Mites / lice help

[Rachels piggies]

Hello. I adopted 2 x 13 month old piggy sows today. I already have 2 x short haired silkies. The two I've adopted have long hair and I'm feeling a bit scared I've taken on too much already.. the long hair is unknown territory. Anyway. I bathed them both as they'd NEVER been bathed despite having extremely long hair. Whilst bathing one of them LOTS of tiny black bits came into the water. I don't know if was tiny particles of dried poo or mite or lice or what?! I changed the water and re washed her and same again happened. I suspect it would keep happening but I needed to get her dry. The othet piggy didn't have any bits come off her. What could they be? Dead lice? It freaked me out a bit. They then came onto the brush when I brushed her wet fur. I'm worried about my other 2 girlie's catching them from contact off the kids. Please help. Thank u.

 

[Wiebke]

Hello. I adopted 2 x 13 month old piggy sows today. I already have 2 x short haired silkies. The two I've adopted have long hair and I'm feeling a bit scared I've taken on too much already.. the long hair is unknown territory. Anyway. I bathed them both as they'd NEVER been bathed despite having extremely long hair. Whilst bathing one of them LOTS of tiny black bits came into the water. I don't know if was tiny particles of dried poo or mite or lice or what?! I changed the water and re washed her and same again happened. I suspect it would keep happening but I needed to get her dry. The othet piggy didn't have any bits come off her. What could they be? Dead lice? It freaked me out a bit. They then came onto the brush when I brushed her wet fur. I'm worried about my other 2 girlie's catching them from contact off the kids. Please help. Thank you.

Hi and welcome!

Please have your guinea pigs vet checked and double-check the gender, as we recommend for all guinea pigs that do not come from a good standard guinea pig rescue with mandatory quarantine/vet care (which your adoption place doesn't sound like). Make sure that you conduct a quarantine in another room before you let all your piggies together.

Long hair can be kept under control with some judificious regualr hair cutting around the genital/bum/back area where it soils and mats quickest. Keeping at least the undercoat on the sides short is also a great time and matting saver for grooming time. If you are worried about parasites, please give your piggy a shorthair cut, so you can assess any problem better; the hair will regrow pretty quickly.
You may be dealing with hay mites (chirodiscoides caviae), the most harmless of parasites, but without a hands-on examination our guess is as yours.

Please take the time to read this helpful guide here: What to check and look out for in new guinea pigs (vet checks, sexing, parasites&illness)

It is part of our new owners information and support package that addresses a very wide range of topics we get the most questions and cries for help about. Getting Started - New Owners' Most Helpful Guides