Lice

[babikitty]

Can Guinea pigs get lice from people? And are mites the same thing as lice? How should i treat them?

 

[sport_billy]

Mites are not lice, you cannot see them.

For the best explanation of the different kinds of lice or mites

Have a read of the page on guinea lynx Guinea Lynx :: Parasites

Do you think your piggies have a skin issue?

 

[Wiebke]

Can Guinea pigs get lice from people? And are mites the same thing as lice? How should i treat them?

Blood sucking lice and mites are not the same. Mites, whether it is mange mites that burrow their eggs into the skin or hay mites which fix their to the hairs at the bum end, are not visible.

All skin parasites are species specific, which means that they cannot survive for long on another host species, so you are in no danger of catching anything from your piggies or vice versa.

You need to treat parasites in an acute outbreak. Please do not use low dosed broad spectrum shop products that will only temporarily suppress but not kill and see a vet for a proper diagnosis and good quality treatment.

Please get either insurance or save up weekly/monthly for a vet fund in order to be able to afford vet care whenever needed. A serious illness can quickly go into the hundreds of pounds/dollars!