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Cleo’s got mites! 😡

alpacasqueak

alpacasqueak

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Gutted, just got her out in a very light room while trimming the tiny spiky ends off her nails, I can see them crawling on the crest of her head, 3/4 of the things so take it they’re everywhere :yikes::no:
Can’t believe I’ve missed them, really haven’t seen them up to now of course or she’d have been straight to the vets! Obviously I can’t leave her until next week to go to Cat and Rabbit, I’m going to have to get her into my local vets today, never dealt with them before! They can be annoying at times but some do listen (depending on the vet I get!) as know I’ve had rodents for years.

I’m worried with her being a baby and also now thinking my other pigs have most likely got some with eggs and me not having her in quarantine with her age (8/9 weeks). So angry I haven’t spotted them but she hides in cosies and my dressing gown when she’s out as such a scared baby! And not seen her scratching or anything, may explain why she hides and is so nervous though. My poor girl, not even been here a week. Guessing the 3 others she was with at the pet shop also got them!

Advice massively appreciated, will get her booked in ASAP then!:no:
Thank you.
 
Sorry I should say they’re sort of beige coloured, tiny little things. Really have no experience with mites so I’ll get reading up, was impossible to get a pic although I tried :doh:

Edit, possible lice then reading descriptions. Feel sick, my poor little girl.
 
Vegas had that a few months after adopting her. Because she's black, we can see all the lice crawling on her! After a course of Ivermectin it was gone.
 
Thanks @anyar.dris yeah I thought that’d be the treatment, just wasn’t sure with her being so tiny if she’d need a bath etc! Feel so bad for her bless her.
Pleased to hear it worked for gorgeous Vegas x
 
She’s booked in for 3pm. So much for letting the poor girl settle after her stress last week! :no: Is it worth me phoning the pet shop where I picked her up from @Watsoon? Can’t bear the thought of the other babies crawling in them:doh:Two males and three females there all from the same breeder I think!
 
Don't panic @alpacasqueak I would advise getting all the piggies a course of Xeno ivermectin treatment (Xeno 450 for the big fatties over a kilo, possibly Cleo being small will need several pipettes of Xeno 50 adjusted for her weight) which is applied to the skin on the back and neck every 2 weeks until they have had 3 doses, 2 weeks apart. And hot wash all the fleeces, every week, F10 the cages, F10 then leave to dry any wooden houses, throw away any cardboardy stuff... if you can see crawling this is lice probably which is icky yucky but easy to treat and in no way life threatening- like kids with headlice, the yuck factor far outweighs the health issues!
You should pass this info on of course but the breeder may not want to hear it, we had problems telling Blod's mad breeder owner that she arrived with ringworm, but I'm sure @Watsoon is a nice lady who will want to know and treat her piggies accordingly.
Please dont panic, and feel free to PM me about Xeno treatments, I do kind of have a PhD in veterinary antiparasitic pharmacology and I can possibly help add to what the vet says but of course you should get a proper vet diagnosis and prescription treatment first x
 
Thanks so much @PigglePuggle, just a bit of a shock there! I’ve given her a good looking over quite a few times of course, so angry with myself I’ve not spotted anything but no missing hair or scratching etc! Poor tiny bub.
Sitting here scratching myself now though!
I will kick up a bit of a fuss then if they won’t give me everything for all pigs, they’re all going to have to have the nasty stuff!:doh:

She had a slightly dodgy tummy with wet poos on Monday so was dreading diarrhoea yesterday and having to take her with Jasper for an emergency but looking really good now. Now this, god she’s had a lot of grief for a tiny piglet poor girl!
Thanks for all the info! x
 
Don’t beat yourself up (metaphorically of course). I didn’t notice my girls had lice for quite a while I think.

She will do just fine with you, have no doubt about that 😊
 
alpacasqueak said:
Gutted, just got her out in a very light room while trimming the tiny spiky ends off her nails, I can see them crawling on the crest of her head, 3/4 of the things so take it they’re everywhere :yikes::no:
Can’t believe I’ve missed them, really haven’t seen them up to now of course or she’d have been straight to the vets! Obviously I can’t leave her until next week to go to Cat and Rabbit, I’m going to have to get her into my local vets today, never dealt with them before! They can be annoying at times but some do listen (depending on the vet I get!) as know I’ve had rodents for years.

