lots of vets don't really know what to do with guinea pigs other than what they've learned by trial and error, since most vet schools don't focus on exotics for very long.

 

[LightningPig1]

He acts like he really enjoys his job. He has a lot of work to do this week with rescuing turtles and bird and creatures that live in the gulf coast of Mexico. I don't know if you heard about it there was a massive oil spill there and think of all the dying animals!!! How sad!!!

 

[foggycreekcavy]

Yes, it's a tragedy. I'm glad your vet is helping out.

As far as dosing for the ivermectin, post your dosages here and someone will help you.