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New pig problems!

Mischief&Munching

Mischief&Munching

New Born Pup
Joined
Jan 27, 2020
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Location
England
We have got 3 healthy adult girls and recently fell in love with 2 babies who needed homes so now we have 5 pigs! Unfortunately the babies do not appear to have been given the best start but now they are with me I am determined to give them the life they deserve. They have a few problems I have not encountered before so any advice would be really welcome.
Of course the 2 new girls, Belle and Autumn are in a quarantine cage until they are ready to be introduced to my big girls. I was told they are just over 4 months but they seem younger to me they weigh 342g and 365g. They are putting on weight though and eating and behaving normally, they popcorn which gives me hope they are happy!

They both came with hay mites but I treated with Lice 'n' Easy shampoo twice and they seem to have gone. I treated both girls with Ivermectin as a preventative the but Belle has since developed a very slight head tilt which the vet has put her on Panacur for 28 days and Enrofloxacin for 7 days.

Both girls had white crust around the eyes but Autumn's was worse and she had white gunk so the vet prescribed chloramphenicol drops for them both. Belle's eyes have cleared up nicely and Autumn's are much better but she still has small amount of white crust in one corner of both eyes each day but no more gunk. There is no injury/redness/swelling to the eyes. The vet has said just keep bathing them but I guess I'm paranoid that could be something contagious that I could pass onto my 3 healthy pigs when they meet?

Sorry for such a long post but I am just so scared that when they all move in together I will end up with 5 ill pigs.
 
Did the vet check to diagnose hay mites? They need checking and the correct meds prescribed.

We don't recommend treating preventatively. You then run the risk of the parasites building up resistance and the meds not working when you need it to. It's also not necessary, unlike with other pets/animals.

I would take them back to the vet if the eyes are still not clearing. Unfortunately taking on piggies from unknown backgrounds can come with its own issues.
 
The vet would not see them in person, due to Covid 19 they are only offering phone consultations unless it is a life or death emergency. I understand this is far from ideal. The vet agreed the symptoms/presentation was likely to be hay mites for which she said normal mite medication wouldn't work as hay mites don't burrow under the skin or drink blood. Thank you for the advice regarding ivermectin, I was being over cautious in case they had any other parasites I couldn't see but what you say makes sense. I am trying to do what's best for them but obviously I have a lot to learn.
 
Mischief&Munching said:
We have got 3 healthy adult girls and recently fell in love with 2 babies who needed homes so now we have 5 pigs! Unfortunately the babies do not appear to have been given the best start but now they are with me I am determined to give them the life they deserve. They have a few problems I have not encountered before so any advice would be really welcome.
Of course the 2 new girls, Belle and Autumn are in a quarantine cage until they are ready to be introduced to my big girls. I was told they are just over 4 months but they seem younger to me they weigh 342g and 365g. They are putting on weight though and eating and behaving normally, they popcorn which gives me hope they are happy!

They both came with hay mites but I treated with Lice 'n' Easy shampoo twice and they seem to have gone. I treated both girls with Ivermectin as a preventative the but Belle has since developed a very slight head tilt which the vet has put her on Panacur for 28 days and Enrofloxacin for 7 days.

Both girls had white crust around the eyes but Autumn's was worse and she had white gunk so the vet prescribed chloramphenicol drops for them both. Belle's eyes have cleared up nicely and Autumn's are much better but she still has small amount of white crust in one corner of both eyes each day but no more gunk. There is no injury/redness/swelling to the eyes. The vet has said just keep bathing them but I guess I'm paranoid that could be something contagious that I could pass onto my 3 healthy pigs when they meet?

Sorry for such a long post but I am just so scared that when they all move in together I will end up with 5 ill pigs.
Click to expand...

Hi!

Please be aware that we cannot diagnose sight unseen since we are guessing on the basis of your own guesses.

Please read our information on skin parasites. New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites

Eye fluids and gunk:
- Milky white fluid: normal cleaning fluid, which is reabsorbed by the tear duct; if there is a little left in the corner, then the tear duct may be narrow or blocked; but it is nothing to wrry about.
- Clear tear fluid which dries a transparent white: produced to wash out any irritation. A drawn in, watering eye should be seen promptly by a vet (i.e. within 24 hours) as it can indicate an eye injury or something scratchy stuck under an eye lid that can cause an eye infection.
-Light blueish-grey opaque gunk: Ulceration (i.e. infection) usually caused by an eye injury (hay poke) or a scratched cornea (something stuck under an eye lid. Please see a vet promptly as eye injuries can deteriorate very quickly but also usually heal without any major issues when seen and treated asap. If there is blood, then this counts as an emergency. Guinea pig eyes and eye treatment is the same as with other pet species, which any general vet should be qualified to diagnose and treat.
- Thick crusty yellow/orange/greenish gunk: see a vet promptly for a well developed un- or undertreated respiratory infection (URI), which can be potentially fatal or causing permanent damage.
In the UK, eye injuries are counting as an emergency and will be prioritised by a vet clinic as time is crucial.

I hope that this helps you?
 
Thank you, I have read the information and seems I have treated hay mites as directed, using the two prong attack of ivermectin and shampoo. I will keep checking their coats ( I have a microscope attachment that fits on my phone allowing me a good look at their skin and individual hairs!). Thankfully their coats seem in great condition and they have no bald patches, scabs or sores.

In regards to their eyes I think it may well be some cleaning fluid that is left behind and dries as a crust. It is white and a small amount and is not getting worse in any way. I will monitor for a while longer before making any piggy introductions.
 
Where did you get the ivermectin from?
 
Not from the vet which I now know means it won't be as strong or effective! But then I'm finding conflicting information that ivermectin doesn't work on hay mites anyway as they feed from dead skin on the hair shaft and not from the blood where the ivermectin is absorbed into.

I do appreciate all help and I apologise if I come across as completely stupid or an unfit owner! :( I have spent hours reading and watching videos about hay mites and eye crust working myself into a paranoid frenzy :soz:
 
Don't worry about it. We all want the best for our piggies and you're included in that. I don't know if ivermectin works on mites. The guide that was linked to above is your best bet. You're right in that ivermectin bought over the counter won't be strong enough. I would look for another vet and get them booked in if possible. Have a ring around and see if they can be fitted in somewhere.

Vet Locator
 
You're doing your best, you've got concerns, you're seeking advice - sounds neither stupid nor like signs of an unfit owner!

I'd also suggest ringing around some more vets - the ones around here are very much still seeing animals face-to-face. My two pigs had a checkup last month. Rang to say I was in the carpark, had a quick chat with the vet by the car, they went in to be assessed - came back out and another quick chat and then I paid and drove off on my way. Most of the other vets locally are operating similarly.

Hopefully yours was an outlier and there are other practices nearby that could see your new girls :roll:
 
It's great you're looking for advice. Years ago it was normal to have ivermectin at home as preventive. It wasn't until few years back when this new treatment advice came out. I must say, I had a hard time adjusting to it myself having worked at a rescue and administering xeno on regular basis!

Vet should still see your pets, phone consult can't replace hands on in most cases. So either ask for proper hands on check or change your vet. Most vets will see your pet, owners aren't allowed inside. So best to be prepared for the weather.
 
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