Fungal or mites treatment

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Hi, I am looking for some advice please. I have two boars who have always been quite itchy with frequent scratching/biting.

Both my boys are scratching a lot and have dry skin. I have noticed patches of dry/flaky skin in Fred’s back which looks sore, hair was also coming out with flakes of dead skin on the end but no noticeable hair loss throughout the body. This
suggested either a fungal infection or mites.

I have recently finished a full cycle of ivermectin treatment. The last treatment finished on 27th March. Which has not appeared to make a difference. Therefore I have now started treating with anti-fungal cream and Lucillin for the sores and have carried out one bath with Nizoral and will do this once a week for a further 2 weeks.

The skin looked flake free after the bath but I have still been applying Daktarin cream which seems to have caused flakes again!? I have also started cleaning the cage with F10 and removed all wooden toys to hopefully kill off any spores/mites.

I know no formal diagnosis can be made without a vet visit, but I was wondering if I can treat again with ivermectin so soon after finishing a 3 week treatment for mites. I plan to use Xeno450 as they are both over 1200g. How long does Ivermectin stay in the system as obviously I do not want to risk an overdose but would like to stop with the bathing/cream if I can treat again with the spot on.

Thank you taking the time to read and for any suggestions.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Have they been seen by a vet?
Was the ivermectin treatment you used prescribed Xeno? Or was it a pet shop product?
This will make a difference as pet shop products aren’t effective.
Fungal/ringworm cannot be cured by Xeno.

Do note though that using Nizoral shampoos and creaming is not the effective method of treating fungal/ringworm. Creaming does not catch all the spores so you risk prolonging the outbreak and causing re infection. To effectively treat fungal/ringworm, a prescribed oral treatment is needed along with strict hygiene.

You need a proper diagnosis before treating for anything as using the wrong thing is not going to help. Equally, using anything without a vet diagnosis can make diagnosis and treatment harder.

 

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Have they been seen by a vet?
Was the ivermectin treatment you used prescribed Xeno? Or was it a pet shop product?
This will make a difference as pet shop products aren’t effective.
Fungal/ringworm cannot be cured by Xeno.

Do note thought that using Nizoral shampoos and creaming is not the effective method of treating fungal/ringworm. Creaming does not catch all the spores so you risk prolonging the outbreak and causing re infection. To effectively treat fungal/ringworm, a prescribed oral treatment is needed along with strict hygiene.

You need a proper diagnosis before treating for anything as using the wrong thing is not going to help. Equally, using anything without a vet diagnosis can make diagnosis and treatment harder.

Hi Thank you for your quick response. They have not been seen by a vet as I was hoping to resolve the issue at home. I have read guidance of multiple sites and the Guinea Lynx but sometimes it seems some what conflicting. The treatment I used was not Xeno but I have now realised that this is the most commonly prescribed Ivermectin treatment.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hi Thank you for your quick response. They have not been seen by a vet as I was hoping to resolve the issue at home. I have read guidance of multiple sites and the Guinea Lynx but sometimes it seems some what conflicting. The treatment I used was not Xeno but I have now realised that this is the most commonly prescribed Ivermectin treatment.

Please always see a vet and don’t try home treating for anything - it doesn’t work and can make things worse, cost more etc as you end up having to go the vet anyway

Any pet shop product while it may contain ivermectin, is not as sufficient dose to cure any parasite. It can temporarily suppress but won’t stop it entirely.
Ivermectin won’t cure fungal.
This means you won’t know whether it is mites and simply not using the right strength product; or that it’s fungal and the product is ineffective against it anyway
Now you have done various treatments, certain identifying markers may have been removed and it can make diagnosis harder, but please do see a vet to get a diagnosis and please don’t put any more treatments on your piggies until they are vet prescribed.

 

[Fred&HarryPigs]

Please always see a vet and don’t try home treating for anything - it doesn’t work and can make things worse, cost more etc as you end up having to go the vet anyway

Any pet shop product while it may contain ivermectin, is not as sufficient dose to cure any parasite. It can temporarily suppress but won’t stop it entirely.
Ivermectin won’t cure fungal.
This means you won’t know whether it is mites and simply not using the right strength product; or that it’s fungal and the product is ineffective against it anyway
Now you have done various treatments, certain identifying markers may have been removed and it can make diagnosis harder, but please do see a vet to get a diagnosis and please don’t put any more treatments on your piggies until they are vet prescribed.

Thank you for your help. I will call the vet on Monday to get them looked at.

 

[Piggies&buns]

This is our ringworm and parasites guides in the meantime

Ringworm: Hygiene, Care And Pictures

New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights