There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. These large, non-burrowing mites can be found on cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and other animals and can bite, but do not live on humans (cause small reddened, itchy spots). Massage a few drops of tea tree oil into his skin and let sit 10 minutes. To treat mites and lice in guinea pigs, start by taking your pets to a veterinarian, who can determine what type of infestation they have and prescribe an effective treatment. Disease is more often seen in young or stressed animals. No, the lice and mites found on guinea pigs are a completely different species from the kind that infects humans. That is the worst thing that ever happened to my Ginger.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'petcosset_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',158,'0','0'])); As a pet owner, your cavy’s health should be your priority. Every dollar contributed enables us to keep providing high-quality how-to help to people like you. Apart from the excessive hair loss and itching affected pet can loose some weight, be passive or be in agitated state due to the discomfort. If an outbreak occurs you can easily… Bathing Guinea Pigs Bathe Guinea Pigs for grooming reasons is not quite elegant. Completely safe and effective. A contaminated bedding may also be the reason why your guinea pig has mites.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'petcosset_com-banner-1','ezslot_2',152,'0','0'])); There are two most popular kinds of mites- the sarcoptic and static mites. Because it rarely causes clinical disease, treatment is usually unnecessary. Although not a variety of louse, these mites are commonly known under the name 'static lice', as opposed to 'running lice'. It's not advisable to treat a guinea pig with flea medications made for dogs and cats other than Revolution, as these chemicals can be toxic to guinea pigs. Don’t worry, your vet will recommend the ideal product for your furry friend. Chirodiscoides caviae. The best thing you can do is get help from the vet because he/she can perform a procedure called skin scraping or provide you with the right kind of shampoo, capable of killing mites. The static mites on guinea pigs are parasites that run up or down their hair shafts. Avoid overhandling your guinea pig. In severe cases, this issue may result in terrible health for your pet, which can soon become a chronic disease that can be fatal. To kill all mites, we recommend washing everything in your guinea pig’s cage, including the bedding, the trough, and the feeder. You should take your cavies to the vet to discover without a doubt what sort of mites or lice it has Direct oral or injectable medications for lice. Static Mite is common on Guinea Pigs. I suspect my guinea pigs have gotten lice, but my mother doesn't want to take them to the vet. Mites cause irritation of the skin, triggering scratching, pain when touched and hair loss. Mange mites (Trixacarus caviae) ... are sometimes referred to as "static lice". When the guinea pig is stressed, the infestation can flare up, causing distress and discomfort to the guinea pig. This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. First try by cleaning out the cage really good, then replace the bedding with a different type. The vet will likely diagnose the guinea pig based on symptoms (itching, hair loss, skin irritation, etc.). 88 (£0.97/count) £5.85 £5.85. The most common of these parasites will only be found on guinea pigs and are species specific, meaning they cannot be transmitted to people or other species of animal. Lice or mites in Guinea Pigs is a very itchy condition. Prepackaged food and bedding materials, even if they are not made of natural materials, can harbor lice and be brought into your house from pet stores. It would depend on the medication. % of people told us that this article helped them. Guinea Pigs and Mites Mites are common parasites for Guinea Pigs because they always live on them and there is no chance to get rid of them. If one of your Guinea Pigs has an outbreak you can treat it quite good if you spot it in time. Can be used as often as required. You can distinguish this issue because the skin cells will flake off, and the appearance is similar to dandruff. Mites cause irritation of the skin, triggering scratching, pain when touched and hair loss. If you see a mild infection, get help immediately, and don’t wait for it to become severe as a piece of advice. These mites cause such itchiness that your guinea pig … Static mites are parasites that run up and down guinea pigs’ hair shafts, whilst sarcoptic mites are parasites that burrow under guinea pigs’ skin and cause the extremely painful condition known as sarcoptic mange. How to Treat Mites and Lice in Guinea Pigs, https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/guinea_pigs/guinea_pig_illnesses/mite_and_lice_treatments, http://www.animalhealthfoundation.net/blog/2012/07/itchy-guinea-pig-likely-has-1-of-3-ailments/, http://www.exoticpetvet.com/health-problems-with-guinea-pigs.html, http://northstarrescue.org/pet-care-information/general-care-articles/72-health-concerns-for-humans, https://www.petmd.com/exotic/conditions/skin/c_ex_gp_fur_mites, http://kb.rspca.org.au/what-are-the-common-health-problems-in-pet-guinea-pigs_294.html, Milben und Läuse bei Meerschweinchen behandeln, se débarrasser des acariens et des poux chez les cobayes, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. This can cause a very painful condition in your guinea pigs, known as sarcoptic mange. Fur mite infestation