Could It Be Lice?

[hollsterM]

I got two piggies from a breeder recently. I have had them for three weeks. When I got them one had a scab which looked like a mone on the back of its neck and the other had a patch of fur missing. I was told it was from mum over grooming them . I have been watching for any itching, etc and have been checking their fur. They are teddy pigs so naturally have a denser fur. I have not noticed anything. However my hubby has just rang me to say one of them had tiny fly type creatures on them. Could it be lice? Vets are closed today as it's Sunday. She is still eating normally. She is twelve weeks old. Help. What can I do to help her until the vets tomorrow? I have an older piggy who is four and he had never had anything like this before so it is new to me. Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Don't panic!

Please book all piggies living together in tomorrow morning; they may all need treatment if only as a preventative. They will keep until then. It could be lice (which are generally light in colour), but also a skin parasite from another species, which is not able to survive on a piggy, but nevertheless can cause some discomfort.

I would order some F10 disinfectant from the internet; it is antibacterial as well as antifungal and suitable for guinea pigs. Follo the instructions on the label.

 

[hollsterM]

Hi! Don't panic!

Please book all piggies living together in tomorrow morning; they may all need treatment if only as a preventative. They will keep until then. It could be lice (which are generally light in colour), but also a skin parasite from another species, which is not able to survive on a piggy, but nevertheless can cause some discomfort.

Please ask your vet for a disinfectant that is appropriate; some shop products for other species can be poisonous for guinea pigs.

Thanks so much. The two younger piggies live together so i will take them tomorrow. They are light in colour, like a pale yellow. they both seem fine in themselves, I suspect they have had them from getting them from the breeder.

 

[Wiebke]

In this case, it sounds like lice and they will be fine until tomorrow.

Re. the origin, it is rather likely! Any person that explains away any bald patches and doesn't treat them accordingly is very likely to transmit any number of skin parasites and fungal infections. Sadly, this is not at all rare amongst backyard breeders.

We may be boring harping on about using only recommended rescues that we can guarantee for, but there is unfortunately a good reason for it!