Scratching And Biting Because Of Hay Dust?

[Isabela]

Is it possible that my two guinea pigs are scratching and biting themselves because of the hay? The hay is fresh and it's always dusty. It's from home, not from a store. Since a lot of people have allergies and dry skin because of that, is it possible that they have it too?

They've been to the vet and got medicine for ''mites'' but it hasn't changed. I've given them store bought hay and I think it could be better. What do you think?

 

[Wiebke]

Is it possible that my two guinea pigs are scratching and biting themselves because of the hay? The hay is fresh and it's always dusty. It's from home, not from a store. Since a lot of people have allergies and dry skin because of that, is it possible that they have it too?

They've been to the vet and got medicine for ''mites'' but it hasn't changed. I've given them store bought hay and I think it could be better. What do you think?

Hi and welcome

How many applications of ivermectin have they had? A one-off treatment will not work.
There are two kinds of mites; neither is visible to the naked eye. Mange mites (trixacarus caviae), which can kill, bury their eggs in the painfully inflamed skin; this generally causes bald patches where piggies scratch and barber themselves because of the huge discomfort. Mange mite aggs are often already present in the skin of guinea pigs, but are normally kept under control by a fully functional immune system.
Hay/fur mites (chirodiscoides caviae) glue their visible tiny egg cases to the hairs at the bum end; it often looks like somebody has turned a peppermill over a guinea pig. If the infestion is large, small bald areas can appear on the body and a pigg can be rather itchy. Fur mites are not as harmful to guinea pigs, but can be more persistent and less easy to treat, especially the strain that has appeared in imported shop hay in the last 2-3 years.
If your piggies are suffering from that, then a two pronged approach with lice shampoo and ivermectin may work as long as there is a gap of 48 hours between any skin applications.
Please ring the vet clinic to ask which kind of mites your vet has been treating for.

Alternative problems for a vet to check for:
- fungal skin infection. Ringworm is only the most aggressive and transmittable form, but there are other milder forms.
- dry skin from heavy radiator/air conditioning use or a desert climate.
- reactions to air fresheners, perfumes, scent sticks etc.

It can be a trial and error approach that is needed to figure out what your specific problem is.

 

[Isabela]

Hi and welcome

How many applications of ivermectin have they had? A one-off treatment will not work.
There are two kinds of mites; neither is visible to the naked eye. Mange mites (trixacarus caviae), which can kill, bury their eggs in the painfully inflamed skin; this generally causes bald patches where piggies scratch and barber themselves because of the huge discomfort. Mange mite aggs are often already present in the skin of guinea pigs, but are normally kept under control by a fully functional immune system.
Hay/fur mites (chirodiscoides caviae) glue their visible tiny egg cases to the hairs at the bum end; it often looks like somebody has turned a peppermill over a guinea pig. If the infestion is large, small bald areas can appear on the body and a pigg can be rather itchy. Fur mites are not as harmful to guinea pigs, but can be more persistent and less easy to treat, especially the strain that has appeared in imported shop hay in the last 2-3 years.
If your piggies are suffering from that, then a two pronged approach with lice shampoo and ivermectin may work as long as there is a gap of 48 hours between any skin applications.
Please ring the vet clinic to ask which kind of mites your vet has been treating for.

Alternative problems for a vet to check for:
- fungal skin infection. Ringworm is only the most aggressive and transmittable form, but there are other milder forms.
- dry skin from heavy radiator/air conditioning use or a desert climate.
- reactions to air fresheners, perfumes, scent sticks etc.

It can be a trial and error approach that is needed to figure out what your specific problem is.

Thank you for your answer. I don't know what they recieved but they were treated for mices twice via drops and then again with needle. Both guinea pigs look fine and don't have bald patches. They eat normally and are happy.
I wanted to wait for a few days to see if they'll be scratching again since they are eating a new hay.
The vet said that they got the drops for mites and they should be treated for the itching and scratching and they were. He said that I should come back in a week if it weren't helping so that's why I thought about this hay. In my opinion they just don't like all the dust that's coming from the hay.
Also about the scented candles. Is it really a big deal? I always have fresh air and everything. So it isn't too much for them.