is a commonly encountered skin problem in guinea pigs. Whichever of these your guinea pig has, it’s important that you don’t try to treat it using anti-flea medication, as lots of flea treatments contain ingredients that are poisonous … Just keep an eye on them and how the treatment works. Infection may be subclinical, and diarrhea is rarely pre… If you're really unable to afford it, then the only other option is to turn your guinea pigs over to a shelter/rescue that can give them the proper medical attention they deserve. Firstly, it's best to examine the skin and fur of your guinea pig to determine if it's sarcoptic mites, static mites, or lice. A healthy cavy prevents an increase of the population of mites by its immune system. The most common medicine for both mites and lice is Ivermectin. The best option is taking them to the vet. There are two types of mites: static and sarcoptic. Then there is the mite that actually lives on all guinea pigs you cannot see them but if the pig becomes depressed or … Some parts of the cavy’s body are hairless or will become bald due to infection. Most of the time, lice and mites are microscopic and need a veterinarian to find them. They aren't a natural host for fleas. Can humans get mites or lice from guinea pigs? What is the best way to bathe a guinea pig? She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On For Rabbit, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets and Rats. Other causes of hair loss can be due to hormonal upsets caused by underlying medical conditions such as ovarian cysts. Static mites live in your guinea pigs' fur, and look like dust on their coat. This is what I use when my guinea pigs get mites. The commonplace in which cavies acquire some skin irritations is its hay or beddings. Two common species of fur mites found in guinea pigs are Chirodiscoides caviae and Cheyletiella parasitivorax. Static lice/mites do not burrow into the skin so will only need to be treated with a special shampoo (neem products) see the links provided. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. Infested guinea pigs may be pruritic, but are usually unaffected. Take her to the vet. Here are the following that you must familiarize: Scratching is one of the signs that your pet is infested with these harmful creatures called mites. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 64,574 times. If your guinea pig has static mites – which makes it resemble your pig has dust in their fur – you’ll require an exceptional cleanser. The vet will have more powerful – and better – ways of diagnosing your guinea pig. You may also notice the hair has a generally low-quality appearance compared to normal. Mites, Lice, Fleas, Ticks — unwanted subtenants Fight against Parasites on Guinea Pigs [Auto translated] There are a couple of parasites that your Guinea Pig may be infected with or could be attacked from. Static mites are treated with a special shampoo or spray, and sarcoptic mites are treated with a shampoo and an oral wormer. "Will give a try hopefully missy muffet will feel better soon.". Static mites are parasites that run up and down guinea pigs’ hair shafts, whilst sarcoptic mites are parasites that burrow under guinea pigs’ skin and cause the extremely painful condition known as sarcoptic mange. It’s fairly common for mite infestations to spread at pet stores and pet breeding facilities, so new owners often discover mites on their newly purchased guineas. They don't hurt or affect the piggy in anyway - its merely an annoyance! If your pets have static mites, which look like dust in their fur, you’ll need to treat them with a prescription spray or shampoo. These are – sarcoptic mites and static mites. Most common parasites are mites, lice and of … A healthy cavy prevents an increase of the population of mites by its immune system. It’s best to sterilize these with hot water or, if finances allow, throw them away and buy new ones. The mites guinea pigs get do not like living on humans. 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,438. By doing so, you’re sure that it can extend its lifespan. More buying choices £3.85 (22 new offers) OUT! The shampoo should be safe for their skin, just be careful not to get any in their eyes, and make … The veterinarian will prescribe some antibiotics to treat the illness so that the fatal infection will be avoided. For the final thoughts, you should be genuinely aware of whatever your pet comes in contact with. Lice and Mites in Guinea Pigs Basics OVERVIEW • Scabies mites (Trixacarus caviae) are the most common and significant ectoparasite of the guinea pig. They can grow up to 0.3mm. (Using Revolution, Malseb and lice spray). Look carefully, you may see small bumps just under the skin in the area of infestation. But the sarcoptic mites are the parasites that burrow under the skin of the guinea pigs. It is because infections are not a good thing to happen to your pet. This means that humans get human lice, mice get mouse lice, guinea pigs get guinea pig lice, and so on. My guinea pig had mites, and I know its horrible to see them in pain like that, but your doing the best you can. Then bathe the guinea pigs before you put them back in the cage. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Treat-Mites-and-Lice-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Treat-Mites-and-Lice-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Treat-Mites-and-Lice-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid9175873-v4-728px-Treat-Mites-and-Lice-in-Guinea-Pigs-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"