she has white bugs

[Deleted member 145032]

i saw a few small white bugs in her fur again! she went to the vet a few months ago to get a vaccination to stop them. she got a jab every week , 3 times. it did help and she seemed fine.

now i’m starting to see a lot of black little specks in her fur and bugs. they are small, but their white and ive tried cutting out her hair with some of the eggs i’m guessing?

i remember the vet telling me that she would have to get the same treatment a few months later, but we are going on holiday in 2weeks and she wouldn’t be able to get the 3 jabs, each a week apart. is there anyway i could prevent them?

like some kind of shampoo, or cutting her hair in certain places?

please help.

 

[Wiebke]

i saw a few small white bugs in her fur again! she went to the vet a few months ago to get a vaccination to stop them. she got a jab every week , 3 times. it did help and she seemed fine.

now i’m starting to see a lot of black little specks in her fur and bugs. they are small, but their white and ive tried cutting out her hair with some of the eggs i’m guessing?

i remember the vet telling me that she would have to get the same treatment a few months later, but we are going on holiday in 2weeks and she wouldn’t be able to get the 3 jabs, each a week apart. is there anyway i could prevent them?

like some kind of shampoo, or cutting her hair in certain places?

please help.

Hi!

Please see your vet for a diagnosis. We cannot diagnose sight unseen and our guesses based on your own guesses could easily lead you astray - with your poor piggies bearing the consequences.

Here is information on the species specific skin parasites: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

 

[Free Ranger]

The most common parasites I've encountered are mites (too small to see) and lice (like nits on kids) which you can see and usually they are moving a bit too, but there may well be others. We've personally never had fleas but I guess that's also possible - they should be more obvious jumping though! Little black specks appear which is like the poop from these things. You do need the vet to tell you what is what but I can tell you about mites and lice.

If mine have had mites or lice we've had a treatment which is spotted onto bare skin (like the bald bits behind the ears, or in the middle of rosettes, or carefully under fur lifted along the spine) and the dose is repeated after two weeks and then again after another two weeks because the meds kills the live ones but not the eggs so you wait for them to hatch out and get them with the next dose! The life cycle is about 3 weeks so the idea is the repeat dose catches them after they hatch but before they are mature enough to lay their own eggs... the third dose is a 'just to make sure' thing. The spot-on meds are calculated by the vet based on piggie's weight. I've never been prescribed any shampoo for parasites.

Where can this go wrong? Well a really heavy infestation might make it more likely a few are missed and you'll start to see symptoms again after a few weeks. Some people only treat a piggy with symptoms (visible lice/scratching/shedding) and ignore the cage mates but of course bugs can go from one to the other easily so vets should ask about other pigs at home, and really treat everyone at the same time... even neighbour piggies should be carefully considered as people can transfer eggs etc on their clothes. After each dose (jab or spot-on) give it a day or so to take effect and then blitz the entire living area so any live bugs or eggs in the environment don't get back on piggy: bin bedding/wash fleeces/hot water (and white vinegar is also great) on plastics. If your pigs are put in a run on the same area of grass try moving it after a treatment in case anything is on that patch. And if you have a cat or dog think about whether lice could be transferred (I don't know if they can though as we don't have cats or dogs!) Sometimes you get resistance to whatever drug is being used... but we've never seen this ourselves. I hope this gives you somethings to ponder on.

To be honest I'm not sure why a vet would say that more injections would be needed after a few months - but of course we don't know your diagnosis. If you are in the UK I might be considering asking for a second opinion here...

 

[Deleted member 145032]

The most common parasites I've encountered are mites (too small to see) and lice (like nits on kids) which you can see and usually they are moving a bit too, but there may well be others. We've personally never had fleas but I guess that's also possible - they should be more obvious jumping though! Little black specks appear which is like the poop from these things. You do need the vet to tell you what is what but I can tell you about mites and lice.


If mine have had mites or lice we've had a treatment which is spotted onto bare skin (like the bald bits behind the ears, or in the middle of rosettes, or carefully under fur lifted along the spine) and the dose is repeated after two weeks and then again after another two weeks because the meds kills the live ones but not the eggs so you wait for them to hatch out and get them with the next dose! The life cycle is about 3 weeks so the idea is the repeat dose catches them after they hatch but before they are mature enough to lay their own eggs... the third dose is a 'just to make sure' thing. The spot-on meds are calculated by the vet based on piggie's weight. I've never been prescribed any shampoo for parasites.

