Does anyone know what these are?

[My Piggies]

Oscar and Daisy have these small brown creatures on them (mainly on their bum and near their face). I assume Poppet also has them but I can't see them because of her dark fur. The creatures are moving, but don't seem to be bothering them too much. I've attached some photos, they're a bit hard to see but they are there. They look like tiny black dots. We will be taking them to the vet sometime this week.
Any ideas or advice?
Thanks

 

[dhill_cb7]

My boys had lice which might be what these are. Mites are not visible to the naked eye.

Experts will be along to provide more information.

 

[Wiebke]

Oscar and Daisy have these small brown creatures on them (mainly on their bum and near their face). I assume Poppet also has them but I can't see them because of her dark fur. The creatures are moving, but don't seem to be bothering them too much. I've attached some photos, they're a bit hard to see but they are there. They look like tiny black dots. We will be taking them to the vet sometime this week.
Any ideas or advice?
Thanks
View attachment 195455View attachment 195456

Hi

They could be hay mite eggs (chirodiscoides caviae); the mites themselves are invisible but fix their tiny egg cases to the hairs especially around the bum and the underlayers. They live off skin and hair debris but some strains can be difficult to get rid off. They often come with mass produced and harvested international import hay brands; hence their name.

Please see a vet for a hands-on examination since we cannot diagnose sight unseen; we can only make educated guesses. Do not treat on spec with low dosed pet shop products that will only temporarily suppress the skin parasites but not clear them out. Once under treatment, please deep clean the cage and all contents, throw your hay away and research for a different hay brand.

More information here: New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

All the best.

 

[My Piggies]

Hi

They could be hay mite eggs (chirodiscoides caviae); the mites themselves are invisible but fix their tiny egg cases to the hairs especially around the bum and the underlayers. They live off skin and hair debris but some strains can be difficult to get rid off. They often come with mass produced and harvested international import hay brands; hence their name.

Please see a vet for a hands-on examination since we cannot diagnose sight unseen; we can only make educated guesses. Do not treat on spec with low dosed pet shop products that will only temporarily suppress the skin parasites but not clear them out. Once under treatment, please deep clean the cage and all contents, throw your hay away and research for a different hay brand.

More information here: New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

All the best.

Thanks. This is great information. We use Oxbow hay at the moment. Do you think this might be the cause?

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks. This is great information. We use Oxbow hay at the moment. Do you think this might be the cause?

International brand that is harvested in a way that churns up the soil much more than traditional smaller scale farming methods... Yes, unfortunately, it could.

We have seen a distinct rise of hay mites very much correlating with the import of large international hay brands in UK chain pet stores.
Before that, hay mites were usually only an issue for those buying hay directly from a local farmer and they very easy to get rid of; more in the range of a minor nuisance.

 

[My Piggies]

International brand that is harvested in a way that churns up the soil much more than traditional smaller scale farming methods... Yes, unfortunately, it could.

We have seen a distinct rise of hay mites very much correlating with the import of large international hay brands in UK chain pet stores.
Before that, hay mites were usually only an issue for those buying hay directly from a local farmer and they very easy to get rid of; more in the range of a minor nuisance.

Okay. Do you think I'd have better luck with farm hay from a rescue?

 

[Wiebke]

Okay. Do you think I'd have better luck with farm hay from a rescue?

If you can get it, please do! They will certainly not sell any hay that puts their own piggies at risk and you do support both a good cause as well as local business and do something for the environment, too.

I have only ever had one case of hay mites from an unquarantined new surrender who had to go through their quarantine at my home. My piggies are on local farm hay from a equine hay producer via a local independent pet shop (rodents and rabbits need first cut while horses need second cut, so both sides are happy).