I’m worried with her being a baby and also now thinking my other pigs have most likely got some with eggs and me not having her in quarantine with her age (8/9 weeks). So angry I haven’t spotted them but she hides in cosies and my dressing gown when she’s out as such a scared baby! And not seen her scratching or anything, may explain why she hides and is so nervous though. My poor girl, not even been here a week. Guessing the 3 others she was with at the pet shop also got them!

Advice massively appreciated, will get her booked in ASAP then!:no:
Thank you.
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Hi

You can always contact the clinic for treatment advice. The only visible guinea pig parasite are species specific lice; mites are invisible. Your older piggies (whose immune system is fully developed and will hopefully be strong) should be much less affected as they have their own natural defences to help getting on top of the lice. In the young and the frail lice can multiply quite quickly; so if you have not noticed before, there was simply not much to notice.
Please don't beat yourself up over this aspect - the speed with which skin parasites or opportunistic illnesses come on is not reliant on your observational skills as an owner but on the strength and flexibility of the immune response.

Any piggy under 4 months should never be quaratined on their own; they are too desperate for company and guidance during their formative week. You will always have to have at least one companion sharing the quarantine with them.
Unfortunately piggies that do not come from a good rescue with mandatory quarantine, vet care and a pregnancy watch can come with issues. Anybody can call themselves a breeder or a rescue in this country, without licensing or supervision. You have more purchase with chain shops (although some branches of p@h have a massive ringworm problem, seeing the kind of issues we are contacted over). For sale breeders, especially online providers or farm shops, are generally not considered a safe place to get piggies from; sadly there has been surge of people this summer buying from those dubious sources and they are now learning that lesson the hard way. :(

Here is more information on guinea pig parasites and your customer rights: New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
 
Thanks a lot for kind words and advice, my mum just said I don’t get it easy when I’m trying to help, feels it sometimes! Just feel bad for my other 3 when I’ve taken on little miss wonky toes and her massively too!

She wasn’t bought from a pet shop @Wiebke, I took her on after I saw her thread to join my rehomed lad Jasper after his neutering (yesterday!:doh:)! 8 hours travelling on public transport to pick her up last week!
Webbed back toes
I don’t normally ‘do’ pet shops/breeders for all of these reasons!
 
I’ve called the pet shop that I took little Cleo on from and have given them the info, have pointed them in the direction of here if they need advice or information etc but advised they could do with a vet trip with the babies.
 
And I’m feeling incredibly guilty I didn’t take on her sister now, she is terrified. In a cage next to Jasper so they can have contact etc, his new C&C was ordered two weeks ago and still doesn’t look like it’s coming until next week but I’m going to be making a temporary cage when it arrives so they have more contact.
Lots of tears from me the other day when she had a poorly tummy and I was having ideas about bonding her with my other pair (Luigi and Aliona) as I’m sure they’d be happy with more company.
But it’s all been manic this week, Luigi and his cataracts getting much worse, Jaspers op yesterday and her and her issues, as well as a mad day travelling and my wonky brain. Although I’m feeling like a heartless owner right now!
 
alpacasqueak said:
And I’m feeling incredibly guilty I didn’t take on her sister now, she is terrified. In a cage next to Jasper so they can have contact etc, his new C&C was ordered two weeks ago and still doesn’t look like it’s coming until next week but I’m going to be making a temporary cage when it arrives so they have more contact.
Lots of tears from me the other day when she had a poorly tummy and I was having ideas about bonding her with my other pair (Luigi and Aliona) as I’m sure they’d be happy with more company.
But it’s all been manic this week, Luigi and his cataracts getting much worse, Jaspers op yesterday and her and her issues, as well as a mad day travelling and my wonky brain. Although I’m feeling like a heartless owner right now!
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Oh becci please don't feel like that. I've met you and consider you a good friend and trust a friend when they tell you this 'you're a brilliant, caring owner' xx
 