Where can this go wrong? Well a really heavy infestation might make it more likely a few are missed and you'll start to see symptoms again after a few weeks. Some people only treat a piggy with symptoms (visible lice/scratching/shedding) and ignore the cage mates but of course bugs can go from one to the other easily so vets should ask about other pigs at home, and really treat everyone at the same time... even neighbour piggies should be carefully considered as people can transfer eggs etc on their clothes. After each dose (jab or spot-on) give it a day or so to take effect and then blitz the entire living area so any live bugs or eggs in the environment don't get back on piggy: bin bedding/wash fleeces/hot water (and white vinegar is also great) on plastics. If your pigs are put in a run on the same area of grass try moving it after a treatment in case anything is on that patch. And if you have a cat or dog think about whether lice could be transferred (I don't know if they can though as we don't have cats or dogs!) Sometimes you get resistance to whatever drug is being used... but we've never seen this ourselves. I hope this gives you somethings to ponder on.

To be honest I'm not sure why a vet would say that more injections would be needed after a few months - but of course we don't know your diagnosis. If you are in the UK I might be considering asking for a second opinion here...

thank you for this! the black specks are all on the ends of her fur, and near her skin at the back, and ive tried chopping off as many of them as i can.
like you mentioned, what spot on treatment have you used before?

 

[Free Ranger]

It's called xeno and the active ingredient is ivermectin but like I said it is very important that the vet sees piggy to calculate the dose according to bodyweight... you don't want to overdose piggy.

Black specks at the tips of fur might just be poop or debris from the bugs working it's way out of the coat. I know lice lay eggs near the roots of the fur, not the tips, but don't shave her or do anything crazy with the scissors as something in the environment could just jump back on! Piggies are very sensitive and even trying to groom out debris or eggs stuck to fur will be distressing for them. I know it can be expensive but for piggie's sake you should go back to the vet - but personally if my pigs had mites or lice and a vet wanted to inject anything I would be looking for a second opinion as the spot-on is very effective for these. BUT we don't know your original diagnosis. Use the vet locator at the top of the green bar to see if there is another one near you and it costs nothing to phone round and ask for the price of a consult and how piggies are treated for skin parasites there. I know injection is one method... I would just feel sad for my pig if they got jabbed when they didn't have to be.

 

[Deleted member 145032]

It's called xeno and the active ingredient is ivermectin but like I said it is very important that the vet sees piggy to calculate the dose according to bodyweight... you don't want to overdose piggy.

Black specks at the tips of fur might just be poop or debris from the bugs working it's way out of the coat. I know lice lay eggs near the roots of the fur, not the tips, but don't shave her or do anything crazy with the scissors as something in the environment could just jump back on! Piggies are very sensitive and even trying to groom out debris or eggs stuck to fur will be distressing for them. I know it can be expensive but for piggie's sake you should go back to the vet - but personally if my pigs had mites or lice and a vet wanted to inject anything I would be looking for a second opinion as the spot-on is very effective for these. BUT we don't know your original diagnosis. Use the vet locator at the top of the green bar to see if there is another one near you and it costs nothing to phone round and ask for the price of a consult and how piggies are treated for skin parasites there. I know injection is one method... I would just feel sad for my pig if they got jabbed when they didn't have to be.

ok thank you for your help! i’m definitely look into better vets, and different options like you said

 

[Deleted member 145032]

It's called xeno and the active ingredient is ivermectin but like I said it is very important that the vet sees piggy to calculate the dose according to bodyweight... you don't want to overdose piggy.

Black specks at the tips of fur might just be poop or debris from the bugs working it's way out of the coat. I know lice lay eggs near the roots of the fur, not the tips, but don't shave her or do anything crazy with the scissors as something in the environment could just jump back on! Piggies are very sensitive and even trying to groom out debris or eggs stuck to fur will be distressing for them. I know it can be expensive but for piggie's sake you should go back to the vet - but personally if my pigs had mites or lice and a vet wanted to inject anything I would be looking for a second opinion as the spot-on is very effective for these. BUT we don't know your original diagnosis. Use the vet locator at the top of the green bar to see if there is another one near you and it costs nothing to phone round and ask for the price of a consult and how piggies are treated for skin parasites there. I know injection is one method... I would just feel sad for my pig if they got jabbed when they didn't have to be.

it’s this right?

