Is your pig scratching on everything, has dry flakey skin, red?  Are you itching, have small dots on your skin and nothing seems to alleviate the itch.

 

You might be dealing with and most likely are dealing with mites.

 

The solution is Ivermectrin (Cattle and Swine version) although labeled as injectable, it can be given oral if you don't want to deal with needles. 

 

The ivermectrin brand does sting, you can get Noromectrin that does not sting, usually this version is ordered through a vet supply.  You can find them both at www.valleyvet.com along wtih needles and syringes.  I use a 20 gauge, 1 inch needle.

 

The bottle is lableled for injection, its 1cc per 70 pounds, injected under the skin. Its important that its under the skin.  The best place is usually in the neck behind the ear.

 

If you want to give it oral, you double the dose, 1cc covers 35 pounds.  Both brands can be given orally.

 

Next you need to treat your pigs bedding, usually just washing and drying on hot will take care of it. Vaccum your house.

 

If you are itching and can't find relief, chances are you got it from your pig, also known as Scabies, you will need and RX from your Doctor.

 

You will need to retreat your pig in 10-14 days days as the Ivomec does not kill eggs so you will need to kill any newly hatched mite.

 

Note!  You cannot see them with the naked eye, if you are seeing bugs and eggs, that is pig lice and its completely different.

When your pig is scratching on everything or has dry flakey skin the first thing I suspect is pig mites! Easily treated with Ivomec for Cattle and Swine (dosage: 1cc/70 pounds injected or 1cc /35 pound oral and repeated in 10-14 days) When people handle their piglets or pigs (as they should be doing) they MAY begin to itch and then small red bumps appear, many people think this is an allergy to their pig, but in fact it may be the mites transferred over to people. (some people may still have an allergy to pigs they are NOT completely hypo-allergenic)

 

Humans are what is considered an “end host” the mite cannot reproduce on people but it can cause havoc, the itching is insatiable. Many report that they can wait out the cycle and allow the mite to die, many cannot handle the horrible itch and go to the doctor for a body shampoo that kills the mite quickly. The doctor may or many not diagnose you with Scabies, what the diagnosis is does NOT matter, but what matters is that the mite has transferred to the human, known as zoonotic skin disease. The actual scientific name of the mite on the human is Sarcopetes scabiei mange mite. Note! Its not just pigs that can carry and pass along mites, dogs with mites is the main cause of people with the mite! Horses can host and pass along the mite as well.

 

“Sarcoptic mange (animal scabies, pseudo scabies, canine scabies) is a highly contagious skin disease which can affect a variety of wild, domestic and farmed animals. The Sarcopetes scabiei mange mite gets transmitted to humans on close contact with infected domestic animals, leading to intense pruritis and irritation due to the hypersensitivity reactions for the mites and their products. The disease runs a prolonged course in humans who are known to have poor immune functions or in patients who are being treated with immuno-suppressants and in young children. The infestations, although they are typically self-limiting, can be intensely itching and bothersome. There are reported cases of Sarcoptic mange in humans that are not self-clearing and they require months of treatment to control them.”