Thank you for your reply I am really grateful for your detailed explanation. Yes, I have been to the vet and the lady said that my 2guinea pigs most provably have mites(she did not specify what type it was). I got my guinea pigs from a rescue place. When I was picking them up 3 weeks ago the owner said that the 9month old one has got some hair loss and because he is a teddy he might suffer from skin problems. The baby, who is a lemon agouti, seemed to be OK so I said I will take them both and see how it goes. After a week they were scratching like mad so I took them to the vet. She applied Xeno450 and said that if it doesn't stop the itch I need to bring them back in 2weeks time. In the meantime I noticed the baby has some raised greyish and crusty bumps on his sides, rump and the legs, which he seems to nip and scratch a lot. I have bought some products from the gorgeous guineas and gave them a bath but they still scratch. I have decided to buy Xeno 450 and 50 myself and will apply a second dose myself as it is cheaper if I do it myself. However, I have booked an appointment with our vet as I am thinking that the baby might have a fungal infection or ringworm. I am just not sure if it is hay or mange mites, fungus or ringworm.
Please have them vet checked again, but continue with the mites treatment nevertheless to make sure that they have the full three rounds. The dead skin in mange mites can create small greyish scales and the bumps that you can feel can be egg cases in the skin.
Generally with a mange mites outbreak, you see bald/thinned hair areas on the back, very vigorous scratching and even biting of the back. Initially just after the first treatment, the discomfort is getting worse as the mites react, but it should calm down noticeably but often not completely after two days but then pick up gradually again. Any itching should stop about 2 days after the second round. A third round is necessary to catch any straggler and prevent a comeback. In severe cases (with fitting), more rounds may be necessary. Please be careful when applying baths or any skin treatment while treating for mites as it can trigger fitting, which is very hard on the heart. Ideally you wait with a bath until after you are given the all clear.
Here is our recommended vets locator from the top bar if you are not sure just how piggy savvy your current bets are:
Guinea Pig Vet Locator
This here is our ringworm guide:
Ringworm: Hygiene And Pictures
Please do not treat on spec. You have to also be aware that you have to wait at least 48 hours in between any topical (on the skin) application to allow the previous one to be fully absorbed and do its work.
Sadly anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without licensing and a control system in place, and the results can according. We have also got a rescue locator of those rescues that practise mandatory quarantine/medical care, a pregnancy watch, so only healthy, properly sexed and guaranteed not pregnant piggies are being put up for adoption. Theses rescues also carefully personality match piggies and they are not hidden breeders' outlets in order to make sure that our members that are willing to go rescue don't have any unpleasant surprises.
A good way to distinguish a bad from a good rescue is that good rescues will not rehome piggies with bald patches. You will also be informed if there has been an initial skin problem or medical issue that has been safely cleared before a piggy has been put up for adoption.
