Bubble64
Junior Guinea Pig
I'm honestly now at a loss of what to do. This has become a huge problem, has cost a lot of money, and there doesn't seem to be an answer. I seem to have followed and tried all advice and am really stuck. And this problem is affecting how often I clean my guinea pigs or spend time with them. I have a room that my guinea pigs live in (pic attached). And there is so much like brown dust in the room (pic attached) and also mites. My guinea pigs do not have any mites, they don't scratch or anything or hair loss or allergic reactions etc. They are absolutely fine. However I find mites everywhere. So on a desk in the room, mites. On old litter trays, mites. Also on just wooden things plastic things that I've had stored in the room, they are just still there. There doesn't seem to be mites in the hay or pellets or forage or treats etc. And I'm just not sure. I use fleece bedding and a mix of wood, plastic and fleece accessories and they don't seem to be on there either. Sometimes I see them on the newspaper. On the floor below their cages, the cupboards under their cages etc. Also, every time I go to their room to spot clean, or weekly clean, I always come out very itchy. So every time I go in, when I come out I have to change my clothes entirely and get fully changed into new clothes or have a shower. Sometimes even after changing clothes I am still itchy. Not sure if its psychological or not but my clothes do have dust and stuff on them. Could this be the mites or the dust? I don't know whether it is the dust that makes me itchy or the mites or what. But caring for my guinea pigs is becoming harder as every time when I come out, a shower is needed or complete clothes change etc and so I don't end up spot cleaning as often as I should either due to this. I do have hay-fever but this itching is different and I have hay fever medication. I had this problem in the past and did this to combat it: emptied the entire room, like literally everything no carpet or anything. Cleaned the entire room top to bottom with mites killing stuff and vinegar water and every possible thing suggested, radiators, skirting board, ceiling, plug sockets, walls, floors, everywhere. Painted all the walls and floor and ceiling and skirting boards. Re-built new custom cages. 3 wooden sides, plexiglass front, cupboards underneath. Threw away all old fleece and fleece accessories, threw away wooden accessories, anything metal or plastic washed in solution and boiling water. As you can imagine, re purchasing this stuff cost so so much and it was emotionally hard getting rid of so much. And so the fact that they are still here is driving me insane. Like emotionally, I am really struggling. Physically aswell with the itching. I don't know what else to do. I already use dust free hay.com incase it was that. I keeo my hay in plastic storage boxes same as pellets and there is still dust on their accessories sometimes on the tables, the floors etc. Same with the mites and I am stuck. I would be greatful for any help. Thanks. P.s. Some of the mites are black, some are like a brown translucent kind of colour. And I can only assume that they are mites. Sorry didnt have any pics of the mites to attach.
