Itchy an sometimes nipping

[Yolanda]

Hi ,my daughter just got an American silk hair, Vanilla Bean on her b'day Nov 22nd. All is ok except I'm not sure how much scratching is to much scratching. So I decided to do a lice an mite check real quick but as soon as I parted her fur going the opposite way her fur lyes to look she started to sqweek,bite an freeze, not a hard bite but enough to shock me. So I petted her the regular way and reassured her its ok n she was still a little frozen but ok,I petted her the opposite way again and sure enough she hated that alot. She did the same bite ,once before only because I just made her fresh veggies but instead of letting her eat right away I held her longer, lol that was my bad. My oldest daughter got her from a pet store surrounded by another guinea an I just want to make sure she's healthy. Help please. How can I get her to relax so I can check her? Thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Holding her in something she feels secure in such as a snuggle sack can help. Failing that, taking her to a vet and getting the vet to check.
It can take a long time before they will handle being held (some never like being held and touched) so slowly and carefully is the best way. I’ve had my boys for six months and neither of them like being touched.
Does she had a friend to live with? Guinea pigs shouldn’t be kept alone.

 

[VickiA]

I’m afraid mites etc are invisible to the human eye, so you will need to take her to a vet to check for signs of mites etc. Please don’t just buy a home treatment as it could be the wrong one or the wrong strength. Vets need to diagnose the type of parasite and then prescribe the correct treatment.
In the meantime, my piggies also hate to have their hair brushed/ parted the wrong way. Holly wails and snaps if I do it. Poppy shrieks like I’m hurting her. Nipping is a sign of telling you they dislike what you are doing. Here is a guide explaining how to work with a biting piggy and get them to trust you " Biting" And What You Can Do

 

[Swissgreys]

I agree with @VickiA
Our very laid back boar Eddi seemed to be quite itchy, but when I tried to examine his fur he nipped at me!
At the time I had no idea that this was a classic sign of skin mites whch are very itchy and extremly uncomfortable for the guiena pig.
We took him to the vet, and she checked under a microscope and still couldn't see any mites (this is common) but she prescribed treatment for them anyway based on his symptoms.
The treatment was a spot on given 3 times over a period of 3 weeks, and within a week of the first dose Eddi was already much better.
After the full course he never had any further problems.

I would suggest taking your piggy to the vet and asking for treatment for mites.

 

[Yolanda]

Thanks everyone the advice I great, I'll find a a vet that handles guineas. It's nice to know your not alone when being a new guinea family. My dad is building a new bigger cage over the holiday break so we can get her a friend, then I'll bring them both to the vets for a once over.

 

[Yolanda]

Holding her in something she feels secure in such as a snuggle sack can help. Failing that, taking her to a vet and getting the vet to check.
It can take a long time before they will handle being held (some never like being held and touched) so slowly and carefully is the best way. I’ve had my boys for six months and neither of them like being touched.
Does she had a friend to live with? Guinea pigs shouldn’t be kept alone.

We're getting her a friend after we have a bigger cage built over the holiday. She doesn't mind being held yay an she snuggles an falls asleep sometimes on my chest, we wait patiently for her to come to us. Thanks a bunch I'll definitely look into a vet now I know it's a guinea thing about the fur.

 

[Swissgreys]

Thanks everyone the advice I great, I'll find a a vet that handles guineas. It's nice to know your not alone when being a new guinea family. My dad is building a new bigger cage over the holiday break so we can get her a friend, then I'll bring them both to the vets for a once over.

It is great that you are getting things sorted for your girl, but please take her to the vets as soon as possible.
Mites are extremely painful for guinea pigs and have actually been linked to seizures and occasionally (in very severe cases) death.
You girls looks fine, but has small parasites burrowing under her skin which is causing her to suffer.
Treatment is simple and not expensive, and the sooner it starts the sooner she will be free from her itching.

Of course it is always a good idea to take any new pig to the vet for a check up, so when she gets a new freind you can certainly take her along, but please don't make her wait until the New Year for treatment.

 

[Yolanda]

It is great that you are getting things sorted for your girl, but please take her to the vets as soon as possible.
Mites are extremely painful for guinea pigs and have actually been linked to seizures and occasionally (in very severe cases) death.
You girls looks fine, but has small parasites burrowing under her skin which is causing her to suffer.
Treatment is simple and not expensive, and the sooner it starts the sooner she will be free from her itching.

Of course it is always a good idea to take any new pig to the vet for a check up, so when she gets a new freind you can certainly take her along, but please don't make her wait until the New Year for treatment.

Hi thanks for the advice, I called to make an appointment with a vet today and seems VanillaBeans symptoms aren't severe, she's not constantly scratching n biting ,I just wasn't sure how much she should be and she seems to be grooming when she's sitting on my chest, or my daughter lap it could also be dry skin an shedding so the Dr said it's ok to wait an bring them.both in at the same time. After I read an watched a video on mites it got me worried and that's why I try to check, I wouldn't make her or anyone wait an suffer. We have a 24hr emergency vets open about 30 miles away so that's good. Thanks again Hun