alpacasqueak said:
And I’m feeling incredibly guilty I didn’t take on her sister now, she is terrified. In a cage next to Jasper so they can have contact etc, his new C&C was ordered two weeks ago and still doesn’t look like it’s coming until next week but I’m going to be making a temporary cage when it arrives so they have more contact.
Lots of tears from me the other day when she had a poorly tummy and I was having ideas about bonding her with my other pair (Luigi and Aliona) as I’m sure they’d be happy with more company.
But it’s all been manic this week, Luigi and his cataracts getting much worse, Jaspers op yesterday and her and her issues, as well as a mad day travelling and my wonky brain. Although I’m feeling like a heartless owner right now!
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You are doing amazing things here @alpacasqueak you brought home a deformed piggy baby knowing she might have problems and have given her a lovely home and she can chat to and smell Aliona and Luigi and she can befriend her lovely future husboar Jasper through the bars while he has his 6 weeks post neuter wait and how much better for her that she came to you rather than a random home that doesnt know about piggies. I am sure your whole house is just full of happy piggy smells and relaxed piggy vibes and sounds and Cleo will settle just fine!
The lice will go with treatment and Cleo will get her toes checked out and all your piggies will be as happy and spoilt as they ever are, with extra happiness for lonely little Jasper with his new wonky toe wife Cleo. Its just a bad couple of days which we all have as good piggy parents when we discover a health problem. Be as kind to yourself as you are to all your animals! X
 
Gem789 said:
My piggies were itching so I bought xeno 450.After 3 doses they still seem to be scratching so I think I'll have to get the vet to take a look. I'd recommend a vet trip if they're itching very bad x
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ok i'll try to get a check up anyways they need to get a health check up this year
 
Aww Sorry to hear the gorgeous wonky Cleo has lice, don't panic though... it's probably the upheaval of her travelling & leaving her familiar surroundings that's brought on the opportunistic little blighters.
Newly re-homed or young guineas are prone to them because the guinea is stressed & their immune system takes a little bit of a knocking - so the mites/lice take control for a short time.
Xeno is quite quick & effective for getting rid of lice/mites, She may need 2 or 3 doses , any companions may need a preventative dose too.

When i brought my Squiggle home she was diggered in them a few days later, a trip to the vet for xeno & an official diagnosis.
if i remember rightly i had to use the Xeno 50 as Squiggle was only 600g or so. Orca Showed no signs of any 'lodgers' but had a pippette of the xeno 50 too as prevention (she was big enough for a 450 dose but the vet didn't think it was necessary to sell me both sizes when he didn't expect her to have any as she was not stressed & hadn't changed surroundings, etc. as Squiggle had).

Squiggle had Mange mites (invisible to the naked eye) after ringworm & that we put down to the stress of the ringworm treatment - but again Xeno sorted it quickly.

If you do need to treat for a few doses try Animed directs Xeno Spot On as they are cheaper than a lot of places (& only £1.99 P&P)

once Cleo's (&companions?) been treated give her cage a full clean out to get rid of any lurking in there, then another full clean a few days later, to get rid of any dead lice & eggs. i think the second treatment is 7days later to catch any juveniles or newly hatched lice/mites.

Good luck & you ARE a good piggy mum, it's just they're susceptible to these blighters shortly after big changes.... and you must be a good piggy mum to have noticed them... They're tiny!

Speedy recovery Cleo & i hope Jasper's not feeling too sore today :eek: xx
PS don't forget to wash the dressing gown on a hot wash too ;) x
 
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alpacasqueak said:
And I’m feeling incredibly guilty I didn’t take on her sister now, she is terrified. In a cage next to Jasper so they can have contact etc, his new C&C was ordered two weeks ago and still doesn’t look like it’s coming until next week but I’m going to be making a temporary cage when it arrives so they have more contact.
Lots of tears from me the other day when she had a poorly tummy and I was having ideas about bonding her with my other pair (Luigi and Aliona) as I’m sure they’d be happy with more company.
But it’s all been manic this week, Luigi and his cataracts getting much worse, Jaspers op yesterday and her and her issues, as well as a mad day travelling and my wonky brain. Although I’m feeling like a heartless owner right now!
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I am very sorry that it is all happening at once. Try to not feel overwhelmed and tackle it one by one. The little one will have a happy home and a good life with you. When you rescue piggies from whatever source, these are the kind of lessons that are unfortunately attached to this... Lice can be a nuisance but with your good care, they won't become more than that. :(

Concentrate additionally on strengthening the immune system with a 3 weeks vitamin C booster.

