piggy just diagnosed with mange mite!Need advice please!

[Michelle196]

Hi everyone,
I took my son's piggy to the vet today. She did a skin scrapping which came out positive for mange mite. She gave him an oral dose of Ivermectin and I was told to bring him back in a week.
I know from the guinealynx site that it is highly contagious to other guinea pigs but is it common for it to be transmitted to other pets? I also have 4 birds, 3 ferrets, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a hamster. He is kept in my son's room so I washed all of the bedding and vacumed the whole room including furniture and toys. Now I'm going to wash the cage and plastic hide box and let it all soak in a bleach solution. Will this be effective in preventing future infestations. I'm really concerned about this spreading to my other pets. Over the last few weeks some unexpected events took place and we are having a very, very difficult time financially, which is life and we are trying to deal with it with a smile on our faces. I even cancelled my own doctor's appointment so I could pay for todays initial visit for the guinea pig. So I don't even know what I would do if the rest of our critters caught this. I would appreciate advice from those with experience with this nasty little mite as far as it being transmitted to our other pets. Thank you for listening!
God bless,
Michelle

 

[pig pal]

My three gp's had the treatment recently and seem to be free of it now. I'm not a vet and maybe I shouldn't say but as long as he is under treatment and recovering he probably should be confined to the cage so he doesn't contact other pigs or pets in your case. It's not contagious to humans from what I gather. Good luck BTW I had to give the guys there treatment orally after the vet visit and didn't have to go back. Just a tiny amount in a syringe once a week for three weeks.

 

[Michelle196]

R2 pigpal and another question to anyone

Yes, I have him in a temporary cage by himself and no one is allowed to handle him except me. The vet also gave me a topical antiseptic to use on the itchy bald spot on his back which is helping tremendously. The receptionist is suppose to be getting back to me because I asked if I could administer the next treatment myself.
The vet had me isolate our other guinea pig from the one being treated. She did not treat him because he wasn't showing symptoms. I think she was trying to keep my bill down. But from what I have been reading, he should be treated too. So I will ask for Ivermectin for him too. He is in a separate room, in a separate cage and no one is allowed to handle him either.

My vet said only 2 oral doses is needed. Should I ask for a third?

My three gp's had the treatment recently and seem to be free of it now. I'm not a vet and maybe I shouldn't say but as long as he is under treatment and recovering he probably should be confined to the cage so he doesn't contact other pigs or pets in your case. It's not contagious to humans from what I gather. Good luck BTW I had to give the guys there treatment orally after the vet visit and didn't have to go back. Just a tiny amount in a syringe once a week for three weeks.

 

[mncavylover]

The mites shouldn't be contagious to your other pets. And as far as the other piggie goes, you have to get him/her medicine too. If you've done all this work, why let it all go to waste by letting your 2nd piggie get the mites as well? It would cost you more for a second outbreak than it will to have Ivermectin for both. Definitely the way to go. Good luck! =)

 

[Michelle196]

I agree

I have already decided to get our other piggy treated. They have been sharing a cage for several months until I separated them a few days ago, it would be impossible for him not to have been infected by the mites also. I'm going to ask the vet for medication for him too when I go back to get the first piggy's second treatment. Thanks for the advice-its so awesome to be able to communicate with so many other cavy owners!

The mites shouldn't be contagious to your other pets. And as far as the other piggie goes, you have to get him/her medicine too. If you've done all this work, why let it all go to waste by letting your 2nd piggie get the mites as well? It would cost you more for a second outbreak than it will to have Ivermectin for both. Definitely the way to go. Good luck! =)

 

[pig pal]

My three gp's had the treatment recently and seem to be free of it now. I'm not a vet and maybe I shouldn't say but as long as he is under treatment and recovering he probably should be confined to the cage so he doesn't contact other pigs or pets in your case. It's not contagious to humans from what I gather. Good luck BTW I had to give the guys there treatment orally after the vet visit and didn't have to go back. Just a tiny amount in a syringe once a week for three weeks.

Now that I think about it there was three total treatments. Once at the vet and two times at home always one week apart.