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Post by jessielynn on Apr 25, 2014 2:36:18 GMT
This is going to sound strange but I haven't had a male guinea pig get impacted in a few years. Therefore I don't think to check very often. I also haven't had an older boar in years. Today I went to check on the boys and give veggies ect, last night I noticed a little bit of barbering but didn't worry too much because there were new boars that had just been put together. I figured I would keep an eye on it and separate if necessary. I ran out of hay 4 or 5 day ago but I have a bale coming tomorrow. Again, I feed a labchow so I didn't worry. My boar literally has all hair he could reach gone. Pulled straight out. He was impacted but not bad. Like I put a little pressure to see what was going on and it all came out. He has been pooping like normal and everything so it's fairly recent. Now I'm trying to figure out if the hair loss is related to the impaction. With being out of hay would he have eaten his hair for fiber?
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 25, 2014 2:37:48 GMT
It is not mites, there is absolutely no irritation, dry skin or anything. And every other guinea pig is good. I checked them over thoroughly. It's not a new bag of bedding either. Nothing has been changed.
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Post by Orlaith on Apr 25, 2014 7:52:45 GMT
If he was uncomfortable he may have been pulling at his hair in an attempt to make himself feel better. Obviously pulling hair isn't going to help with impaction but he doesn't know that.
Is his hair pulled out in that V shape on his back? If so you're right and he did that himself, but if not it could his cagemate munching when he had no hay.
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Post by Kayleigh on Apr 25, 2014 18:02:48 GMT
4/5 days is a long time to go without hay, guinea pigs graze most of the day/night and mainly on hay.
If hes impacted clean him and make sure all debris is out.
I would treat with ivermectin just as a precaution, its unsual for barbering to get worse.
What is the fibre, protein and vit c content of the feed you use?
Kayleigh
Sent from my GT-9300 using proboimards
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 26, 2014 2:42:49 GMT
It is in a V shape down his back, that's why I assumed he did it lol. I thought maybe it was a fiber thing. I know it's a long time but I don't drive and I rely on my dad for hay. I was giving them all the grass, and whatnot that I could and letting them graze outside in the evening when the weather was okay. The Protein is 18%, Fibre is 16% I don't know the Vit C content. It's Purina Agri-brands Guinea Pig Chow. I posted the info before and I think it was Orlaith who said it was a great food.
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 26, 2014 2:51:28 GMT
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 28, 2014 4:17:06 GMT
I'm so beyond frustrating. My baldie is being a brat :/ He's chasing his cage-mate around. Apparently he doesn't want to be the only bald pig in the cage. LOL. They've never had any problems beyond a bit of rumbling when they were introduced. No blood, just chasing but I'm trying to decide whether or not to separate them. I'm worried about Chubby Cheeks(baldie >.<) Because he's almost 4. he has always been a super laid back cuddly guy but with him getting impacted and ripping out all of his hair I worry about the extra stress. I was going to use him for one last litter and was planning on using him this week but now that's been put off.  I called my vet and she pretty much said no way it's mites. His breathing is a little off. I'm not overly worried as we cleaned cages today and it could be from the shavings. This year just seems to be problem after problem. |
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Post by Kayleigh on Apr 30, 2014 5:55:28 GMT
Problems do have a way of appearing all at once. Frustrating i know.
The only things you can do are to rule x y and z out, treat with ivermectin (using the right dosages) worm him (very rare for cavies to have them but worth ruling out) bathe in imaverol or similar shampoo ( before you ivermec if you do this topically)
Do you have a picture of the hairloss area, or a top side snap of the pig.
Sometimes its easier to rule things out especially when it causes no harm or stress to the pig.
Kayleigh
Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 30, 2014 20:58:43 GMT
I will take a pic later. We are moving so they're at the new place. I am 100% it's him pulling it by the pattern of hair loss.Also since I've given him hay again his hair is already growing. Ummm my vet told me to treat everyone with revolution once. 10mg per pig? I worm every 3 months with panacur. And I bathed everyone with an all natural puppy flea shampoo. Any other advice?
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 30, 2014 21:05:05 GMT
Any idea what ingredient or supplement in that food is the one that prevents still births and toxemia? The bag actually says it does. And I've only had 7 still births out of about 150 babies. And never had a sow with toxemia. We are switching food so I want to compare the levels of whatever it is.
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Post by jessielynn on Apr 30, 2014 21:06:12 GMT
Any idea what ingredient or supplement in that food is the one that prevents still births and toxemia? The bag actually says it does. And I've only had 7 still births out of about 150 babies. And never had a sow with toxemia. We are switching food so I want to compare the levels of whatever it is.
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Post by Kayleigh on May 1, 2014 12:37:35 GMT
To be honest feeds that say they help to prevent this or that is useless.
Its utter nonsense. Toxemia and still births happen, its nature, we can do all we can to hopefully prevent it but theres no pin point thing to feed that will prevent it.
Kayleigh
Sent from my GT-I9300 using proboards
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Post by jessielynn on May 9, 2014 16:07:03 GMT
The new food is 18% protein, 18% fiber but only 3% fat. So the protein is close, fiber is higher and fat is lower. Goign to look more closely at it ths week, he just called with that info.
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Post by jessielynn on May 9, 2014 16:08:10 GMT
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