Effie Has Static Lice

[Sian25]

So I brought home our new piggy Effie from a rescue on Saturday. We've not really handled her as we have been letting her settle down. However, as she has very long hair, I thought I would give her a very quick trim when I noticed loads of little bits in her hair. She is white all over so they are very easy to see. She is living with Milan so he is bound to have them too, but he has dark hair so I can't see anything. I'm not suggested that Effie was rehomed with lice as she could have caught them from Milan, and I've not noticed until she's got them in her white fur. Neither pigs seem to be itchy.

I have ordered lice shampoo from gorgeous guineas and will bath both of them when I receive the shampoo. Effie has them on her head and one cheek too, is it okay for my to bath her head if I'm as careful as poss with her ears, eyes and mouth?

Also I'm wanting to throw away their hay incase the lice are in the current batches however I am using a massive bag of Ings hay (not much has been eaten), a large pretty full bag of alfalfa king timothy hay and a big box of dustfreehay soft hay so it's going to be a pain throwing all of these away. Is there any of them unlikely to contain the lice or are all possibilities?

Can static lice be passed to my dog? And can they live in carpet? If so, I have a steam mop with a carpet glider attachment, will this kill them?

 

[Sian25]

Also any tips on how I can wash her head without water going in her eyes, nose and mouth? My poor dog gets drowned at bathtime

 

[Sian25]

@Wiebke @furryfriends (TEAS) @VickiA

 

[Wiebke]

So I brought home our new piggy Effie from a rescue on Saturday. We've not really handled her as we have been letting her settle down. However, as she has very long hair, I thought I would give her a very quick trim when I noticed loads of little bits in her hair. She is white all over so they are very easy to see. She is living with Milan so he is bound to have them too, but he has dark hair so I can't see anything. I'm not suggested that Effie was rehomed with lice as she could have caught them from Milan, and I've not noticed until she's got them in her white fur. Neither pigs seem to be itchy.

I have ordered lice shampoo from gorgeous guineas and will bath both of them when I receive the shampoo. Effie has them on her head and one cheek too, is it okay for my to bath her head if I'm as careful as poss with her ears, eyes and mouth?

Also I'm wanting to throw away their hay incase the lice are in the current batches however I am using a massive bag of Ings hay (not much has been eaten), a large pretty full bag of alfalfa king timothy hay and a big box of dustfreehay soft hay so it's going to be a pain throwing all of these away. Is there any of them unlikely to contain the lice or are all possibilities?

Can static lice be passed to my dog? And can they live in carpet? If so, I have a steam mop with a carpet glider attachment, will this kill them?

I am sorry - nothing seems to be going easy for you!

Fur or hay mites (which are in the UK also called static lice after the visible egg cases that are stuck to the hair mainly at the bum end) are the least harmful of the skin parasites that guinea pigs can have and usually don't bother the piggies much, as they don't burrow the eggs in the skin like mange mites and don't suck blood like lice. The hay mites themselves are so small that you usually cannot see them.

The lice'n'easy shampoo should do the trick; hay mites are usually not all that difficult to get rid of. They usually come in the hay and are more common in cheaper farm/horse hay. The stress of the move can easily prevented Effie from being able to fend them off. Parasites often make an appearance shortly after the move to a new home when their immune system is suppressed for a little while.

I would wash the piggies all over; you need to always bathe all piggies in contact. You can give them a short summer trim for the hot weather before you bathe them anyway and make sure that you get rid of the infested hair. I would also recommend to deep clean the cage while your piggies are drying and if necessary to get rid of your current batch of hay. It the lice'n'easy doesn't do the trick, supplement it with a full course of xeno (ivermectin).
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

 

[Sian25]

I am sorry - nothing seems to be going easy for you!

Fur or hay mites (which are in the UK also called static lice after the visible egg cases that are stuck to the hair mainly at the bum end) are the least harmful of the skin parasites that guinea pigs can have and usually don't bother the piggies much, as they don't burrow the eggs in the skin like mage mites and don't suck blood like lice. The hay mites themselves are so small that you usually cannot see them.

The lice'n'easy shampoo should do the trick; hay mites are usually not all that difficult to get rid of. They usually come in the hay and are more common in cheaper farm/horse hay. The stress of the move can easily prevented Effie from being able to fend them off. Parasites often make an appearance shortly after the move to a new home when their immune system is suppressed for a little while.

