Errghh, I think the piggies have mites!

[Liane]

I was giving Elma a cuddle when I noticed what I thought was flecks of poo, but then I realised they were moving! They look like the tiny black fly things with wiggly bums that you get in summer, except they're light brown. I've been googling and I think they're mites, but I can't really find any decent pictures. They haven't got any sores or dry skin and haven't been itching.

I'm in a right state, I can't get to the shops until the weekend as I'm working late, I've only got enough anti-parasite stuff to cover two and a half pigs and they're a trio and the weather is turning bad so I can't spray the hutches I don't know how'll be able to get the three of them washed and dried in an evening

Can that ivermectin stuff be bought in the shops, or does it have to be prescribed?

 

[Wiebke]

It rather sounds like running lice and not mites (mange mites are invisible to the naked eye). Gorgeous guineas "lice'n'easy" shampoo is very good to get rid of them. Topical treatment with ivermectin won't do the trick. Healthy guinea pigs can keep lice at bay rather well, so please don't panic - they live off hair and are not burrowing in the skin, so they are not quite in the same league as mange mites. You can order from Gorgeous Guineas via the internet.
http://www.guinealynx.info/lice.html
http://gorgeousguineas.com/parasitic.html

 

[Liane]

It rather sounds like running lice and not mites (mange mites are invisible to the naked eye). Gorgeous guineas "lice'n'easy" shampoo is very good to get rid of them. Topical treatment with ivermectin won't do the trick. Healthy guinea pigs can keep lice at bay rather well, so please don't panic - they live off hair and are not burrowing in the skin, so they are not quite in the same league as mange mites. You can order from Gorgeous Guineas via the internet.
http://www.guinealynx.info/lice.html
http://gorgeousguineas.com/parasitic.html

Oh thank you so much! I'll order some of that!