my domestic pig skin problem

Question
I have what i think is a domestic pig, but with his teeth i'm not sure he might be boar? anyways he has something wrong with his skin and financially i have several other pets that have needed to visit the vet and i am trying to take care of it myself. His skin is scabbing, hes losing his hair, he itches nonstop, it has spread all over him. I bathe him in a fungus shampoo and rub him don with baby oil lotion as directed by vet and he is on antibiotic. Nothing is working HELP!

Answer
The most common skin problems in pigs is mange. It's caused by a tiny mite that tunnels under the skin. Most pigs with mange develop itchy, thick skin. Some pigs have a hypersensitive form. In this form, the itching is severe. The pig may rub and scratch his body so hard that hair comes out and even the skin may peel off. Small raised red or pink bumps may be visible.

Your vet can identify mange mites by examining a skin scraping under a microscope.

There's several over the counter brands of medicine available, but they all contain the same drug. Ivomec and Dectomax are the most common. These drugs come in several forms, an injectable, a pour-on, and in treated food.

Treatment will kill adult and juvenile mange mites, but the eggs remain unaffected. They will hatch and the problem will start all over again unless a second or even third treatment is applied.

The pour on formulas work fine for most pigs, but because your pig is hypersensitive this may not be the best method. Injections should only be given by your vet.

The treated food is the easiest to use, but also considered the least effective. Follow the directions on the package for the amount to feed per weight. Feed this medicated food for two weeks, wait two weeks, use the medicated food again for two more weeks, wait two more weeks, then use the medicated food a third time for two more weeks.

As the mites die under the skin, things may begin to look worse! The skin may crack and peel, and the pig may act as if it hurts to touch. If so, speak to your vet about giving him some Rimadyl or other NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drug). Normally, antibiotics have no effect on mites and are not a recommended part of treatment. However, in this case, your pig is very sensitive so your vet may want to continue the antibiotics until the mange is gone.

Jeffers (www.jefrerslivestock.com) and Valley Vet Supply (www.valleyvet.com) are both very good companies that carry Ivomec and Dectomax and many other useful supplies.