I would wash the piggies all over; you need to always bathe all piggies in contact. You can give them a short summer trim for the hot weather before you bathe them anyway and make sure that you get rid of the infested hair. I would also recommend to deep clean the cage while your piggies are drying and if necessary to get rid of your current batch of hay. It the lice'n'easy doesn't do the trick, supplement it with a full course of xeno (ivermectin).
How To Bathe Guinea Pigs - Including Ears & Grease Glands

Thanks wiebke for the advice.

I am currently using a massive bag of Ings hay, dustfreehay soft hay and a big bag of alfalfa king timothy hay. I use all 3 hays and all of the batches haven't had too much used. I don't really want to throw them all away if not necessary. Is it likely that one of these batches has contained the lice?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks wiebke for the advice.

I am currently using a massive bag of Ings hay, dustfreehay soft hay and a big bag of alfalfa hay. I use all 3 hays and all of the batches haven't had too much used. I don't really want to throw them all away if not necessary. Is it likely that one of these batches has contained the lice?

It is more likely that Effie brought them in with her, but unfortunately you'll never know. You have to use your own judgement.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

The Alfalfa King Timothy hay is sterile, so that is perfectly safe to use. Most piggies have hay lice & they don't cause too much trouble but they do make them scratch though. I use Flea or Die shampoo, shampoo all over, particularly the rump leave on for 10 mins (Or if using Gorgeous Guineas leave on for the recommended time) Keep them wrapped in a warm towel whilst waiting. When I bath mine I don't use water on their heads, I move some of the soap suds & just wipe the middle of the face & under the chin & wipe over the ears with just the suds. Avoid eyes/nose & inside the ears. Chuck all cardboard chubes & thoroughly wash any plastic hidies & hot soapy water. Mites don't usually leave their host as they need the blood supply to live on. Repeat the shampooing exactly a week later to eradicate any hatching eggs.

 

[Sian25]

The Alfalfa King Timothy hay is sterile, so that is perfectly safe to use. Most piggies have hay lice & they don't cause too much trouble but they do make them scratch though. I use Flea or Die shampoo, shampoo all over, particularly the rump leave on for 10 mins (Or if using Gorgeous Guineas leave on for the recommended time) Keep them wrapped in a warm towel whilst waiting. When I bath mine I don't use water on their heads, I move some of the soap suds & just wipe the middle of the face & under the chin & wipe over the ears with just the suds. Avoid eyes/nose & inside the ears. Chuck all cardboard chubes & thoroughly wash any plastic hidies & hot soapy water. Mites don't usually leave their host as they need the blood supply to live on. Repeat the shampooing exactly a week later to eradicate any hatching eggs.

Fab! Thanks! I'll get them sorted once the shampoo arrives. I also have this that I was bedding with...

I use it as antibacterial as I have ziggys liners so not recommended to wash on a high temperature. The detergent mentions that it gets rid of dust mites but should it kill hay mites too?

 

[Poppy'sMum]

I've never used anything like that, I wash at 60 degrees with the fleece stuff & never had any mites return since using the Alfalfa King hay either My rescue girl also came with some extra visitors too, I was a bit surprised like you, but we have to remember that with the huge quantity of piggies being rescued there is a lot of them very very poorly, some don't make it at all & the rescues do an amazing & very difficult job (emotionally as well as physically draining) so I think they can be forgiven for not checking & bathing every pig in their care once they have been in rescue a while, bearing in mind rescues are primarily concerned with initially getting these piggies to a place of safety then checking their health & the priority would be fungal & mange mites. After 2 baths my girl was fine, I bathed my other pig too at the same time & actually that helped their bond. Most rescues buy farm hay as it's cheaper than shop bought & farm hay will usually carry something in it. Milhaven is a fabulous rescue, I've met Jo she's lovely & works very hard there. She would not have let you bring Effie home if she thought they would fight or fall out. All the videos you have show that she is accepting him from her body language just that she will be wearing the trousers lol

 

[Sian25]

