Mite treatment not working?

[Piggies2023]

I have two piggies, Nancy & Pumpkin. Nancy has had a rough ride illness wise and as a result has had mites. I used xeno first, and it worked a bit to begin with but after 10 days the scratching was increasing a lot. So my vet did a mite injection which helped loads. Then 13 days later we did a second mite injection. It's been 6 days since the mite injection. This time it doesn't seem to have done anything at all to help the itching for Nancy. Pumpkin is itching less but it's always been Nancy that has been particularly itchy. They've had three treatments. Has this happened to anyone else?

My only other thought is can hay dust cause itching? I'm not impressed with the hay, I have just had some new arrived but not sure about suddenly switching the whole lot incase it causes stomach issues. Can hay also give piggies mites or would I be able to see them if that was the case? I'm just thinking about timings of when I got boxes of hay Vs scratching.

 

[Piggies2023]

I really think it's mites. The scratching is getting worse . I'm wondering if I'm dealing with resistant mites.

 

[Piggies&buns]

Hay mites come in with hay. You cannot see the mites themselves, you can only see the evidence which is specks stuck to the hair shaft (bit like bits in humans) which are the egg casings and scratching. Can you see or feel any casings stuck - if you run your fingers down the hair shaft it’ll feel like little bobbles.

You also need to disinfect the cage ideally using F10 and throw away anything which can’t be cleaned.
Changing hay source can be a good move.

Definitely discuss with the vet what else can be tried.

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[Piggies2023]

I can't see anything on their fur or casings. If it's the mange kind then can they not get that from hay? Nancy has been ill so I had assumed it was her immune system but I don't understand why the treatment hasn't worked. I think I'm going to have to cancel her next surgery.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I can't see anything on their fur or casings. If it's the mange kind then can they not get that from hay? Nancy has been ill so I had assumed it was her immune system but I don't understand why the treatment hasn't worked. I think I'm going to have to cancel her next surgery.

If you can’t and haven’t seen specks in their hair then it is possible it isn’t hay mites.

Mange mites can live in their skin all the time and become ‘activated’ when when the immune system is suppressed (illness or stress for example).

The treatment for both hay and mange mites is the same though - ivermectin. It may be another round or a different treatment is needed.

If it isn’t working, then you should return to the vet. Fungal and parasite infections can present in a similar way but require different treatment.

Have you been disinfecting the cage also?

 

[Piggies2023]

If you can’t and haven’t seen specks in their hair then it is possible it isn’t hay mites.

Mange mites can live in their skin all the time and become ‘activated’ when when the immune system is suppressed (illness or stress for example).

The treatment for both hay and mange mites is the same though - ivermectin. It may be another round or a different treatment is needed.

If it isn’t working, then you should return to the vet. Fungal and parasite infections can present in a similar way but require different treatment.

Have you been disinfecting the cage also?

I had cleaned their cage but hasn't thrown out their favourite cardboard box as I assumed it was probably mange type and wouldn't make any difference.

They first two doses of mite treatment helped & vet is used to seeing piggies. It's also presenting the same as when they've had mites before but past treatments worked by now. I will email the vet on Monday & ask what alternatives there are.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I had cleaned their cage but hasn't thrown out their favourite cardboard box as I assumed it was probably mange type and wouldn't make any difference.

They first two doses of mite treatment helped & vet is used to seeing piggies. It's also presenting the same as when they've had mites before but past treatments worked by now. I will email the vet on Monday & ask what alternatives there are.

I would throw the box out.
Definitely best to see the vet again. Let us know how you get on

 

[Piggies2023]

I would throw the box out.
Definitely best to see the vet again. Let us know how you get on

Feeling really rather upset tbh. I've lost count of how many times we've been to the vet this year. Nancy has got a back cyst, ovarian cysts, had two infections probably bladder ones, and then regular bladder type issues and is on painkillers. And even Pumpkin had to go as her breathing didn't sound right- but thankfully was just some hay stuck in her throat.