Mites

Question
QUESTION: How do the piglets contract the mites?  If house kept can they reinvest after treatments?

ANSWER: Piglets contract mites from other pigs. The mites that affect pigs, Sarcoptes scabiei, can live only on swine. They are not zoonotic, they can not live or breed on people, cats, dogs or birds. They lay eggs only on pigs and can not survive very long if they are not on a pig, so there's little chance of passing them along on contaminated bedding. Washable bedding can be disinfected by washing in soap and hot water.

Mite eggs take two weeks to hatch. The first dose of mange medicine will kill all living mites. But eggs will continue to hatch, so a second dose is required two weeks later to kill all the new mites. If the infestation is severe, a third treatment may be needed.





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

QUESTION: I know u said mites only live on pigs, but unfortunately, I contacted the mites from my cute little piglet, that is sooo cute, I HAD her sleeping with me.  I have treated her with ivermectin a couple days ago, and I was treated for scabies, because I was embarrassed to tell my dermatologist I had her sleeping with me.  So, he must of thought I was sleeping with a Real Pig of a man... Can't wait to go back and be truthful with him... Anyways, he treated me for round worms and scabies.. My itching has almost completely gone, but I am afraid of recontacting those buggers again. The dermatologist did a skin scraping and showed no scabies, but symptoms were as of  having scabies..  I have not been handling my piglet at all and I am, and  she is really missing the bond that we had developed.
I guess my question is, is she still communicable?  And, when would it be safe to handle her with no worries? I go back to the dr. Tomorrow, hopefully to get cleared. Just wonder when I can feel comfortable to take her out and show her off without contaminating me or any one else... Today is her 12 wk old birthday, and just want to give her a hug!!!

Answer
If you contracted mites from your pig, then your pig was infected with a different kind of mite. Swine mites can live only on pigs, but canine mites, the kind that affect dogs, can live on people and pigs also. The first dose of medication should kill all living mites within 24 hours, so it should be safe to handle her after that.