Does Edward have mites?

[Claire W]

Today when holding Edward he bit me when I stroked his fur. He did the same thing last night too. Did he just not like it or could he have mites?

He isn’t scratching / biting at his back (usual cleaning) anymore than usual, he isn’t losing fur and his skin looks healthy but it’s out of character for him to bite How would I know if he had mites? Am I just being paranoid?

 

[VickiA]

Where were you touching him when he bit you? Holly has a number of “no go”areas where she will turn and bite me if she’s touched there.

 

[Hannah_xx]

Olive recently took to biting me, it did turn out to be that she had mites!
But I could see them after a very good inspection of her coat.

 

[Claire W]

Where were you touching him when he bit you? Holly has a number of “no go”areas where she will turn and bite me if she’s touched there.

Just on his back. He probably just doesn’t like being touched there then?

 

[Claire W]

Olive recently took to biting me, it did turn out to be that she had mites!
But I could see them after a very good inspection of her coat.

I can’t see anything in his fur. What were Olives symptoms?

 

[Claire W]

Have you checked for any? Any lice?

Is it mites you can't see and lice you can?

My rats had lice and you could see the gingery flecks in the fur. But that's rat specific lice from wild rats

Dot bites me but she's done it since she was a little nipper and enjoys doing it

I would check to see if there are any marks of blood or scabs under the fur

There’s no marks or blood in his fur

 

[PigglePuggle]

I wonder perhaps given his age Claire if he just has a bit of mild age related back pain... our old girl Clover is sometimes a bit irritable and although the vet couldnt find anything definite we agreed she may have a bit of old lady joint pain so we have meloxicam to give 0.4mls as needed on her grumpy days. I wonder if that might help Edward if he has some grumpy days and low appetite days, just a bit of anti-inflammatory pain relief for any general old man aches and pains that leave him a bit out of sorts sometimes?

 

[Wiebke]

Just on his back. He probably just doesn’t like being touched there then?

Hi!

If it is the start of mange mites, you will be seeing signs (scratching/biting and a bare 'v' shaped patch in the middle of the back) in the coming days. Then is the time to step in with the correct treatment.

It may be that he is just a bit sensitive in that area and won't like being touched there.

 

[Claire W]

I wonder perhaps given his age Claire if he just has a bit of mild age related back pain... our old girl Clover is sometimes a bit irritable and although the vet couldnt find anything definite we agreed she may have a bit of old lady joint pain so we have meloxicam to give 0.4mls as needed on her grumpy days. I wonder if that might help Edward if he has some grumpy days and low appetite days, just a bit of anti-inflammatory pain relief for any general old man aches and pains that leave him a bit out of sorts sometimes?

Thank you. I hadn’t thought of that. Does he need to see a vet now or can it wait until his next nail trim?

 

[Claire W]

Hi!

If it is the start of mange mites, you will be seeing signs (scratching/biting and a bare 'v' shaped patch in the middle of the back) in the coming days. Then is the time to step in with the correct treatment.

It may be that he is just a bit sensitive in that area and won't like being touched there.

Thank you. He isn’t scratching and biting more than normal and his skin looks healthy. What would the treatment be for mange mites? I will keep an eye on him

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. He isn’t scratching and biting more than normal and his skin looks healthy. What would the treatment be for mange mites? I will keep an eye on him

The usual xeno 450 pipettes. Please do not treat on spec and see a vet if there is any doubt.
Please do not hover. If there is an issue, it will take several days to become obvious so constant checking won't help either you or him. Hopefully it is nothing.

 

[Claire W]

The usual xeno 450 pipettes. Please do not treat on spec and see a vet if there is any doubt.
Please do not hover. If there is an issue, it will take several days to become obvious so constant checking won't help either you or him. Hopefully it is nothing.

Oh no, of course I wouldn’t treat on spec, I just wondered what the vet would prescribe Would all piggies need treatment or just him? I will try and not hover and just keep a close eye on him

 

[Wiebke]

Oh no, of course I wouldn’t treat on spec, I just wondered what the vet would prescribe Would all piggies need treatment or just him? I will try and not hover and just keep a close eye on him

If one piggy has them, all the others will need treatment, too, as the living mites are bound to jump between them.

 

[Claire W]

If one piggy has them, all the others will need treatment, too, as the living mites are bound to jump between them.

Thank you. I will keep an eye on them over the next few days

 

[Flutterby]