Does my mum's piggy have mites? - Please reply ASAP - thank you :)

[GeorgesHuman]

Hello,

I have just had a hold of my mum's piggy, Hamish, and I noticed a golden coloured tiny bug crawling towards one of his eyes. I looked through his fur, and there are quite a few of them. Are they mites? He has never been in contact with any other piggies, so where have these come from? Also, how can we best get rid of them and keep them away?

I have two piggies at home so I don't want to transmit the mites to mine. I have changed my top and will shower and change my clothes when I get home and wash them on a high wash, is this enough? I can't stop itching now!

I am only able to access the internet til 4:45pm, so any replies before then will be much gratefully recieved!

Thanks very much.

 

[Wiebke]

If you can see the bugs and they are moving, then it is running lice. Mange mites you can't see and static lice/fur mites are dots sitting on hair at the bum end of a piggy.

In insecticidal shampoo works best on lice, but please make sure that it really is suitable for guinea pigs! Otherwise, topical ivermectin can also do the trick. Never bathe within 48 hours of applying ivermectin to the skin.
Here is more information on lice and treatment:
http://www.guinealynx.info/lice.html

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Thanks very much Wiebke for your speedy reponse. Are you able to recommend any particular brand of shampoo? Is Bob Martin SpotOn any good do you know?

 

[Suzygpr]

Please use either Johnsons insecticidal shampoo for small animals or Gorgeous Guineas Lice n Easy. Bob Martin or Beaphar products are not up to the job at all.

Suzy x

 

[Katie Krafter]

I can recommend GG Lice n Easy but follow the instructions and do make sure that they get their two washes a week apart. Just like head lice in children, short cuts mean a longer problem in the end. www.gorgeousguineas.com

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Thanks Suzy for your recommendations. We've just ordered some Johnson's Incecticidal shampoo for small animals. Hopefully that will do the trick. Is it a good idea to bathe long haired piggies regularly using that shampoo, like say, every month?

Thanks for your help

 

[Suzygpr]

To clear an infestation bathe once a week for three weeks.

Generally I only bathe a pig as and when it's needed, I tend to keep my long haired piggies trimmed to help keep them clean.

Suzy x

 

[GeorgesHuman]

Thanks all for your kind replies. Hopefully Hamish will be ok