Sorry if I forget; I have currently got plenty going on in my private life (including menopause, which doesn't do anything for your memory, I assure you). After about 10 years on the forums and quite literally tens of thousands of piggies passing through, my short term memory is no longer working in this respect. Call it storage space burnout! I would be grateful if you could jig my memory with a short background if necessary. :(
 
Yes don’t you feel guilty Becci, you have done an amazing job taking on Jasper from a miserable situation and finding him a lovely little wonky toed partner. You have had a very stressful couple of weeks and this must feel like the straw that broke the camels back but it’s lice and you will sort this out too. Don’t beat yourself up you are the most caring owner I know and always go the extra mile for the care and happiness of our little pets. It doesn’t matter where you get your piggies from in my opinion they can all get lice, ringworm and mites x Sending big hugs :hug:
 
I echo the others. Don't you doubt yourself you are an excellent mum to all your animals, they are all so lucky to find you. Cleo's immune system is obviously a bit down at the moment with all her upheavals. A vet told me all these pesky mites, lice, internal parasites and fungal lie dormant in piggies, picked up from the poor conditions they are bred in until one day the piggie gets a bit low and then the condition appears. That also goes for the bugs that cause infections. You spotted those lice so quickly they won't be around for long once they've been zapped with Ivermectin.
Please don't feel down, you go above and beyond to give a home to animals in need. Hope you can get some rest and sleep after all your journeys, at such a difficult time to travel you need a medal. 🥇🏆 in fact a medals not good enough, have a trophy instead.
Sending you hugs.
 
Thanks so much everyone, and sorry for totally panicking and freaking out with my posts! It’s been a tough year tbh losing my 3 special girls and everything else! And yes a bit like the straw that broke the camel’s back @Bill & Ted :doh: Two long days of travelling in a week with both her and Jasper and no naps all week which I do need with my epilepsy meds, so shattered too! And of course my poor Luigi getting more blind by the day and making me very tearful!

After Cleo not eating properly (she’s been fed on muesli and no idea if she knows what hay is, is leaving most veg too), then enjoying a teeny bit of grass for a couple of days, having a dodgy tummy Monday to see her looking good and surrounded by lots of (more normal) poo yesterday it was a good morning after a stressful few days! Obviously with Jasper bright and alert too after being very sleepy after his op in the evening! Then to see those horrible beasts all over her a few hours later was a bit much for my exhausted brain! :mal: Had a seizure and a night on the bed, feeling a bit better today! Thanks though, my pets are my life, even if these two haven’t been here long, I’d do anything and everything for them!
I know about these mites and lice and why they rear their nasty heads, just never dealt with them before, only fleas with cats tbh, my piggies have always come from rescues and been fairly happy settling in so I’m very lucky I guess!
Just typical it’s a teeny baby that’s been/going through stress and already slightly breaking my heart! Hate to think I’m putting her through more!

Well vet trip was unfortunately pretty useless (£70 down again!), although she did check under the microscope and they’re definitely lice! One even lay an egg while she was looking apparently! Was given some ivermectin (Pharmaq Mite treatment) but not Xeno as they don’t stock it, vet guessed her weight at 500g until I asked to use her scales! 🙄(She’s 590g) I’m not happy to use it so I’ve ordered it for everyone myself, hopefully should be here tomoz 🤞Then the fun begins I guess!

