[Gpdd] Health Mites. Jemma's piggies

[Penny Charlesworth]

Hi Jemma ( and Crocket and Tubbs ).

I don't want to repeat myself and annoy everyone else but I use Ivomec ( 
Ivermectin ) as a mite deterrent. The Piggyfriends all have 2 drops orally 
every three months ( one drop for a small pig ). Only use this when they are 
over 3 months old. I can buy mine in a little dropper bottle and it is very 
easy to use. The other day someone posted that they use this topically, 
putting the drops behind their ears and using the little ear flap to rub it 
in. Vets will probably want to inject it ( more pain for the piggies ) but 
not all vets will administer it as a deterrent. Hope your vet will.

I have been told that the mites can arrive in the hay. Don't have any proof 
of this as the little ******s are too small to see and you can't believe 
everything that you hear!

In the book "Diseases of Domestic Guinea Pigs" by V.C.G.Richardson it says 
that although the life cycle of the mite is 14 days, the eggs can remain 
dormant for 1 -21 months!! and can exist all this time in the host. So it 
would seem that prevention is better than cure.

I haven't had any trouble with mites for years using the Ivomec regime other 
than poorly piggies arriving here already infested.

Best wishes from Penny and the Piggyfriends.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sene Jemma (Exeter PCT)" <jemma.sene at Exeter-PCT.nhs.uk>
To: <gpdd at gpdd.org>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2006 4:11 PM
Subject: [Gpdd] Health Mites


> Hi everyone
>
> It seems to me that mites are a big problem for our little ones - is there
> anyway to stop them catching mites - is there such a thing as front line 
> for
> piggies?
>
> I have just recently taken my boys to the vets for mites and I would hate
> them to have to go through all that itchy pain again.  Does anyone know
> where they pick these horrible things up from??
>
> Jemma - Slave to Crockett and Tubs
>
>
>
>
>
>