Hey guys, my guinea pig is currently being treated for a fungal infection and I really want to do a mite treatment as a just in case. Can anyone recommend a good mite treatment that I can do myself? It's always handy to have stuff at hand!
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Hi! Firstly, what kind of treatment are you using?
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
We no longer recommend home treating for mange mites preventatively or on spec, as the shop products are not strong enough for full treatment and we have heard of a number of cases where piggies have actually built up resistence to ivermectin. It is now also recognised that most guinea pigs have mites eggs in their skin, which are normally kept well in check by a fully working immune system; ivermectin does not kill those encapsulated eggs; it only works on the emerging mites.
It is much better to strike them hard with a full course if and whenever you are dealing with a vet diagnosed acute mange mites case (which may be never in a piggy's life). If treated promptly and with a high dosed product in an actual outbreak, mites never need to go past a nuisance level.
Before ivermectin was discovered, mange mites could only be managed, but not healed, and many animals died from them.
Hey there I'm treating my little pig with Surolan (seems to be working touch wood) his skin is pink as I've read the guidelines on the website it's a fungal infection but not ring worm more skin an irritation on the skin? But after applying the cream/drops I noticed a small dandruff patch on the back of his right leg! I contacted the rescue piggy bank as they live close and help with questions and she thinks he's spread the fungal so I've put cream on it but she also suggested to do a mite treatment as a 'just in case'? Would this be recommended? Maybe a treatment as a prevention?
I would strongly recommend to not just treat the infected patch (which is the problem when using surolan and creams), but use a dip like imaverol/enilconazole on the whole body to prevent the spread of fungal around the body. Please be aware that all fungal takes quite some time between infection and breaking out, so there can be more patches that have been affected by spores from the first site as time goes on. Has your vet confirmed the fungal?
As you are treating the fungal topically, I would not treat for mange mites at the same time - you need to wait at least 48 hours after any topical treatment before you can do the next. If your vet decides that you need to treat a piggy for both issues (usually only freshly rescued guinea pigs in a bad state/badly lowered immune system that can suffer from both at the same time), then it is strongly recommended that one of the treatments is oral or subcutane (i.e. not topical) for obvious reasons.
If there is no indication for mange mites, I would not treat a well fed and well kept pet piggy for mange mites on spec and in any case speak to your vet first about the advisability. See my last post re. reasons for not overtreating for mange mites. If there are no active mange mites, all you achieve is to give any eggs in the skin a chance to develop resistence and make any future treatment when it really counts less effective. Please finish your fungal treatment first and only then treat for mites if they are clearly active.
Please be aware that we do not recommend to home treat on spec on this forum and that we also no longer recommend using creams for fungal as they can cause their own problems hot/humid conditions, unless specifically prescribed by a good vet.
Thank you for the advice, I'm new to this! Yes my vet said it was fungal but he used a posh name for it I can't remember haha! But yeah he said its fungal and I've checked my piggy today and his fur is slowly growing back! Yes! He has stubble! My other piggy is still fine (touch wood) the back of his leg hasn't been seen by the vet as I found it after seeing the vets but after putting the cream on its gone a pinky colour same as the eye. I've bought the dip so when that comes back I'll use it on him to prevent any more out breaks. The vet didn't think it was mites he said its more of a skin infection and after reading guidelines here it seems to be acting/ behaving as what is set out. I've disinfected his cage and I've got rid of the wood I hope this is the last of it and hopefully no more break outs! Thank you again I'll continue with the cream/drops and if it gets worse or looks different I'll go back to the vets and ask about mites hopefully it won't come to that. Thank you again this website is truly amazing!
I would give both piggies at least a round of the dip at the end of the treatment, so you can be sure that they do not carry any spores across in their fur that could cause further outbreaks. I am glad for you that the treatment is working and your piggies are on the way to recovery. Unfortunately, once you are dealing with an acute fungal outbreak, it has to run its due cause.
Thank you for all the help I really appreciate it! Its only been 4 days of treatment and he hates it haha! Head butts my hand bless him but I'm going to continue and can it be used as a precaution? The dip?
The dip can be used to prevent the outbreak of more latent fungal spots in an already affected piggy or in any companion that has been in contact with an affected guinea pig and is likely to be infected. However, I don't recommend to use it just on spec if there is no acute reason for it.
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