pregnant guinea pig

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a guinea pig about 7 months of age who is pregnant with her first litter. She is about 3 weeks into her pregnancy. Her eating and drinking levels have increased remarkably as is expected. In fact all of her behavior signifies that she is in perfect health. The concern i have is that i've noticed her scratching at the fur on her rump a lot and upon further inspection the skin there is very dry. Should this be a cause for serious concern? What can i do to help relieve herself? I did bathe her a couple times a month prior to her pregnancy, dont know if that could be to blame.
Please let me know, thanks!
Sam


Ivermectin Horse Paste  
Bag Balm   ANSWER: It sounds as though she may have mites, which are invisible to the naked eye but cause this itching and dry skin.

Because she is pregnant you need to be a bit cautious with how you treat this. Most breeders depend on Ivermectin to control mites as it is safe in a pregnant sow. It's not used when they are nursing as it does effect the milk.

Before you treat for mites you might try an ointment topically on the dry spot. Most of us use Bag Balm, which was and still is used on a cow's teats after milking. In the cold weather they get extremely chapped and will bleed. This ointment has been found effective for many other things as well. It's readily available at any drug store and at some grocery stores. It comes in different sizes from very small to very large.

It's a thick ointment with the consistency of axle grease and has a bit of eucalyptus smell. It's remarkable for human use for dry skin, especially on the heels when we build calouses from wearing flip flops during the summer.

Rub a bit on the area a couple of times a day. It should also discourage her from scratching and it lubricates the skin to help stop the dryness and itching.

If that doesn't help and she continues scratching other areas you can treat for mites. Ivermectin is the safest thing to use for a pregnant sow. You can find it at a pet store, feed store or veterinary supply. It says it is for horses for worms. But breeders and exhibitors have relied on it for many years with excellent results.

It comes in a paste form. You give it orally. Use a popsicle stick or the end of a Q tip with the cotton removed. A small amount about the size of a match head is all you need. For a first time treatment you give the first dose, repeat in two weeks, then again in 30 days. That should do it.

If you are able to find the apple flavored gel she will like the taste. I purchase mine online and it's much less expensive that way.  Feed stores always have it as it's a staple in the barn for horses. It typically cost less than $20 for a tube, but online is about $6 per tube.

Here are a couple of pictures of both Bag Balm and Ivermectin 1.87% paste or gel. Hope this helps you out. Good luck with your litter.

An FYI for a pregnant sow;  give her a bit of parsley daily. Kale is also an excellent source of Vit C which is extremely important for her now.  Although guinea pig pellets contain added Vit C her requirements during pregnancy are greater.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your advice.i will treat her as you have suggested.just for peace of mind, do mites pose any serious risk to a pregnant sow other than discomfort? I just want her pregnancy to be as smooth as possible

Answer
If by serious threat you mean to her life, no. The threat to her is one of extreme discomfort and stress which may impact her ability to feed her babies. If untreated the babies will be infected as well. My best advice is to treat her at least once for mites. If however, the Bag Balm resolves the dryness and itching I would not treat her if you're not comfortable doing so.

Mites are something of a mystery as to where they come from. They are species specific as are the running lice that pigs can get but are not as common. That means they will not affect or get on anything but another guinea pig. I have seen caviaries where the pigs were so badly infested they literally went insane with scratching and running around in circles constantly.

If the Bag Balm is going to work you'll see an improvement within days. The hair will begin growing back in less than a week. It's worth a try just to keep her comfortable and stress free.