Post by Dawn - Admin on Apr 22, 2006 17:21:24 GMT
Mites (Sellnick) burrow just under the skin of the piggy, causing intense itching and irritation. First signs are usually flaky skin, pimples that can be felt under the skin and patchy coat. Piggy starts to scratch taking out fur and sometimes to the point of causing bleeding by self-trauma. If the condition is allowed to continue piggy starts to scream when scratching and even fitting. Eventually piggy can die by heart failure due to the fitting, dehydration or anorexia, because piggy has not been eating, or a combination of all of these. It's very rare the problem gets to this stage as treatment is easy in the early stages, either topically as a dip or a shampoo, or as drops applied to the back of the neck. Sometimes as an injection, sometimes as an oral dose. Skin scrapes examined under a microscope do not always catch the mite; it sometimes takes a number of scrapes to get a positive one. So it is a good idea to treat for mites anyway. Ivermectin treatment will also help to protect your piggy for 4 - 6 months.
Fungal infection (Mycosis) is very similar and the conditions can exist together. A fungal infection shows symptoms of greasy dandruff, hair will come out with flakes of greasy skin attached, sometimes layers of skin will build up into a hard crust that crack and causes intense irritation. Sometimes the feet are sore and if the mouth is also affected this can be seen as grey coloured teeth and sometimes strange fibrous things can be seen on or around the teeth. Self mutilation, bleeding and fitting will also happen in the later stages as in the Sellnick mite infection. Treatment is usually topical in the form of shampoos. Some vets will prescribe oral antifungal drug if the case is severe, but liver damage is a possibility from these drugs
Static lice/hay mite will appear as grey specks stuck to the hairs, walking dandruff will look like tiny grubs moving at the base of the hair shafts. Walking Dandruff is a beastie called Cheyletiella These tiny grubs live mainly on the back of the cavy, but are so small that they can just be seen with the naked eye. When they are seen they look like bits of dandruff crawling around, hence the name. Cheyletiella lives off the skin. They dissolve the skin by excreting digestive enzymes on the skin surface which enables the beastie to ingest a small part of it... As you can imagine this activity causes skin irritation and subsequent scratching, which may cause hair loss, scabs and wounds. The mite cannot live on humans, but skin irritation can be seen if it gets in contact with the digestive enzymes especially where the skin is thin, e.g. on the neck.
There are some very good products that you can get at the pet shop for these beasties. Johnson’s Insecticidal shampoo for small animals is very good. Shaw does also do a good shampoo.
Stress: Any type of stress will make your guinea pig more vunerable to any sort of infection, not just a skin problem. In fact the stress of another illness may allow a skin problem to flare up. Also pregnancy and hormonal changes at littering down can cause skin problems of their own.
Each guinea pig will have its own skin flora and fauna, which live in a balence on the pigs skin. An imbalence here can 'cause a flare up, this is what can happens during stress, or drug therapy, or hormonal changes. Also if the guinea pig is introduced to new mites/lice from another pig, or after a move.
The Vitamin C connection: Lack of vitamin C causes Scurvy, almost everyone who has guinea pigs are aware of this. Poor skin condition, hair loss, painful joints and a typical ‘bunny hop’ gait are classic symptoms of Scurvy, Skeletal Scurvy as it starts to affect the joints. Sore and bleeding gums and mouth prevent the piggy from eating, so there is loss of weight. Nowadays it is quite rare for a guinea pig to lack vitamin C. Commercial Feeds have Vitamin C added to them during manufacture, they have use by dates clearly printed on the packaging. The fresh veggies that a guinea pig should have each day 1 – 2 cupfuls a day, will also help towards the daily requirement.
Hormones: Often during pregnancy a sows coat will get thinner, as long as she is not itchy and scratching, just keep an eye on her. During and after labour some sows may 'strip' themselves leaving raw, sore looking areas of skin. Especially up their back and/or their belly. Bathe this carefully and apply something soothing such as aloe vera, calendula or teatree cream.
If your Guinea pig is ill please consult a good exotics vet.
You can discuss with them anything you have read here if you wish. Most vets are happy to listern to the owners of the animals they see.
Please add your experiances, products you find help (stating where you live. Products can be different in other countries), or problems you are having treating your guinea pigs.
Source: www.pimms-pages.co.uk
Fungal infection (Mycosis) is very similar and the conditions can exist together. A fungal infection shows symptoms of greasy dandruff, hair will come out with flakes of greasy skin attached, sometimes layers of skin will build up into a hard crust that crack and causes intense irritation. Sometimes the feet are sore and if the mouth is also affected this can be seen as grey coloured teeth and sometimes strange fibrous things can be seen on or around the teeth. Self mutilation, bleeding and fitting will also happen in the later stages as in the Sellnick mite infection. Treatment is usually topical in the form of shampoos. Some vets will prescribe oral antifungal drug if the case is severe, but liver damage is a possibility from these drugs
Static lice/hay mite will appear as grey specks stuck to the hairs, walking dandruff will look like tiny grubs moving at the base of the hair shafts. Walking Dandruff is a beastie called Cheyletiella These tiny grubs live mainly on the back of the cavy, but are so small that they can just be seen with the naked eye. When they are seen they look like bits of dandruff crawling around, hence the name. Cheyletiella lives off the skin. They dissolve the skin by excreting digestive enzymes on the skin surface which enables the beastie to ingest a small part of it... As you can imagine this activity causes skin irritation and subsequent scratching, which may cause hair loss, scabs and wounds. The mite cannot live on humans, but skin irritation can be seen if it gets in contact with the digestive enzymes especially where the skin is thin, e.g. on the neck.
There are some very good products that you can get at the pet shop for these beasties. Johnson’s Insecticidal shampoo for small animals is very good. Shaw does also do a good shampoo.
Stress: Any type of stress will make your guinea pig more vunerable to any sort of infection, not just a skin problem. In fact the stress of another illness may allow a skin problem to flare up. Also pregnancy and hormonal changes at littering down can cause skin problems of their own.
Each guinea pig will have its own skin flora and fauna, which live in a balence on the pigs skin. An imbalence here can 'cause a flare up, this is what can happens during stress, or drug therapy, or hormonal changes. Also if the guinea pig is introduced to new mites/lice from another pig, or after a move.
The Vitamin C connection: Lack of vitamin C causes Scurvy, almost everyone who has guinea pigs are aware of this. Poor skin condition, hair loss, painful joints and a typical ‘bunny hop’ gait are classic symptoms of Scurvy, Skeletal Scurvy as it starts to affect the joints. Sore and bleeding gums and mouth prevent the piggy from eating, so there is loss of weight. Nowadays it is quite rare for a guinea pig to lack vitamin C. Commercial Feeds have Vitamin C added to them during manufacture, they have use by dates clearly printed on the packaging. The fresh veggies that a guinea pig should have each day 1 – 2 cupfuls a day, will also help towards the daily requirement.
Hormones: Often during pregnancy a sows coat will get thinner, as long as she is not itchy and scratching, just keep an eye on her. During and after labour some sows may 'strip' themselves leaving raw, sore looking areas of skin. Especially up their back and/or their belly. Bathe this carefully and apply something soothing such as aloe vera, calendula or teatree cream.
If your Guinea pig is ill please consult a good exotics vet.
You can discuss with them anything you have read here if you wish. Most vets are happy to listern to the owners of the animals they see.
Please add your experiances, products you find help (stating where you live. Products can be different in other countries), or problems you are having treating your guinea pigs.
Source: www.pimms-pages.co.uk