Got to chuck Luigi and Aliona’s favourite beds away, that’ll make me feel very bad! Typical I’ve spent a fortune recently spoiling everyone with new things that are mainly egg-harbouring chewy ones!:doh:

It’s ok @Wiebke, I’ve know you’re a massively busy lady! It was just I already know these things with pigs from pet shops/bad breeding etc and all the things that come with that and have felt very guilty bringing her and keeping her here ‘alone’, even if she is surrounded by my other 3! And also knowing that I’m now going to have to put my porky pair through more (Luigi was only diagnosed with cataracts a few weeks ago and they’re still very quiet after losing my OAP Jess) with horrible treatments and handling makes me feel unbelievably guilty!

Massive thank you though everyone, don’t feel so rubbish! Xx (A few pics to thank you for reading if you managed to get through that essay!:)))
1069B9BA-344E-4389-9B66-2D5740D5AAF3.webp
My beautiful Luigi :love:
88F8876A-BC44-4E13-A4E3-E9158ED0EEFE.webp
Jasper’s (very new) dewlap!:love:
94E25328-5EFC-4CCB-85FB-4F5AD44A70ED.webp
My little Cleo, I didn’t sit on her head, that’s her hairdo!:)):love:
8F32CC6E-8E31-4C04-A356-69AF9708E619.webp
And poor Aliona getting her oats pinched!:love:
 
alpacasqueak said:
Thanks so much everyone, and sorry for totally panicking and freaking out with my posts! It’s been a tough year tbh losing my 3 special girls and everything else! And yes a bit like the straw that broke the camel’s back @Bill & Ted :doh: Two long days of travelling in a week with both her and Jasper and no naps all week which I do need with my epilepsy meds, so shattered too! And of course my poor Luigi getting more blind by the day and making me very tearful!

After Cleo not eating properly (she’s been fed on muesli and no idea if she knows what hay is, is leaving most veg too), then enjoying a teeny bit of grass for a couple of days, having a dodgy tummy Monday to see her looking good and surrounded by lots of (more normal) poo yesterday it was a good morning after a stressful few days! Obviously with Jasper bright and alert too after being very sleepy after his op in the evening! Then to see those horrible beasts all over her a few hours later was a bit much for my exhausted brain! :mal: Had a seizure and a night on the bed, feeling a bit better today! Thanks though, my pets are my life, even if these two haven’t been here long, I’d do anything and everything for them!
I know about these mites and lice and why they rear their nasty heads, just never dealt with them before, only fleas with cats tbh, my piggies have always come from rescues and been fairly happy settling in so I’m very lucky I guess!
Just typical it’s a teeny baby that’s been/going through stress and already slightly breaking my heart! Hate to think I’m putting her through more!

Well vet trip was unfortunately pretty useless (£70 down again!), although she did check under the microscope and they’re definitely lice! One even lay an egg while she was looking apparently! Was given some ivermectin (Pharmaq Mite treatment) but not Xeno as they don’t stock it, vet guessed her weight at 500g until I asked to use her scales! 🙄(She’s 590g) I’m not happy to use it so I’ve ordered it for everyone myself, hopefully should be here tomoz 🤞Then the fun begins I guess!

Got to chuck Luigi and Aliona’s favourite beds away, that’ll make me feel very bad! Typical I’ve spent a fortune recently spoiling everyone with new things that are mainly egg-harbouring chewy ones!:doh:

It’s ok @Wiebke, I’ve know you’re a massively busy lady! It was just I already know these things with pigs from pet shops/bad breeding etc and all the things that come with that and have felt very guilty bringing her and keeping her here ‘alone’, even if she is surrounded by my other 3! And also knowing that I’m now going to have to put my porky pair through more (Luigi was only diagnosed with cataracts a few weeks ago and they’re still very quiet after losing my OAP Jess) with horrible treatments and handling makes me feel unbelievably guilty!

Massive thank you though everyone, don’t feel so rubbish! Xx (A few pics to thank you for reading if you managed to get through that essay!:)))
View attachment 158311
My beautiful Luigi :love:
View attachment 158312
Jasper’s (very new) dewlap!:love:
View attachment 158313
My little Cleo, I didn’t sit on her head, that’s her hairdo!:)):love:
View attachment 158314
And poor Aliona getting her oats pinched!:love:
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Aw they are a credit to you :hug: Gorgeous little faces x
 
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