Teacup Potbelly

Question
Hello,
I brought home my first potbelly pig on March 23rd.  She was my birthday present.  She started itching really bad several days later and come to find out, she has scabies.  Well, needless to say, I have it too.  I have been to the doctor, used the topical cream and taken Ivermectin pills too.  She has been to the vet once and gotten one shot of Ivermectin and needs 3 more shots (1 per week.  I give her a bath in iodine shampoo and this has dried her skin out very badly.  I feel so bad for her because she has to be confined to her cage so that she does not come in contact with the dogs or cats.  Is there a more aggressive treatment that you know of to kill these pesky bugs?  I am getting frustrated because I keep getting re-infected.  I have to change her blankets and litter pan, so it's inevitable.  How long does it take to get rid of them?  I try to play with her in the cage a bit because I know she is bored.  She is only 7 weeks old.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Scabies or mange is caused by mites. Mites are tiny parasites that live in skin. Most mites, including the bug that causes swine scabies, Sarcoptic scabiei variant suis, tend to be species specific. They might temporarily infest other animals or people, but they can not survive long. In humans, this kind of infection shows up as a rash that appears shortly after handling an infected animal.

The first treatment should kill all living mites. The eggs, however, are unaffected. Two weeks later these eggs will hatch, so a second treatment is needed to kill them. Timing is crucial, the second treatment must be soon enough to kill the new mites before they can lay eggs, but not too soon, or the mites will still be unhatched eggs, and unaffected by the second treatment. That's why a third treatment is often recommended in severe cases.

Mites, unlike fleas, don't live long unless they're on an animal, and lay eggs only on a living animal. Fleas can survive a long time in bedding and are happy to lay their eggs anywhere.

The first Ivermectin treatment should have killed all the living mites, so it should be safe for you to play with your baby. If you are concerned, wear a long sleeved shirt and gloves. Don't loose this special opportunity to bond with her. Lock the other animals into their crates, or out of a room, and let her out of her cage and work with her in that room.

When the mites in the skin die, the skin begins to crack and peel and it's uncomfortable. Is it possible that what seems to be a reinfection on you is actually part of the healing process? In theory, if the vet gave the proper dose of Ivermectin, there should be no living mites to re-infect you. So if the reinfections continue, the problem may be more than just mites.

Your baby may appreciate a rubdown with some soothing lotion. Any kind will do, Corn Huskers is an inexpensive and readily available brand. Warm the lotion in some hot water for a few minutes before applying it.