Have I Just Seen A Hay Mite?

[Hemosapien]

So today I've been a bit itchy, like something's crawling on me and just now I noticed a really tiny bug that was see through, crawling across my mobile screen. My guinea pigs not showing any signs of itching or anything else, just me. I then, stupidly read something on the internet about someone who's dog caught and killed a rat and it gave him mites that went into and out of his eyes and other places that I shan't mention in polite company and it's freaking me out and I feel like it's happening to me. I feel really icky and like I want to bleach my whole body. Gahhhh (sorry if it's posted in the wrong place)

 

[Wiebke]

Don't worry! At the very worst, you have seen a louse, but whether is from the piggies, remains to be seen. Keep an eye out in the next few days, but don't go into overdrive.

Mites, like other skin parasites, are species specific. They don't survive on an different host, so please calm down! Both mange and hay mites are microscopic, by the way, and cannot be seen with a naked eye. What you see as hay mites (and which is why they are also called static lice) is actually the egg cases that are tacked on the hairs at the bum end. Whatever that horror story bout the dog was, it was certainly not guinea pig mites and you are most definitely not in any danger!

 

[Hemosapien]

Oh wow, thanks so much. That's a weight off my mind. Phew. What do you mean by louse? Like head lice? Can piggys get those? I don't know how we'd have been in contact with them. I always keep a close eye on him anyway, he's always running free in my room when I'm home.

 

[Jennifer D]

Oh wow, thanks so much. That's a weight off my mind. Phew. What do you mean by louse? Like head lice? Can piggys get those? I don't know how we'd have been in contact with them. I always keep a close eye on him anyway, he's always running free in my room when I'm home.

I believe lice is the plural form of the word louse. So I think they are the same thing. Working at a dog kennel I've seen a lot of canine lice (they look like little black dots against your dogs' skin. They don't tend to move around much like fleas) and they aren't transferrable to humans. My rabbit got mites last month and though they are microscopic they showed up as a really gross scabbing in her ear like in the photo I attached. I read that guinea pigs can get mites as well but I'm not sure what that would look like. In rabbits, it affects the skin as well. They treated her with a kitten treatment and all is well now. I figure she got it from the straw that I got her as it came from a farm so I had to get rid of all the straw and sanitized her enclosure so that they wouldn't come back. I was told mites can be found in hay as well but I don't know how common that is. Do you have a dog? Perhaps you could check it for lice just incase. Hope I've been a bit of help!

 

[Jennifer D]

Did it look like this? Eeeeew! Lol

 

[Hemosapien]

I don't have any other pets and the thing was just about visible, smaller than a pin head, and slithery. I only saw it because it was moving on my phone screen. It didn't look like it had legs, but it could have had them. Can you treat a piggy for them if they have shown no signs or would that be harmful?

Did it look like this? Eeeeew! Lol

it was that sort of blonde colour against the light of my screen, yes.

 

[Jennifer D]

I don't have any other pets and the thing was just about visible, smaller than a pin head, and slithery. I only saw it because it was moving on my phone screen. It didn't look like it had legs, but it could have had them. Can you treat a piggy for them if they have shown no signs or would that be harmful?
it was that sort of blonde colour against the light of my screen, yes.

I'm honestly not sure. I read in a book that they can be treated for mites. The treatment for my rabbit was called Revolution and it was administered by the vet. I think the best bet would be to phone your vet if you're really concerned about it and find out if they think it would be a good idea.

 

[Hemosapien]

Okay thanks for your advice. well he's due a check up next week anyway, so I shall just take him to see the vet and ask him about it then, unless he shows signs before. I've read that they can come from the hay or bedding and it's best to put things in the freezer for 24 hours before giving anything to them. I would think hay would go soggy in the freezer

 

[Wiebke]

Here is a list of guinea pig skin parasites. Louse is indeed the singular of lice; they are species specific, so you won't catch piggy lice the same as any human headlice with starve on a piggy.

Skin parasites are a fact of life with furry pets; you can never fully eliminate them. The trick is have them properly diagnosed and treated, once you are sure that they are actually on the animal!

http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html

 

[Hemosapien]

Here is a list of guinea pig skin parasites. Louse is indeed the singular of lice; they are species specific, so you won't catch piggy lice the same as any human headlice with starve on a piggy.

Skin parasites are a fact of life with furry pets; you can never fully eliminate them. The trick is have them properly diagnosed and treated, once you are sure that they are actually on the animal!

http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html

Thanks again. I know these things happen, but I feel like I'd be an irresponsible owner if they got sick or infested.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks again. I know these things happen, but I feel like I'd be an irresponsible owner if they got sick or infested.

As a responsible owner, you will usually notice pretty quickly if something is up. If you treat promptly and correctly, it won't be a problem with any healthy, well kept pets. That is all that is required of you. You can't avoid everything, as much as you'd like to; that is not what being a good owner is about - just that you ensure the appropriate treatment whenever needed before things can go really bad.

 

[Hemosapien]

Thank you, Wiebke.

 

[Gus&Charlie]

Ok, do I speak for everyone when I go out on my limb & say: WE'RE ALL ITCHY NOW! LOL
RID, lice shampoo, one use, potentially two & you're good to go. ALSO: wash everything in the hottest water possible!

 

[Hemosapien]

Hahaha is that stuff for me or the pig? I don't have head lice. It wasn't my head that had been itchy, it was my whole body. It was just probably my eczema flaring up. I still have no clue what was crawling on my phone. So gross, whatever it was.

 

[Poppy'sMum]

Did you say it was on your phone? Why do you think it came from your piggy then? Are you sure it's not a book louse ? http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/envi...ironmental_health/pest_control/book_lice.aspx

 

[Hemosapien]

I just assumed it was from the hay because I handle a lot of it and I couldn't think of anywhere else it could have come from.

 

[7squeakers.]

Re; picture of head louse; kind of scary but kind o beautiful at the same time - if that's possible!