Mite problem?

[Cozmo]

Last night I got Bea in for a cuddle, when I picked her up to give her kisses, there was a tiny bug on the towel where she'd just been on (along with some bits of hay that were stuck to her when she come in). It was a beige sort of colour and I figured it could have been a hay mite.

Today I went to the petshop and bought some Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot on which contains Ivermectin. I just wanna make sure this is alright to give guinea's as I don't wanna give it and then find out its as bad as Bob Martins or some ones had a bad experience with it or something!

Plus when I put Phoenix in the run just now I noticed he's scratching quite a bit (not loads but more than normal). So I think I need to treat everyone just to be on the safe side.

I wanna treat them asap if that stuff IS alright to use.

 

[Wiebke]

Here is the link to mites on guinealynx:
http://www.guinealynx.info/furmites.html

Do they look like that?

 

[lovelygirl]

I would suspect Lice rather than mites! ivermectin does not work on lice only mites so you need to get the correct diagnosis

 

[Cozmo]

No it wasn't on the pig...it was on the towel and was a little bug (like a green fly only smaller and without any wings....and beige).

On the stuff I've bought it said it contains Ivermectin and is effective against live, fleas, mange mites, other mites and roundworm.

 

[lovelygirl]

Lice feed on the dead skin cells the ivermectin kills things that drink blood.

google guinea pig lice on the image settings - I thought mites were microscopic and were only visible under microscope

 

[clairelove]

sounds like lice in this case xenex works for lice where as ivermec only works on mites 2 diff things mites you cant really see where as lice they look a light brown coloue almost like little bits/flakes of hay which move

 

[Cozmo]

Thats what I thought too lovelygirl. The bug I saw doesn't look like anything I've googled so maybe it was just a lil bug totally unrelated to the pigs and the hay.

However, 2 of my piggies are itching, so I wonder if I should still treat them. Before I do, I wanna know if Beaphar products are alright with guinea pigs. Don't wanna do more harm than good. Poor lil babies

 

[lovelygirl]

Do you have any lice and easy gorgeous guineas shampoo? Do they live outside? Might be best to treat for both but you can't bathe them after you use the spot on for 2 day, so it is better to bathe and then use the spot on.

 

[Cozmo]

No I don't have any Lice and Easy unfortunately, I use Johnsons Baby shampoo. They live outside but in a shed, so I'm reluctant to bath them in this cold weather, but was going to when it warmed up a bit more.

I might just have to use the treatment for the time being to prevent it from getting any worse.

 

[Laura-CCC4]

I have used Beaphar Anti-Parasite spot-on successfully. I prefer Xeno as the dosage is more accurate, but Beaphar can still do the job.