Hello there, I was wondering if anyone knew about guinea pig lice/mites. I was just looking at my Guineas fur and noticed a couple of long small moving live looking things on his back. They are acting absolutely fine and there is no hair loss anywhere however I tried to call a few vets and they either can’t take new clients or don’t have appointments soon. Has anyone got any advice? I would be so grateful!
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Guinea Pig Lice?
- Thread starter piggiewb
- Start date
If you suspect your piggy has lice, please do keep calling for a vet. This needs correct diagnosis and prescribed treatment.
Lice are pale crawling parasites which are visible. Mites are not visible
Please thoroughly disinfect your cage using F10. The guide below explains further
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
Lice are pale crawling parasites which are visible. Mites are not visible
Please thoroughly disinfect your cage using F10. The guide below explains further
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
I don’t have F10 but I do have antibacterial spray, I try so hard to keep them all fresh and clean I just don’t know how they have got them. I am pretty sure they’re lice now. Is it really urgent as the vet said I may not get an appointment until the end of next week
I don't think it’s because they are dirty. I think lice come in hay. So it’s not that you are not cleaning them enough. Get the earliest vet appointment you can. I wouldn’t wash them before the vets (or at all) as the vet won’t be able to see all the dandruff and lice to make a diagnosis. 
. You’ve said they are eating ok and have no hair loss or bad skin patches. So I suppose it can wait till then. But get in as soon as possible.
. You’ve said they are eating ok and have no hair loss or bad skin patches. So I suppose it can wait till then. But get in as soon as possible.okay thank you that’s a very good point about the bath! And yeah I have been doing some more reading and it seems like it mainly come from other piggies but I don’t know anymore apart from mine, very strange! Do you think I should get rid of the hay I have just opened?I don't think it’s because they are dirty. I think lice come in hay. So it’s not that you are not cleaning them enough. Get the earliest vet appointment you can. I wouldn’t wash them before the vets (or at all) as the vet won’t be able to see all the dandruff and lice to make a diagnosis.
If you’ve just opened it then they probably had them before that bag? Don’t get rid of anything until you’ve spoken to the vet. This bag of hay is not going to hurt them anymore as is seems they already have lice. 
. I really am no expert though. I’m only giving advice on what I would do.
. I really am no expert though. I’m only giving advice on what I would do.Okay no worries, thank you, I normally get my hay and food from pets at home so it must have come from there, devastated though I can’t bare the thought of them crawling all over them the poor thingsIf you’ve just opened it then they probably had them before that bag? Don’t get rid of anything until you’ve spoken to the vet. This bag of hay is not going to hurt them anymore as is seems they already have lice.
My two boars are being treated for mites at the moment. I get some of my hay and my wood shavings from P at H. There’s no way of knowing exactly where they picked them up though.
See now I’m worried about getting it from there now haha, also the vet did say if I don’t manage to get an appointment tomorrow that I could wait until the end of next week will that be okay for them?
Siikibam
Forum Donator 2022/23
Perhaps ask them to contact you in case of a cancellation. Did you call all those near(ish) you from the recommended list? You can get F10 from Amazon. An antibacterial spray isn’t enough I’m afraid.
How long have you had them? I found that both my pairs had lice a short while after I brought them home. But luckily one treatment was enough.
How long have you had them? I found that both my pairs had lice a short while after I brought them home. But luckily one treatment was enough.
I rang 3 tonight 2 said they won’t take me because they already have too many clients and the other said to ring at 8:30 tomorrow morning to see if I can get a same day appointment. I will ring around more again tomorrow if I don’t manage to get another of those.
I have had my piggies for 4 months now I did think they may have had them since we had them but I don’t think they could have had them that long as at this stage (touch wood) they seem fine just a little more scratching
I have had my piggies for 4 months now I did think they may have had them since we had them but I don’t think they could have had them that long as at this stage (touch wood) they seem fine just a little more scratching