mini pig and mites

Question
QUESTION: on 3-6-11 I purchased a mini potbelly pig. I took him to the vet to get him neutered. I advised the vet that his skin is very scaly and itchy and for the last day or so I've been itching as well and getting little bumps. When I picked him up they advised me that he has  sarcoptic mange and they dipped him and gave him a shot of ivermectin and I have to take him back in two weeks for another dip and injection. So the vet cleared him and maybe three or four weeks later we were both itchy again so instead of running up a vet bill i purchased the ivermectin from the tractor supply and started giving it to him orally according to his weight. I've done this ever week and the bottle is almost gone and I'm trying to figure out how we keep getting the mites because it is months later and I'm itching again with the little bumps. Before i tried this i wanted to ask about dipping him in permethrin... I've read its good for swine but not sure if its ok for the mini pig because they are so sensitive to certain oils and things. I purchased several products from the dermisil site for the treatment of scabies. Me and piggy both bathe with sulfur soap and the drops that you put in the bath water I've also purchased the BenzaRid from this site to spray his room with (oh yea he is an inside piggy)so i don't understand why they keep coming back. I've tried everything so any help you can provide is much appreciated.

ANSWER: I am not a veterinarian and can not make a medical diagnosis over the internet. Mange is caused by mites, either Sarcoptes scabiei or Demodex phylloides. Sarcoptic mange (sometimes called scabies) is by far the most common. These mites don't live long, just 14-15 days. These mites are not zoonotic, that is, they can not survive long once they leave the pig (although some studies indicate they could possibly live as long as five days). Unlike fleas, they can not lay viable eggs away from the pigs, and they can not permanently infect other animals.

The first dose of Ivomec should kill all living mites. The second dose, given two weeks later, should eliminate any mites that hatched since the first dose. In severe infestations, a third dose might be needed.

Because your pig has had repeated treatments and is still infected, I suspect these mites may not be typical sarcoptes scabiei. Demodex mites are very rare. My research indicates they are also much harder to treat than ordinary mange. Still another possibility is these mites are some sort of zoonotic mite, possibly a bird mite. Bird mites can infest bedding and people.

My suggestion would be to consult the vet again, and have a skin scraping done to identify the particular kind of mite, and obtain the best medication to kill it. Also, I'd wash all bedding in hot water, and use a miticide on carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture. The medication should kill any mites on the pig, and the washing and miticide should kill any stray mites hanging around somewhere else. Be sure to let the vet know you've tried oral ivermectin, because this could affect the choice of medication.

I'm not familiar with Dermasil products, but if they're formulated to treat human scabies, they may be completely ineffective for treating swine mange. Human scabies is caused by a different kind of mite.



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

QUESTION: Before i tried this i wanted to ask about dipping him in permethrin... is this safe for a mini pig? After bathing can i put skin so soft on him?

Answer
Permethrin is an insecticide that's often used to treat tick infestations. It is highly toxic to cats. It's potentially toxic to cold blooded animals like reptiles. It is a cancer causing agent, but according to the US Government, the average person does not come into contact with enough of this chemical for it to be a major danger. The highest level of exposures come from treating indoor carpeting. So treating your indoor pig with this chemical will also dramatically increase your exposure, too. I am not a veterinarian, so I can't comment on the effectiveness of this treatment. But, from a laypersons perspective, it seems like an unnecessary exposure to a potentially dangerous chemical. The US EPA page on permethrin is here http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/REDs/factsheets/permethrin_fs.htm#uses

Avon Skin So Soft is perfectly ok to use on piggies. You can use any skin product made for humans on pigs. Human skin and pig skin is very similar. There's no risk of a pig ingesting a lotion applied to the skin because pigs do not lick themselves the way dogs and cats do.