Help re: guinea pig.....!

[Former_Member]

I am pretty sure she has some kind of skin affliction.....scratching and scratching, patches of hair missing and red bloodish spots from itching so much. I am pretty sure it's a parasite of some sort but I am so not sure what to do! I have been giving her baths and cleaning her cage frequently which helps for a little bit but she is still itching and hurting herself. Any suggestions?

[mizzoktober]

If this was happening to my animal I would take it to a vet. You never know .........maybe by giving it a bath its making it worse. Sounds like you will need some sort of medication to get rid of it.

[Former_Member]

I would go to a vet and get a proper diagnosis, poor thing must be in so much pain and discomfort, get an appointment asap.

it could be anything, is she kept outdoors?
it could be mites, sometimes found in hay.

also the shampoo you are bathing her with might be making things worse rather than better, she might even be having a reaction to that.

unfortunately over the internet no-one can really tell you what is wrong best thing to do is get to a vet as soon as possible

[RatAttackTeam]

sounds like mites, bring to the vet so they can do a skin scrape.
If it is mites they'll give you either Ivermectin (don't do injections!) or revolution> which is best. Hope she gets relief soon.

[Former_Member]

she had some revolution yesterday, *fingers crossed* antibiotics were given first because she was so raw and helped before the revolution.

[RatAttackTeam]

she'll need 2 more doses (once a week) 1st kills live mites, 2nd kills hatchlings & 3rd gets the eggs (something like that) I had to give Ivermectin paste to a couple wild squirrels a month ago, the fur is coming back pretty good now.

[Caviesincozies]

my guinea pig had that exact same thing.

i took her to the vet, turned out she had mites.

they gave her this flea stuff, which was safe for guinea pigs and she was better in a week.
good luck!

[Former_Member]

None of my piggies had this, but I'm happy to see that you are on the right path. Wishing your little one a speedy recovery!

[Former_Member]

she just chewed a giant patch of her fur this weekend and we were back to the vets. She's back on antibiotics and a topical cream. Now she's also been diagnosed with a paw infection. *sobs*
I am also disinfecting the cage.

[RatAttackTeam]

poor girl. was mites ever diagnosed? make sure to use hot water & bleach on all surfaces & change her bedding daily. Is she on any wood type shaving (have heard some harbor bugs)
See if the vet will give you some Nolvasan to clean the cage with.
Hope she feels better soon.

[Former_Member]

vitamin C is helping.....but she causes herself so much pain when she scratches off her scab! awwwww! I'm so frustrated! She is such a cute little thing!

[Deviltree]

Don't use pine or cedar bedding. Those can cause skin irritation too. Try the recycled newspaper bedding. It's expensive but it is the best for the little piggies.

[Former_Member]

she is doing MUCH better. She's a new woman.

[RatAttackTeam]

this is where I got my piggie info when I had them:
http://www.guinealynx.info/

[Former_Member]

great info on that site Jan!

[Former_Member]

Poor guinea pig! I am glad to hear she is doing better.