[Gpdd] HEALTH: Itchy, irritated and inflamed, red skin - are they mites?

Julie juwles at optusnet.com.au
Wed Mar 15 06:13:30 EST 2006


Hi all,
My new pig Dougall is suffering very itchy skin - he's so itching he's
actually making scabs with his toenails.       Initially the itch
started with a scaly flake, and when the hair was pulled, the scale/bit
of skin came off with the hair.    He's also losing a lot of hair, but
not to the extend that he's going bald.    There is also
redness/irritation around one of his eyes.
 
I'm terrified to use antibiotics or have vets use ivermectin injections
if its mites, because my last piggy had mites (at least the vet said it
was, even though they didn't take skin scrapings).       That was the
beginning of my Teddy's downfall; he was sick for about  15 months
before dying in Dec 05.     Hence, I'm terrified at any medical
treatments for my new pig Dougall.     My sister and I have been
treating the itch by  bathing in Selsun shampoo (called Seleen
overseas); and using medi-honey on the itch to soothe it.      This was
working.   But today the redness in the skin came back with a vengeance,
and my sister took him to the vet whilst I was at work.
 
They did skin scraping and said it is mites.  Then they injected him
with something called selermectin (not ivermectin); and have given him 1
week's course of Baytril antibiotic.    They want to give him weekly
injections for 3 more weeks.  I'm terrified to continue the injections -
even more so to use antibiotics.    I've also been told one of the
spot-on flea killers for kittens (2 drops behind the ear) would kill
both adult mites & their eggs.
 
Does any piggy lover out there have any natural/safer methods to remove
mites and soothe his itching?   I'm desperate - I love my pig (even
though I'm old enough to be a Mum with kids owning the piggies!).  I
don't want him to suffer and I don't want him to die either... I
couldn't stand to lose my new boy as well.
 
Julie
Desperate - but still crazy nuts about piggies
 
 



More information about the Gpdd mailing list