 

[Siikibam]

As above, I would suggest you see a different and more experienced vet about your piggy. Don’t cut off the hair as it’s likely you won’t get it all. The black specks could be hay mites but I’m not sure. You are better off getting her seen and the correct dosage of meds prescribed. It’s better not to treat something as you don’t know what you’re treating. Doing so could make things worse.

Guinea pigs don’t get vaccinations. And they don’t need treating unless there is something wrong - so they’re not ‘routinely’ treated. All the best and hope you can get her seen soon.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

 

[Deleted member 145032]

As above, I would suggest you see a different and more experienced vet about your piggy. Don’t cut off the hair as it’s likely you won’t get it all. The black specks could be hay mites but I’m not sure. You are better off getting her seen and the correct dosage of meds prescribed. It’s better not to treat something as you don’t know what you’re treating. Doing so could make things worse.

Guinea pigs don’t get vaccinations. And they don’t need treating unless there is something wrong - so they’re not ‘routinely’ treated. All the best and hope you can get her seen soon.
Recommended Guinea Pig Vets

this is what they look like

 

[Siikibam]

You should get her checked out by a vet. Preferably one with more experience in treating them.

 

[Free Ranger]

Wow she's a hairy baby I'm currently trimming my fluffiest one because of the heat so losing a little extra fur might help yours anyway! Mt fluffy girl hates to be trimmed but hates the brush even more so it's the lesser of two evils for her x

Not sure is that's eggs or 'debris' or something else but bear in mind that once she begins an effective treatment regime these black dots won't immediately vanish so don't despair, but over the course of 3 x 2 week treatments they will lessen and then go because whatever is producing them will be killed off.
That xeno is the one I have used in the past but always according to bodyweight (I have some fatties) - there is a version for little piggies that I think is called xeno-50... again I should say as it's your first time with whatever this infestation is see the vet for clear answers! Let us know how you get on... although we understand that might not be for a few weeks till you see results. I hope she's not too itchy x

 

[Deleted member 145032]

Wow she's a hairy baby I'm currently trimming my fluffiest one because of the heat so losing a little extra fur might help yours anyway! Mt fluffy girl hates to be trimmed but hates the brush even more so it's the lesser of two evils for her x

Not sure is that's eggs or 'debris' or something else but bear in mind that once she begins an effective treatment regime these black dots won't immediately vanish so don't despair, but over the course of 3 x 2 week treatments they will lessen and then go because whatever is producing them will be killed off.
That xeno is the one I have used in the past but always according to bodyweight (I have some fatties) - there is a version for little piggies that I think is called xeno-50... again I should say as it's your first time with whatever this infestation is see the vet for clear answers! Let us know how you get on... although we understand that might not be for a few weeks till you see results. I hope she's not too itchy x

yes we have booked the vets for tomorrow so hopefully they figure out whats wrong!

 

[Deleted member 145032]

Wow she's a hairy baby I'm currently trimming my fluffiest one because of the heat so losing a little extra fur might help yours anyway! Mt fluffy girl hates to be trimmed but hates the brush even more so it's the lesser of two evils for her x

Not sure is that's eggs or 'debris' or something else but bear in mind that once she begins an effective treatment regime these black dots won't immediately vanish so don't despair, but over the course of 3 x 2 week treatments they will lessen and then go because whatever is producing them will be killed off.
That xeno is the one I have used in the past but always according to bodyweight (I have some fatties) - there is a version for little piggies that I think is called xeno-50... again I should say as it's your first time with whatever this infestation is see the vet for clear answers! Let us know how you get on... although we understand that might not be for a few weeks till you see results. I hope she's not too itchy x

update.
i don’t exactly know what the vet said since my dad went there with her, but he said that there were some bugs and the vet gave us the this
she’s already put some onto her but we are meant to repeat it after a few weeks, depending on how it goes.
she’s already started to scratch less, but i didn’t know it would work that fast haha

 

[JediGuinea]

Probably lice I would just treat with igarmection

 

[Piggies&buns]

update.
i don’t exactly know what the vet said since my dad went there with her, but he said that there were some bugs and the vet gave us the thisView attachment 181136
she’s already put some onto her but we are meant to repeat it after a few weeks, depending on how it goes.
she’s already started to scratch less, but i didn’t know it would work that fast haha

View attachment 181137

I'm glad you've had her seen.

