[Aileen]

This was posted last night at my site message board. the member lives in in the north Scotland region

quote *Just a warning for those who use Chinchilla products, after a visit to my local pet shop, I asked why they were stocking different alfalfa treats for chinnies. He said that the fruitsticks and alfalfa sticks to name but a few had complaints from customers maintaining that they contained mites. Surely enough there had been a lot of complaints not just from customers but also suppliers to the pet shops so i would assume that the problem must lie where they originate from. My local store now stocks boredom breakers alfalfa treats instead and the chins seem to love them just as much. *end quote

I am also emailing with a friend who has had her home and chinnies infested with ticks, lice, and fleas. They were in the hay she bought and stored in the house! She has had to throw out all her carpets as the infestation is so bad.
Her vet has identifies the infestation and her chinnies have been treated at the vet and have to go back in a month for second dose of medication to make sure they are clear. Poor wee things were scratching like mad. the ticks had actually attached themselves to the chinnies.
I have never has this sort of thing before so the only advice I could give was change her hay supplier and store it outside the house in a dry warm place to make sure it is well dried out in future.
Maybe Debbie will know more about ticks etc. I was always led to believe that chinnies could not get such pests using them as hosts. Would welcome feedback on this to advise my friend more
thanks

This post has been edited by Aileen: 24 September 2003 - 11:33 AM

[paulag]

I've certainly had animals, particularly guinea pigs, catch mites from hay. And I have to be a bit careful because I have sick hegehogs in occasionally and they are absolutely verminous.

Although fleas tend to be species specific they will certainly bite anything - they just won't live for very long. I don't know about mites and ticks but it must be a real pain as you can't bathe a chinnie.

Paula

[amandajcarter]

Ooh err :headscratch: I thought Chinnies weren't supposed to harbour such pests too :blink:

[Debbie]

Chinchillas are only transient hosts for fleas - but they can get mites and ticks (around the facial/ear area more commonly).

I have a lot of detailed info on ticks and mites at home (mainly because my cat was treated for a severe allergy to them - and required 9 months of injections!!).

There are many different species of mite - forage mites, house mites, scabies mite etc etc etc.

Mites are generally host (and food) specific. Some cause agricultural concerns (red spider mite for instance) - others are a health hazard - causing allergies (respiratory), skin conditions (mange and dermatitis etc).

Here is a link that will explain more (page 2 being of specific interest).........

http://lancaster.unl...MITES275-97.pdf

There are also several species that cause mange (sarcoptic, demodectic (sp??) to name just two). Here is a link to one of them ......

http://www.geocities...s/8194/smm.html

You really need to find out what mites are present in the hay/alfalfa (your vet can identify them) to determine how health-threatening the infestation is.

Best to be on the safe-side and bin or burn any products containing mites - and thoroughly disinfect your unit!!



Ticks are a different matter altogether - and generally require blood as a food source as part of their life-cycle - therefore they bite!!

It is possible for disease to be passed on by tick-bites - although the most serious diseases are NOT endemic to the UK. However, there are a couple to be aware of (taken from the following website link) ......

LYME DISEASE (Borrelia burgdorferi). A bacterial infection that is usually carried by the Deer tick. Symptoms include lameness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and an abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes. Often treatable with antibiotics.

EHRLICHIOSIS (Ehrlicia phagocytophila). An infectious blood disease that attacks your pet's white blood cells, crippling the immune system. Symptoms include fever, depression, seizures, meningitis, lameness and joint swelling, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Treatable with antibiotics.

Do not attempt to remove ticks yourself - as the jaws can remain behind and become infected - always see a vet!!

Here is an extremely interesting link that will explain fully about ticks .................

http://uk.merial.com...html#t_ailments

Deer and other animals have free access to hay pastures - and it is in this way that they can find their way into the hay we feed our chinchillas!

Infestations are rare (so dont worry) - but it does pay to keep an eye out - and destroy any suspicious-looking hay!!

Debbie.

P.S. Do not treat chinchillas with frontline or ivermectin yourself - always speak to a vet!! (Certain tick/flea/mite products may produce harmful side-effects in chinchillas).

[amandajcarter]

Euuugh Debbie, :S: that information about ticks has just put me off my lunch that I was eating :mhihi:

[Claire D]

:headscratch: Have just read all that stuff - thanx Debbie :blink: - I'm all itchy now :mhihi: :mhihi:

[Debbie]

I know a local pet shop to me was selling hay that was guaranteed mite-free (I dont know how they treat it though :confused: ).

Might be worth asking your pet-shop?

Also, imported hay (such as Oxbow) probably has strict controls slapped on it - to prevent trans-country contamination!

Otherwise - just visually check your hay - but dont worry - it is rare (in 13 years I have never come across it!!).

Debbie.

[Aileen]

Thanks for input Debbie. Can I have your permission to use this info on my site so that it is there for others to see? and also, what happens with one of her females who is pregnant? Vet said he cant treat her. So, if she is not treated, is this not then harmful to the others?

Will email this info to her that you have given so far. She has of course thrown out the hay after the vet told her what was wrong. Must be costing her a small fortune to pay vet bills treat her home and renew carpets etc. :0
Aileen

[Ryuumeiko]

Akasha, which shop are you using out of interest? I'm just using the Arcade one in Cov city center... They do Harrison's pellets there...

Thanks for the information Debbie! Tho' I'm glad I'd eaten /before/ I read it...

[Debbie]

Of course Aileen - use it as you see fit.

I guess the treatment will harm foetuses - more than not treating - hence the vet wishes to delay treating her.

As I have not experienced this with chins (only my cat) - I cannot comment how serious it is to just leave the chin untreated.

My guess (and it is only a guess) is that mites are ok to leave (if forced to) - but ticks are the potential problem.

Would all the chins need re-treating again after the female has been treated - as there is bound to be cross-infection?

Perhaps Suki has come across this - and give a more definitive answer??

Debbie. :)

[Aileen]

Debbie, on Sep 24 2003, 02:36 PM, said:

Otherwise - just visually check your hay - but dont worry - it is rare (in 13 years I have never come across it!!).

Debbie.

No Neither have I Debbie, This was all new to me, in fact when she first e-mailed I thought " chins? mites etc? no way!"
As you say no need to panic but I was concerned to hear that that the female wasn't being treated. This I can understand. However I do worry about what happens a few weeks down the line as far as infestation goes etc. regarding re-infecting other chinchillas she has.

Thanks for the permission to add Debbie. I always like to ask first before adding to my site.
Aileen

[Debbie]

I have read documented evidence of mite infestations on chins - will try to find it when I am home from work tonight.

I also have to take Maya to the vets tonight at 6.30 - so will run it by Natasha (my vet) for her opinion too.

Debbie.

[Aileen]

Thanks Debbie
Will wait for your reply before e-mailing reply to the advice request e-mail she sent
Aileen :)
ps: forgot to add, it was definately the hay which caused the infestation, she said it was moving with mites. Then after taking them to the vet found out about the ticks ect!

This post has been edited by Aileen: 24 September 2003 - 04:00 PM