Mites?

[PrincessHope]

Hi I am really worried about Hope todayShe seems very stressed since moving to a detolf and is constantly biting on the runners.She literally flips upside down to try and get out.I am worried she has mites as she is always grooming herself.She also is scratching more regularly and really goes for her skin as if something is annoying her.She also has been chattering her teeth at nothing.She chatters her teeth when she is scratching.I am worried that the stress of moving cage and room has caused her immune system to weaken therefore she has got mites.She also keeps rubbing up against the side of her cage.She seems more agitated than normal.I can't handle her so I can't see if her skin is flaky or red.I can't see any obvious bald/red patches.I really want to know if it is mites.I will take her to the vets but it is not open tomorrow.
Thanks Em.

[cypher]

It's entirely possible she's developed a mite problem but it could also be that she is scent marking like mad, that would explain her rubbing against things & they do groom more when they're doing a lot of scenting.
How long since you moved her?
Did you clean her cage soon before moving her? If she has completely new substrate in the Detolf without her scent on it that would make her do this even more & cause her more stress.
What cage was she in before?

[PrincessHope]

Originally Posted by cypher

It's entirely possible she's developed a mite problem but it could also be that she is scent marking like mad, that would explain her rubbing against things & they do groom more when they're doing a lot of scenting.
How long since you moved her?
Did you clean her cage soon before moving her? If she has completely new substrate in the Detolf without her scent on it that would make her do this even more & cause her more stress.
What cage was she in before?

She has been in the detolf a while now.Last night We moved her cage to a different room.When she moved into the the detolf I put new paper bedding in (fitch).We have also since since added new wheels.Last night when I was going through her nest I found a little bit of dark red and there was black dots.Last night she was going into the corner a lot then grooming and scratching hard.Don't know if the little black dots are part of the bedding.She was chattering when lying down asleep.when we moved her into a different room we kept her bedding the same.I am just worried about the scratching and agitation.

[SimonandSyril]

If I was you I would keep an eye on her until your local vet opens and take her as soon as possible. Look out for changes in the food she eats and how much she is drinking.

[cypher]

Fitch certainly shouldn't have black dots in it, do you know what the dark red is, do you think it's blood from somewhere?
The mites that they can have a problem with when their immune system is compromised due to stress aren't visible so it sounds as though there could be something else in the cage, sometimes you can get other mites from wooden items.

[PrincessHope]

Originally Posted by SimonandSyril

If I was you I would keep an eye on her until your local vet opens and take her as soon as possible. Look out for changes in the food she eats and how much she is drinking.

The vets are taking emergencies only today with it being Sunday.I will take her tomorrow or the day after.She is still eating and drinking but she drank quite a lot of water last night.Can that be a symptom of mites?The only thing it could be is that we kept her bale of bedding in a bin outside for a few months.It was was in a bin bag with cellotape on but mabye minuscule bugs could of found their way in

[PrincessHope]

Originally Posted by cypher

Fitch certainly shouldn't have black dots in it, do you know what the dark red is, do you think it's blood from somewhere?
The mites that they can have a problem with when their immune system is compromised due to stress aren't visible so it sounds as though there could be something else in the cage, sometimes you can get other mites from wooden items.

I left the bedding in a bin bag outside(inside of a bin).I am thinking the mites could of got in as I hadn't used it in a few months.I don't know where the blood could be coming from as I can't see anything obvious.I can't pick her up as she was adopted and unfortunately has a nasty bite.I don't know whether I should order some new bedding to make sure there is nothing in it?think I will keep the bedding inside from now on.I haven't added any wooden toys recently.I did put some new tiny friends hamster sand in though.The black dots were in the nesting material which is petlife petsafe paper wool.

[cypher]

It does sound as though there's been at least a potential for something to get into the bedding when you stored it outside, I would order a fresh bag & do a complete clean, that is stressful for them but as she appears to be stressed already may well be the best option.
I've used that sand for years now with no problems so it's very unlikely to be that.
I don't know anything about the petsafe paper wool but maybe best to bin that, you don't need it anyway, the best & safest thing for nests is just plain white toilet tissue torn into strips.

[SimonandSyril]

If I were you I would freeze everything to kill everything that includes food, bedding and wooden toys and do a big clean out straight after seeing the vet.

[PrincessHope]

Originally Posted by cypher

It does sound as though there's been at least a potential for something to get into the bedding when you stored it outside, I would order a fresh bag & do a complete clean, that is stressful for them but as she appears to be stressed already may well be the best option.
I've used that sand for years now with no problems so it's very unlikely to be that.
I don't know anything about the petsafe paper wool but maybe best to bin that, you don't need it anyway, the best & safest thing for nests is just plain white toilet tissue torn into strips.

I have ordered some more fitch but it won't come for another 5 days so I am going to pick up some carefresh tomorrow for now.I will do a full deep clean tomorrow using full strength vinegar to kill the mites if there is any.I will chuck the nesting material,clean the toys and freeze the wooden toys.Hopefully I can go to the vets tomorrow.Hope this is what I should do.Thanks for all your advice!