Lice and fleas

[Stephanie 784]

What can I treat my pigs with that is safe to get rid of lice and fleas? I just got eight and they were all kept in horrible conditions I gave them all baths and trinmed there nails? Thanks

 

[Wiebke]

What can I treat my pigs with that is safe to get rid of lice and fleas? I just got eight and they were all kept in horrible conditions I gave them all baths and trinmed there nails? Thanks

Hi and welcome

Please have any piggies from a bad situation vet checked and assessed. Fungal (ringworm) and guinea pig skin parasites (guinea pigs don't have species specific fleas) need different treatment.
If your vet recommends to treat for both, please ask for one of them to be injected (ivermectin for advanced mites) or given orally (itraconazole (UK)/ketaconazole (US) as you always need to wait 48 hours between any application to the skin to allow it to be absorbed fully.

Please do not treat on spec with low dosed cheap broad spectrum shop products and be aware that flea powders for dogs/cats; they can kill a guinea pig.
Whether you rescue on the private side or run a proper rescue, vet cost for neglected/ill piggies are part of the process and by far the largest budget post!

Also make sure that you double-check the gender, assess with your vet whether they are a good weight for their size, show signs of malnutrion (scurvy, problems with the back teeth, gut issues), have any wounds etc.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness) (contains further links)
The Importance Of Weighing - Ideal Weight / Overweight / Underweight (how to check whether a guinea pig is a good weight for its size)
Guinea pig body quirks (learning what is normal and what not in a the body)
Long Term Balanced General And Special Needs Guinea Pig Diets

Contains tips on how to settle guinea pigs in that haven't had much in the way of human interaction, links to recommended vets for several countries, guinea pig behaviour, spotting illness etc.
Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides

Since we have got members and enquiries from all over the world, we find it very helpful if you please added your country, state/province or UK county to your details so we can always tailor any advice to what is relevant and available where you are straight away. Click on your username on the top bar, then go to account details and then down to location. This makes it appear with every post you make and saves everybody time. Thank you!

 

[Stephanie 784]

Thanks we don’t have a vet where I live that does small pets she does her best but I don’t want them to end up not getting the treatment they need. But they have been seen by a vet she told me to bath them and clip the hair off there bellies and apply the Ointment from the ammonia burns on thier stomach but she wasn’t sure what to put on them for fleas and lice witch is common around where I live. Thanks so much for the info I will be adding my location in just a moment.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks we don’t have a vet where I live that does small pets she does her best but I don’t want them to end up not getting the treatment they need. But they have been seen by a vet she told me to bath them and clip the hair off there bellies and apply the Ointment from the ammonia burns on thier stomach but she wasn’t sure what to put on them for fleas and lice witch is common around where I live. Thanks so much for the info I will be adding my location in just a moment.

Here are the tips for recommended brands for treatment in your country; we use them in those cases where we have members that do not have piggy savvy vet access.
Guinea Lynx :: Parasites
Guinea Lynx :: Fungus

Sadly no recommended vets for your state on Guinea Lynx, either.