Guinea pig has mites

Question
Can I use pyrethrum on  my Guinea pig to get rid of the mites.
I took him to the vet and he told me because he was to skinny he
does eat and drink.

so I think its the mites that is making him lose the weight
please help

jo

Answer
Yes you can use Premethrin on your pig. Mites don't typically cause weight loss unless there is such a heavy infestation that it has gotten systemic. I don't exactly understand what it is the vet told you, but if he is very thin and emaciated any kind of treatment might be inappropriate.

If he has mites you should see evidence in the form of chewing spots on his coat. Mites usually run to the top of the back where the pig cannot reach. As a result of trying to bite them the pig chews off a 'v' shaped pattern on top of the back. Since the mites are too tiny to see with the naked eye we have to go by the symptoms we can see.

My concern is that your vet felt he was perhaps not in good enough health to tolerate the treatment. However, if he's that thin he's in danger anyway so the treatment might be his only hope if this is truly mites. I would suggest the Adams dip rather than the spray.

Before you start any treatment at all would you be able to send me a picture of him so I can see what the vet's thinking might be? This may be something far more serious than just mites. Although Premethrin is relatively safe to use any kind of treatment can be detrimental to a sick animal.