Booklice? Panicking And Need Some Help!

[Cuddles With Cavies]

Right, I'm at a loss of what to do. Honestly, I'm sat here panicking and almost in tears over this. I don't know who to ask or where so I'm sorry if this doesn't belong here.

Basically, my pigs have been really itchy for months now. I've tried for hay mites been to the vets for mange, I've treated for everything.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I started finding lots of little black bugs around my room. Since the pigs have been itchy, I've always found tiny cream bugs in the bottom of there cage. After some digging around on Google, I've identified these bugs as booklice. The black bugs are the adults and the cream ones are the babies. They don't bite or live on animals (hence why I've not been seeing bugs on the pigs) but they eat the tiny mold that grows on moister (from the urine in the pigs cage maybe?) and can cause itchiness!

Anyway, I completely cleaned my room from top to bottom. Bleached everything that could be and gave the pigs cage a good clean. I didn't want to tell my parents because they would blame the pigs and I'd be forced to move them outside.

But now its serval weeks on and nothing has worked. I've just gone to clean my teeth and my tooth brush is infested with the cream bugs so they've spread to the bath room. I'm so upset and don't know what to do! I'm going to have to talk to my mom tomorrow, I was just wondering if anyone has had any problems with booklice or if they have any suggestions?

 

[Deleted member 114675]

These bugs may gave nothing to do with your guinea pigs. If they are getting onto your toothbrush in the bathroom, I would definately talk to your Mum.

If your guinea pigs have been itchy , it would be worth getting a health check at the vet .

 

[AbiS]

Eurgh! That sounds grim - not surprised you are panicking a bit. However the most important thing to note is that (if they definitely are booklice) they have nothing to do with the piggles and is more to do with the environment that you and your family are living in. And I don't mean that your aren't clean as that has nothing to do with it either, its if there is a lot of moisture in the house.

Have a look at this link and show your mum it as well:

Booklice - Booklice advice

Let us know how you get on x

 

[Wiebke]

Right, I'm at a loss of what to do. Honestly, I'm sat here panicking and almost in tears over this. I don't know who to ask or where so I'm sorry if this doesn't belong here.

Basically, my pigs have been really itchy for months now. I've tried for hay mites been to the vets for mange, I've treated for everything.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I started finding lots of little black bugs around my room. Since the pigs have been itchy, I've always found tiny cream bugs in the bottom of there cage. After some digging around on Google, I've identified these bugs as booklice. The black bugs are the adults and the cream ones are the babies. They don't bite or live on animals (hence why I've not been seeing bugs on the pigs) but they eat the tiny mold that grows on moister (from the urine in the pigs cage maybe?) and can cause itchiness!

Anyway, I completely cleaned my room from top to bottom. Bleached everything that could be and gave the pigs cage a good clean. I didn't want to tell my parents because they would blame the pigs and I'd be forced to move them outside.

But now its serval weeks on and nothing has worked. I've just gone to clean my teeth and my tooth brush is infested with the cream bugs so they've spread to the bath room. I'm so upset and don't know what to do! I'm going to have to talk to my mom tomorrow, I was just wondering if anyone has had any problems with booklice or if they have any suggestions?

To be honest, I would contact your council's pest control to fumigate your flat/house. You have to move out the guinea pigs during that time, but it should be safe for them to come back afterwards.

I have never heard of any connection with booklice and guinea pigs, so it is entirely coincidental. We have also never heard of any booklice coming with piggy supplies - and that in nearly ten years of existence.

How dry is the air in your room? What mites treatment did your guinea pigs get and how many rounds of it?