Fungis and Mites or just mites? Links to Graphic and Sad Pic

MichiganJoe · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:52 pm

Its been several weeks now and I thought she was getting better very slowly but today she started scratching at her body and I notice she has small clumps of white stuff on her body. I called they vet and they just wanted to give her ivermectim again which she just had 7 days ago.
They said the culture for fungus wont be done till wednesday but honostly if she starts getting worse I wont let her take it that long. I am already torturing the poor thing doing the cleanses every day. She has very little hair left on her head and what is left is coming off in large clumps.

Updated pics -- very large again sorry but I was frustrated looking for pictures that I could actually see.

This is a new scratch wound. She is itching at the white powder like substance on her skin.
http://www.videospeednews.com/cavey/brownie22.JPG

This is showing how much hair she has lost the positive note to this picture is the lack of infections Puss.
http://www.videospeednews.com/cavey/brownie24.JPG

And here are two to show where we came from. The second one is pretty graphic ear infection.

http://www.videospeednews.com/cavey/brownie02JPG
http://www.videospeednews.com/cavey/brownie01.JPG

Any good suggestions out there? Change antibiotics? Start antifungal treatments over my vets objections? Ride out the current treatment of ivermectim, antibiotics and ivermectim? As much as I would love to say cost is no object it is. I have spent over $240 in treatments and vet bills and it hasnt helped at all from what I can tell.

Talishan · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:22 pm

If it's any consolation, the $240+ has helped ... really. You haven't seen the full effect yet of properly treating her. You will, though. It can take an extraordinarily long time, but your investment has not been ill-spent.

I have no experience with mite cases this severe. Hopefully those with experience in combination mite, secondary infection, and fungal problems all at one time will see this shortly and advise you.

I can suggest to hang in there and stick with her. These infections can take a very long time to resolve, but the reward will be worth it, to see her happy, healthy, pain-free and fully furred again.

Mum · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:30 pm

I called they vet and they just wanted to give her ivermectim again which she just had 7 days ago.

Yes of course - you'll be treating with ivermectin every 7 days until this problem is gone.

As to the secondary issues, they will of course also have to be treated.

If the pig isn't seizing I'd be very tempted to use a Lymdip treatment which kills all sorts of things - ask your vet about it.

And I've found sometimes better success with Revolution than with Ivermectin for severe cases of mites (although I've never had one as severe as this).

MichiganJoe · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:17 pm

No she is not seizing and continues to eat and drink well. She is definately in discomfort because of the significant amount of wrapping I now I have to use to stop her from itching.
I just got done using the wash on her and found that over parts of her body her hair has a yellowish crust near the base and the hair just falls off leaving bare skin.

Would the revolution irritate her wounds? Is there anything I can safely give her for the pain or itching?

Mum · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:43 pm

The revolution wouldn't irritate her wounds any more than the ivermectin.

If you use revolution, you won't use the ivermectin.

I'd really give it a try. I order mine from Australia at www.petshed.com (no rx needed there, as in this country, and it comes quickly).

You can give metacam for the pain, but you'll need to get it from your vet. And people have had success with Benadryl for the itching, but you'll need to check the dosage.

I'd continue to treat her for a bacterial infection, but you really should consider doing a lymdyp for any possible fungus - it has the added advantage of working for mange mites.

If your vet isn't doing the mite treatments every 7 days I'd be concerned.

MichiganJoe · Post » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:59 pm

I have a vet in the family doing the ivermectim shots every 7 days. Also having a vet in the family makes getting things easier the problem is he knows nothing about small animals and certainly not gunea pigs.
On a side note they need to put a warning label on these things. I lifted her up to look at her belly and it felt like someone blasted me in the face with a squirt gun! Glad my mouth wasnt open. Was she trying to tell me something? :)

Mum · Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:03 am

What dosage is he using of Ivermectin?

Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:10 am

Thanks for the additional pics. I could not quite make out what was going on with the ear. Is it the inside or outside of the ear? Is there an ear infection? Is your pig on antibiotics? Did your family vet person say it looked like there was also a bacterial skin infection?

MichiganJoe · Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:53 am

The ear picture is a few weeks old and is actually the first symptom of where she is at now.
That is the ear pulled back so you can see the gunk inside the ear which is most likely an infection started by mites. This is how she looked when first taking her to the vet.

I do not know the dosage but I will check with him tonight when he is treating her.

ellenvega · Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:33 pm

The ivermectin shots should be effective but since you may be treating for months I'd look into this option for giving ivermectin:

https://www.guinealynx.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30325

Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 4:25 pm

So her ears now look lots, lots better I hope? Poor little pig! I am so glad you are taking care of her.

MichiganJoe · Post » Fri Mar 30, 2007 8:35 pm

Yes her ears do look better. Actually I gave her a rough cleaning yesterday and it seems to have done her a world of good or maybe its just I can see the progress and the crustage that was removed doesnt appear to be coming back in nearly the quantity before. Of course the amount of hair and other material that came off was excessive.

She also got her repeat dose of ivermectim .1 CC

Here is a photo comparing yesterday and today. Most of the improvements were after the bath but I really expected things to get worse over night and as far as I can tell it didnt. Today seems to be a good day compared to yesterday hopefully the first of many.

http://www.videospeednews.com/cavey/pigcompare1.jpg

Thanks again for all your help. Honestly I dont know where I would be without it.