Lice or mites!? Please help!

[Alix]

My two girls recently had babies, babies are now a week old. All has been well I gave the hutcha good clean all fresh bedding and hay so it's nice and cosy for the new arrivals.
Noticed yesterday one of the mum's has a dry sore skin above her eye, took her too the vets yesterday, they assumed it's ring worm and have given her meds for that as well as antibiotics. She would have done a test but that takes two weeks for results and wanted to start treatment right away for ring worm as she's got babies to take care of.
I've got them all out today to check everyone ever and in my darker furred pig I've notice this tiny yet long yellowish things crawling about in her fur. And on closer inspection I can see them in the fur of the others too! I have no idea what they are or Where they came from. We have no other contact with any other guinea pigs and the only other animals I have is a cat and a python!
I spent an absolute fortune at the vets yesterday and I just can't afford to spend tons more as bad as that sounds

 

[Wiebke]

My two girls recently had babies, babies are now a week old. All has been well I gave the hutcha good clean all fresh bedding and hay so it's nice and cosy for the new arrivals.
Noticed yesterday one of the mum's has a dry sore skin above her eye, took her too the vets yesterday, they assumed it's ring worm and have given her meds for that as well as antibiotics. She would have done a test but that takes two weeks for results and wanted to start treatment right away for ring worm as she's got babies to take care of.
I've got them all out today to check everyone ever and in my darker furred pig I've notice this tiny yet long yellowish things crawling about in her fur. And on closer inspection I can see them in the fur of the others too! I have no idea what they are or Where they came from. We have no other contact with any other guinea pigs and the only other animals I have is a cat and a python!
I spent an absolute fortune at the vets yesterday and I just can't afford to spend tons more as bad as that sounds View attachment 105649View attachment 105648

Hi!

Please have a read of this guide here; it contains a list of the most common problems that new guinea pigs come with, including ringworm and skin parasites. Do not medicate on spec and seek competent vet care. Antibiotics are not needed for either ringworm or skin parasites.

Pregnant and nursing sows have an immune system that is working overtime; this means that they are in the increased risk group when it comes to opportunistic illnesses and problems that are usually fended off by a healthy guinea pig with a fully operational immune system.
You will also have to treat the babies as soon as it is safe to as their immune system is only just starting up. Babies need a health check every day and new mothers one at least every second day while they are still nursing.
What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

Please make sure that you feed your guinea pigs really well to boost their immune system and keep them warm and safe in the house in the current cold weather; they require roughly the same temperature range we humans are feeling well in (ca. 15-25 C). Newborn babies cannot yet regulate their body temperature and can go downhill in a matter of hours. You need to treat guinea pigs like tender plants; they are not hardy and their internal heat regulating system is not laid out for the extremes of weather (heat as well as cold) or major temperature changes.
Please also note that you need to remove any baby boars at 3 weeks old/250g of weight.
Here is our pregnancy/nursing diet and care as well as sexing/separation advice: Sexing, Pregnancy & Baby Care(members only)
Cold Weather Care For Guinea Pigs
Hot weather management and heat strokes

Can I please ask how you have come to have the babies?

 

[Alix]

I feel slightly annoyed the vet didn't pick up on the insects but to me I think they are lice, but where they came from I have no idea and it's making me feel panicked and sad.
I've rang the vets and waiting a phone call back from them. I've had my piggys for over two years without a problem. I bought a second one from a local lady back in the summer last year, and was sexed as being a girl. Turns out he was not a girl and was sexed wrong. Which I feel stupid for not double checking as I studied animal management at college and did sexing of animals! The boar is separate now.

 

[Wiebke]

I feel slightly annoyed the vet didn't pick up on the insects but to me I think they are lice, but where they came from I have no idea and it's making me feel panicked and sad.
I've rang the vets and waiting a phone call back from them. I've had my piggys for over two years without a problem. I bought a second one from a local lady back in the summer last year, and was sexed as being a girl. Turns out he was not a girl and was sexed wrong. Which I feel stupid for not double checking as I studied animal management at college and did sexing of animals! The boar is separate now.

Thank you for clearing that up.

It sounds like lice as neither guinea pig specific mites variety is visible to the nakes eye. Please read the guide links in my last post. They contain all the necessary information on ringworm care and parasites as well as baby and mother care plus a link to our illustrated sexing guide for babies and adults.

Unfortunately pregnant/nursing piggies are more liable to come down with things hard because their immune system is working overtime so if something is around, then it will hit hard. Hutch piggies are more exposed and therefore more liable to catch things than indoors piggies. It is not a sign of bad care, just exposure. Important is that you catch things early and treat promptly before it can become a huge problem so it is never going to be more than a nuisance. Please be careful to ask your vet for their stance re. using ivermectin on babies/nursing mothers. This area is currently a bit contested and doesn't have a broad consensus.

Make sure that you follow our ringworm hygiene advice (via the fungal and parasite link). In a dozen years of existence, we have just about found every possible angle of transmission and how to address it in order to prevent a recurrance. It really pays to do things right the first time round!

 

[Alix]

Everything I've looked at says I can't use on guinea pigs under 12 weeks or nursing guinea pigs. So how do I go about treating them for lice asap?
Still waiting to hear from the vet D:

 

[Wiebke]

Everything I've looked at says I can't use on guinea pigs under 12 weeks or nursing guinea pigs. So how do I go about treating them for lice asap?
Still waiting to hear from the vet D:

Try lice'n'easy shampoo from Gorgeous Guineas. You can still treat topically and do a full course of ivermectin once it is safe to make sure that they won't hang around or come back. You can ask Christine whether it is safe to use on a nursing sow and babies or contact your vet for what kind of medicated shampoo or dip he thinks is safe to use for lice.
And please do not blame your vet for an oversight; the lice may likely not have been around yet during your consultation. They can come on and spread quite quickly.
External Parasites

Please be aware that you need to wait at least 48 hours between any applications to the skin in order to allow the active ingredients to be properly absorbed. As to ringworm, imaverol/enilconazole dip is safe to use.

 

[Alix]

I can't seem to get lice n easy where I live. I've found an insecticidal shampoo for guinea pigs but says not to use on pregnant, nursing or babies under 12 weeks.
I've found some spot on with 150ug ivermectin but says the same about nursing pigs. Says guinea pig should weigh 300g or more to be treated.

 

[VickiA]

Gorgeous Guineas products are not usually in the shops but are available to buy online Lice n Easy Shampoo 100ml

I wouldn’t treat any lactating Sow or baby with any treatment that hasn’t been prescribed by the vet. I wouldn’t use spot on for that reason.

Please speak to your vets about how best to proceed.