Lice.... Any Advice

[Jojessgaz]

Just been to the vets last nite... just for piece of mind really as guinea pigs seemed to be scratching bit and one was drinking lots. She showed me tiny little brown dots on the white fur of one saying they look like lice. I have been given xeno 450 spot on to be used then repeated after 2 weeks. I was just wondering if
1... I had done anything wrong for them to get this
2.... really the hutch etc... I have half fleece and half snowflake and newspaper... can I 60degree wash the bedding ..will that be OK ..and would it be easier for now to use newspaper that I can change every other day? Will anti bacteria cage cleaner be enough to dis infect everywhere. Do I need to get rid of their wooden stuff and stuffed toys?
Thanks for any advise. .. think it's caught early as can see no scabs or fur loss just on the white fur these little brown specs ..the other is black so treating her anyway as much harder to see but she's scratching too

 

[Wiebke]

Just been to the vets last nite... just for piece of mind really as guinea pigs seemed to be scratching bit and one was drinking lots. She showed me tiny little brown dots on the white fur of one saying they look like lice. I have been given xeno 450 spot on to be used then repeated after 2 weeks. I was just wondering if
1... I had done anything wrong for them to get this
2.... really the hutch etc... I have half fleece and half snowflake and newspaper... can I 60degree wash the bedding ..will that be OK ..and would it be easier for now to use newspaper that I can change every other day? Will anti bacteria cage cleaner be enough to dis infect everywhere. Do I need to get rid of their wooden stuff and stuffed toys?
Thanks for any advise. .. think it's caught early as can see no scabs or fur loss just on the white fur these little brown specs ..the other is black so treating her anyway as much harder to see but she's scratching too

Skin parasites are a fact of life in any furry pets, so please do not beat yourself up. Fur or hay mites (also called static lice for the visible egg cases) typically come with hay. Hopefully, the xeno will do the trick. if not, a contact your vet and ask for a lice shampoo.

 

[VickiA]

No- you've done nothing wrong. All of us at some point have had to deal with parasites. Piggies, as I understand, can usually cope with these pesky critters, but if they are stressed in some way they may become a problem. Hopefully the Xeno will do the trick.

 

[Jojessgaz]

Skin parasites are a fact of life in any furry pets, so please do not beat yourself up. Fur or hay mites (also called static lice for the visible egg cases) typically come with hay. Hopefully, the xeno will do the trick. if not, a contact your vet and ask for a lice shampoo.

Thanks @Wiebke ... what do you suggest re the hutch... have washed at 60 all the fleece and dis infected... not sure now if to leave fleece and just use snowflakes and newspaper all over hutch instead of my usual just on bottom tier.then I can remove every two days and keep cleaning? Should I buy a new hey bag? Sorry to bombard you.. very new to this and trying to prevent a return to the vets at another poss £40 Inc shampoo... £80 bill for lice could well done without but I'd pay anything needed when it comes to their wellbeing

 

[Jojessgaz]

No- you've done nothing wrong. All of us at some point have had to deal with parasites. Piggies, as I understand, can usually cope with these pesky critters, but if they are stressed in some way they may become a problem. Hopefully the Xeno will do the trick.

Thanks @VickiA makes me feel better... I'm the same if my daughter get lice at school. Always feel bad! Haha. Can you advise the basics to follow to try my best not to have to return to vets... not cheep. Trying to avoid another £40 bill. So they have had their first dose. Do I need to try brush them at all? Will that not help. Also 60 deg washed all fleece that's upstairs in their hutch. Lowe level has sawdust hay and newspaper. Is it the hay that's caused them? What's best to put back down for now? Was thinking just sawdust and paper then clean every other day for a couple of weeks til they get their 2nd dose. Don't really want to wash fleece every other day or will that be better for them for now and just spot clean as normal. Just need a plan to follow. .. don't mind the time involved to get them better

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks @Wiebke ... what do you suggest re the hutch... have washed at 60 all the fleece and dis infected... not sure now if to leave fleece and just use snowflakes and newspaper all over hutch instead of my usual just on bottom tier.then I can remove every two days and keep cleaning? Should I buy a new hey bag? Sorry to bombard you.. very new to this and trying to prevent a return to the vets at another poss £40 Inc shampoo... £80 bill for lice could well done without but I'd pay anything needed when it comes to their wellbeing

I would recommend to change the hay. Personally, I find getting a bottle of F10 disinfectant concentrate or spray very effective for any deep clean, as it is the only one that also kills ringworm spores; most disinfectants are only antibacterial, not antifungal.

Sadly, vet bills are the biggest outlay that you have with any pet, so I would strongly recommend to set aside a sum every week or month to build up a vet fund in case of a serious illness, which can quickly run into the hundreds or even over a thousand pounds; otherwise get exotics insurance for your guinea pigs.
veterinary fees - some important information

 

[VickiA]

If it's static lice that usually comes from the hay so It may be worth Binning the current bag and trying a new one.

You've disinfected the hutch and washed bedding at 60 so there's nothing more you need to do. They've had Xeno so unless they get worse (start going bald)/ scabby you don't need to do anything more until the second dose of Xeno is due. You don't need to change anything else.

Believe me - this is just a normal hazard of having piggies. Nothing to worry unduly about. I've just been dealing with a mites infestation in one cage - my old lady Violet (she's had a stressful year) and a fungal infection in my youngster Mabel who lives in a different cage. Both under control.

 

[VickiA]

@Wiebke and I posted about same time. F10 disinfectant is the best. I get mine from my vets as they use it, buy in bulk and sell in cheaper than Amazon.

 

[Jojessgaz]

Thanks both of you.. just a quick question having put the xeno on them both ... they went on the grass for a bit and the white one flossy where i put the xeno where her fur is wet...it's gone green on the end of her fur? Seems odd? Thanks again though for your help and really assurance. .. makes a lot of difference when others tell you to stop worrying

 

[VickiA]

Just checking - did you put it on the back of the neck?

 

[Jojessgaz]

Yes I did.. that was the odd thing.. on the top of her fur... seems to be OK now and they both eating fine. Not sure if I was suppose to rub it in..I just let it soak so all the top of the small area on their neck fur wise looks wet... bit oily looking. Feel like I want to do more for them. But will let them be now and hope things work

 

[AbiS]

I had a nasty infestation of hay mites a couple of years ago. All of their hay now takes a 24hr trip through the freezer to make sure any insects are dead before they reach the boys.

 

[VickiA]

Yes I did.. that was the odd thing.. on the top of her fur... seems to be OK now and they both eating fine. Not sure if I was suppose to rub it in..I just let it soak so all the top of the small area on their neck fur wise looks wet... bit oily looking. Feel like I want to do more for them. But will let them be now and hope things work

Yes, it does look oily for a while as its where they can't clean it off. All sounds normal. Please don't stress. You've caught it early.