Dilly's Piggies
Teenage Guinea Pig
6 months ago I took my Guinea Pigs to the vet as they were very itchy with lots of dandruff, my vet took a skin sample to look at under the microscope and they said my piggies have mites, but not the 'nasty mite' which I assume means mange mites, so from this I assume they meant my piggies have hay mites. My vet prescribed a 3 week course of ivermectin, there was no change, I took them back again, same scenario, I was given ivermectin again for 4 weeks, no change again, took them back, this time it was given for 6 weeks, still no change, now they are on an 8 week course, and guess what, no change.
After some reading I've just discovered ivermectin is useless against hay mites as they don't suck blood like mange mites and running lice, so 6 months later a light bulb in my head finally comes on and I realise why my pigs are still itchy. They are covered in these hay mites, mostly on the rump but they are from the top of the head down along the top line, as they haven't been treated they've just taken over and multiplied.
Luckily I already had some lice n easy shampoo from gorgeous guineas in and this stuff is brilliant, it was so satisfying to see all those pesky mites fall out! The piggies still have an infestation so I'll be using this shampoo on them weekly for a few weeks. I'm just kicking myself that I've spent hundreds of pounds on vet visits, lab tests and ivermectin when all I needed was a bottle of shampoo for £10!
I wanted to ask if there is anything else I can do to rid my pigs of these annoying mites, does combing them out with a nit comb also work to pick up stragglers after a shampoo?
After some reading I've just discovered ivermectin is useless against hay mites as they don't suck blood like mange mites and running lice, so 6 months later a light bulb in my head finally comes on and I realise why my pigs are still itchy. They are covered in these hay mites, mostly on the rump but they are from the top of the head down along the top line, as they haven't been treated they've just taken over and multiplied.
Luckily I already had some lice n easy shampoo from gorgeous guineas in and this stuff is brilliant, it was so satisfying to see all those pesky mites fall out! The piggies still have an infestation so I'll be using this shampoo on them weekly for a few weeks. I'm just kicking myself that I've spent hundreds of pounds on vet visits, lab tests and ivermectin when all I needed was a bottle of shampoo for £10!
I wanted to ask if there is anything else I can do to rid my pigs of these annoying mites, does combing them out with a nit comb also work to pick up stragglers after a shampoo?