Black specks in the back end can be mite eggs. Mites themselves are not visible.
Lice are pale crawling creatures which are visible.
The Xeno you've been prescribed is used for both. You will need to give it for three treatments over several weeks. The treatment only kills lives parasites, not eggs, so you need the full treatments to catch all the mites as they hatch, along with a good hygiene routine - F10 is recommended to disinfect the cage and items.

 

[Deleted member 145032]

I'm glad you've had her seen.

Black specks in the back end can be mite eggs. Mites themselves are not visible.
Lice are pale crawling creatures which are visible.
The Xeno you've been prescribed is used for both. You will need to give it for three treatments over several weeks. The treatment only kills lives parasites, not eggs, so you need the full treatments to catch all the mites as they hatch, along with a good hygiene routine - F10 is recommended to disinfect the cage and items.

ok i’ll buy the f10 then! thank you

 

[Free Ranger]

That IS a hairy baby! She looks a little like my Louise did before her summer haircut!

Keep track of when you treat - the vet should have given enough to treat 3 times according to bodyweight. Each treatment is usually two weeks apart - this gives any eggs time to hatch out but the bug won't reach breeding maturity. It does work very quick on parasites - I usually leave a day or so before cage blitzing to give it time to act. Luckily for you the stuff is spotted onto the skin and not rubbed through the hair! It is absorbed by the skin and the bug is killed that way. The dead bits and bobs just drop off or get groomed out by piggy. Treat your piggy's companion (and they should all live with, or next door to, other pigs to prevent loneliness) at the same time or bugs will just survive on the friend and re-infest the fluffy one x

 

[Siikibam]

How often did the vets say you should apply it? You need to keep to the schedule. Glad you got something. Now she will hopefully be sorted soon.

 

[Deleted member 145032]

How often did the vets say you should apply it? You need to keep to the schedule. Glad you got something. Now she will hopefully be sorted soon.

well apparently she said that one dose should be enough. but i don’t think that’s how it works, but she is the vet so i’m guessing she’s right?

 

[Piggies&buns]

well apparently she said that one dose should be enough. but i don’t think that’s how it works, but she is the vet so i’m guessing she’s right?

One dose isn’t enough when treating mites. The treatment will only kill the live mites, it won’t do anything about the eggs. Those eggs will then hatch so you need to give a second treatment two weeks after the first to kill those mites which will have hatched. A third treatment two weeks later is then recommended to ensure everything is really gone.

 

[Deleted member 145032]

One dose isn’t enough when treating mites. The treatment will only kill the live mites, it won’t do anything about the eggs. Those eggs will then hatch so you need to give a second treatment two weeks after the first to kill those mites which will have hatched. A third treatment two weeks later is then recommended to ensure everything is really gone.

that’s what i thought

so should i do that then? but she didn’t mention how many drops

 

[Free Ranger]

You do the same dose every time - so if your piggie is getting 4 pipettes of mini xeno-50 for her first dose she'll need the same dose two weeks later and the same dose 4 weeks later. This is why people sometimes get prescribed the stronger xeno-450 as the volume will be less but it all depends on the weight of the pig - not how many lice/mites she has or how much hair she has - it's just the bodyweight. My pigs were all about 1.2 kilo which is the min for the stronger xeno but the girl that was a bit under (1.13kilo) I just didn't put a full pipette on. I'm clumsy and can't count drops! We've never had any side effects but we've been careful with weights... my other pigs were 1.3 and 1.4 kilo.

I would either e-mail to get a clarification or look for a different vet if they didn't advocate a repeat dose. Poor piggy!

 

[Deleted member 145032]

You do the same dose every time - so if your piggie is getting 4 pipettes of mini xeno-50 for her first dose she'll need the same dose two weeks later and the same dose 4 weeks later. This is why people sometimes get prescribed the stronger xeno-450 as the volume will be less but it all depends on the weight of the pig - not how many lice/mites she has or how much hair she has - it's just the bodyweight. My pigs were all about 1.2 kilo which is the min for the stronger xeno but the girl that was a bit under (1.13kilo) I just didn't put a full pipette on. I'm clumsy and can't count drops! We've never had any side effects but we've been careful with weights... my other pigs were 1.3 and 1.4 kilo.

I would either e-mail to get a clarification or look for a different vet if they didn't advocate a repeat dose. Poor piggy!

the vet used this one

so if i weigh her, then would j be able to figure out how much drops she needs? thanks for your help

 

[Siikibam]

I think you should consider seeing another vet who will give you more detailed info on treating them.