I've never used anything like that, I wash at 60 degrees with the fleece stuff & never had any mites return since using the Alfalfa King hay either My rescue girl also came with some extra visitors too, I was a bit surprised like you, but we have to remember that with the huge quantity of piggies being rescued there is a lot of them very very poorly, some don't make it at all & the rescues do an amazing & very difficult job (emotionally as well as physically draining) so I think they can be forgiven for not checking & bathing every pig in their care once they have been in rescue a while, bearing in mind rescues are primarily concerned with initially getting these piggies to a place of safety then checking their health & the priority would be fungal & mange mites. After 2 baths my girl was fine, I bathed my other pig too at the same time & actually that helped their bond. Most rescues buy farm hay as it's cheaper than shop bought & farm hay will usually carry something in it. Milhaven is a fabulous rescue, I've met Jo she's lovely & works very hard there. She would not have let you bring Effie home if she thought they would fight or fall out. All the videos you have show that she is accepting him from her body language just that she will be wearing the trousers lol

Ohh I hope it didn't sound like I was blaming the rescue? I really wasn't and have said that Milan could have possibly had them and passed them to Effie. He has dark hair so I wouldn't have noticed them as he doesn't seem itchy either.

They will be sorted soon

 

[Wiebke]

Fab! Thanks! I'll get them sorted once the shampoo arrives. I also have this that I was bedding with...
View attachment 47962
I use it as antibacterial as I have ziggys liners so not recommended to wash on a high temperature. The detergent mentions that it gets rid of dust mites but should it kill hay mites too?

I would be very careful using broad spectrum stuff for larger animal for guinea pigs unless specifically stated. Some of this stuff can be poisonous for small animals!

Washing any fabrics at 60 C will take care quite nicely of any mites, thank you.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Nope, don't worry, if Milan has any it will be off the hay you have had anyway, I don't think he would have caught them that quick from her These mites are very common, most piggies have them if you look close enough, my new piggy is white on her bottom end that's how I spotted hers lol You could lift Milan's fur up on his bottom & try a tape test (Sticky sellotape & press onto the hair underneath near the roots. Have a look under a magnifying glass & they will be waving at you if there are some Personally it didn't bother me really, 2 baths/2 weeks & she was spotless, smelt gorgeous & everyone was happy This is why I like the Alfalfa King hay, I also shake it out into a bin bag, pop some in a glass bowl & stick it in the microwave for 40 seconds. In 5 years I've never had a piggy of my own with static mites

 

[Sian25]

I've seen a lot of people on the forum using that paragon detergent for piggies fleece and it's recommended by gorgeous guineas. It's antibacterial and antifungal too and my pigs have never had a problem with it. I only use it as I'm worried hotter washes will destroy the fleece liners.

I love alfalfa king (and piggies love it) but I find the majority of the bag is dust and tiny bits, very frustrating! I've never heard of putting it in the microwave though

 

[eileen]

ive washed my ziggies linrs at 60 degrees,non of mine have shrunk,also used the paragon laundry treatment.it was recommended on hammockeyhammocks facebook page.your dust free hay should be ok,ings hay is packed from hay bales from there farms they use.hope your visitors go.xeno is good stuff as well.

 

[Sian25]

Both pigs have just had their second bath with gorgeous guineas lice shampoo. The instructions are to bath twice, 1 week apart.

Initially I was under the impression that the first bath would get rid of all the lice except for the eggs, then the second bath would get rid of the lice that had recently hatched. However, after the first bath, Effie still had visible lice - although noticeably a lot less. I contacted gorgeous guineas to ask them whether it was normal to still be seeing the lice after the first bath and they replied to say that sometimes it takes 3 baths (each a week apart) to completely rid them if there's a bad infestation. I wouldn't say that Effie had a bad infestation but even after this second wash she still has a few little lice. I only noticed after extremely carefully going through her hair so there mustn't be many left as I've not been able to spot many at all.

Obviously with her still having some lice (and possibly Milan too although he has dark hair so I can't see any on him), treatment still needs to continue. Butttt I'm unsure whether to bath them one more time a week today or take them the vets for alternative treatments. I feel soon cruel bathing them again as they were clearly distressed and I find it so difficult to wash carefully around eyes, ears and mouth. I'm terrified I'm going to get water up their nose!

What is the treatment from the vets? Is it an injection or spot on treatment? I think an injection may be equally as stressing for them.

 

[Sian25]

Just bumping this up if anyone has any advice?

 

[Galaxy&nibbles]

To save you throwing your hay, I believe if you freeze it (if you have room) you can kill them and then it's fine for them to eat? Have you been to the vet for some stuff? (Sorry I e not read through the whole thread before commenting)