My pigs have mites. What can I do to treat the mites themselves and the pigs’ skin damage, and how can I prevent future infestations?
First , we ask to elucidate if you are in the centre of a “ lousy ” situation or have a “ mitey ” big job or else . People often mix up mites and lice , but once you instruct the difference of opinion , it ’s loose to tell them apart : We can see lice with the naked eye but need a microscope to see mites . Mite infections can be diagnosed via skin scrapings and microscopic examen , skin biopsy or even answer to treatment , while a pig - lice plague can easy be diagnose by interrogation of the squealer ’s skin . Pigs can even be infested with both parasites at the same metre .
Lice Vs. Mites
Unlike the worm of other livestock that tend to be troubler during winter , hog lice seem absolutely well-chosen to be a problem in the summer , as well , and mites can be a problem any metre . Both parasites have life cycle that occur only on the host . They spread primarily through contact with septic animal and through infected bedding or home ground . If you did n’t have a trouble and now you do , odds are you brought in an infected animal or your pig bed came into contact with one .
Microscopicmange mitesburrow into a pig ’s tegument , laying egg along the way and causing inflammation and itching in the host . The bollock hatch within a few days ; the entire cycle from egg to egg - laying adult is fill out in about two weeks . Although the bulk of speck and eggs stay on the legion , some can contaminate the environment , peculiarly bedding . Mites can live many twenty-four hour period in the environment but die in just a few days when warmer environmental temperatures exist . All animate being in contact with one another and/or hold accession to the same environment should be treated at the same clip ; a 2d and possibly third discussion will be require to kill the mites that develop after the first treatment . Wait a week after intervention before moving pig to clean facilities or leave them to co - mingle with uninfected swine . Permethrins can be use to the environment to kill speck in the environment , but they will also kill beneficial insects , so use caution .
Hog plant louse are large for lice — adult are 1/4 column inch long — and dark ; they prefer to hang out on the underside of a pig ’s trunk and in axilla , folds of hide and ears . They can also be witness , be active on the head and back of affected animals or attached and sucking blood . Adult female lice lay eggs called nits , which are firmly affiliated to the host ’s hair and easily observe .
calculate on environmental condition , egg hatch in two to three week and the living rhythm is concluded in another two weeks . The entire life cycle have place on the unnatural animal , as lice can only live a few days without a legion . Like mite , lice irritate their host , causing itching , reddened pelt , secondary skin injuries , anxiety and weight unit release ; they can also transmit some disease . Also as with mites , a second or even third handling will be require to stamp out nymphs and adults that dream up and developed from egg after the first treatment .
Treating Pig Lice and Mites
Over - the - counter meds are available for discourse of lice and mange in swine . Injectable ivermectins and topical permethrins are efficacious against both parasites when used according to label way . Note that treated swine should n’t be slaughtered preferably than five days after treatment with permethrin or 18 days if an ivermectin product is used . Always follow medication label command regarding walloping withholding times and dosages .
Unless secondarily infected , your pig ’ skin should heal promptly after you kill their parasites and they block up excoriating themselves while expunge . Clean meaning lucre and wounds with a farm animal germicide max twice daily , rinsing well . Consult a veterinary surgeon if any sores or accidental injury die hard . ward off applying topical medications because most interfere with healing rather of hie it . Using an approved fly atomizer will help keep flies from bothering unhealed wound .
If potential , bump off infected grunter ’ bedding and pass on the arena vacant for several weeks before set down clean-living bedding and housing pigs there again — the longer , the better . If you have successfully deal all infested pigs , retreated once or double , polish off bedding , and given any mites or plant louse in the surroundings prison term to become flat , you should be able to put this episode behind you .
Prevent Another Infestation
To reduce the chance of re - introducing lice or mites into your ruck , keep a shut herd or canvass herd additions closely for obvious dirt ball and the peeved skin , sores and itching distinctive of mange mites . Your vet may advocate preventative mite handling for herd additions to be on the safe side . However , stomach in brain that every employment of an ivermectin product for external sponge control hastens the development of internal parasite resistance to this family of dewormers . In most herd , ivermectins are still very effective against inner parasites of pigs , so do n’t jeopardize this effectiveness by overusing them to control external parasite . Use topical permethrins first , as long as they are effective .
This is a skilful meter to plug quarantine pen : Routinely isolate herd summation for one to three months downwind and downstream from the main ruck , find out for any evidence of disease development or expression of sponger problems . If you live in an area with feral Sus scrofa , go to great lengths to forbid any contact or environmental overlap between them and domestic pigs , as they can communicate mites , bird louse and more serious trouble to your herd .
clause vet by Dr. Lyle G. McNeal .
