brown dots

[charleigh]

can someone explain what these little brown dots are please, my pigs have had mites before but i got treatment and they seem to have gone (i health check them everytime i have them out) and i can’t see anything anymore but these dots are still there? is it dirt, mite eggs or something else?

 

[Piggies&buns]

yes it could well be mite egg casings. Please have her seen by a vet for diagnosis and the correct strength course of treatment

 

[Wiebke]

can someone explain what these little brown dots are please, my pigs have had mites before but i got treatment and they seem to have gone (i health check them everytime i have them out) and i can’t see anything anymore but these dots are still there? is it dirt, mite eggs or something else?

Hi!

Please see your vet for potential hay mites; unlike mange mites, this invisibly small mite variety fixes their egg cases to the hairs instead of burrowing them in the skin. Hay mites usually come in imported mass products and industrially harvested hay. Please don't treat on spec with a low dosed pet shop product that won't be strong enough and only prolongs the problem.
If you have got hay mites, you may want to consider trying another hay brand.

You can find more helpful information via these links here:
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites
A Comprehensive Hay Guide for Guinea Pigs (incl. providers in several countries)

 

[charleigh]

Hi!

Please see your vet for potential hay mites; unlike mange mites, this invisibly small mite variety fixes their egg cases to the hairs instead of burrowing them in the skin. Hay mites usually come in imported mass products and industrially harvested hay. Please don't treat on spec with a low dosed pet shop product that won't be strong enough and only prolongs the problem.
If you have got hay mites, you may want to consider trying another hay brand.

You can find more helpful information via these links here:
New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites
A Comprehensive Hay Guide for Guinea Pigs (incl. providers in several countries)

hiya

i will get them booked in as soon as i possible can but can it still be mites if they aren’t itching or aren’t bothered by it at all?

 

[Wiebke]

hiya

i will get them booked in as soon as i possible can but can it still be mites if they aren’t itching or aren’t bothered by it at all?

Hay mites are mildest of the guinea pig specific parasites so they don't cause the same amount of discomfort to the skin that egg burrowing mange mites and skin biting lice (who live on the species specific blood) do. Hay mites do live off the debris on the hairs and skin and fix their egg cases to the hairs - that is what you see.

They can however become an issue when they take over and become a larger infestation; they are usually much easier to notice on light coloured piggies than on dark-haired ones. Some, especially from large scale commercially exported hay can be rather resistant if you are unlucky. We have seen a sharp rise in cases (including cases with resistancy) in the wake of international branded hay started to turn up in UK pets shops whereas before that hay mites were an easily to deal with seasonal issue coming with untreated cheap directly sourced farm hay.

What we cannot do is diagnose just from a picture; we are not qualified vets and - as we are based in the UK - not allowed to replace any hands-on examination by a vet. We can only tell you when to see a vet and support you with practical tips during treatment and recovery.