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lice,mites,ear mites?

  • Thread starter Thread starter skiddy sj
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skiddy sj

hi
I got gizmo 2yrs ago and unfortunately he had crawlies having had my previous 2 guineas 4 6yrs and never having any probs before I wasn't sure what they were so I took him 2 vets.Vets said they were lice and gave him 2 injections a week apart. Unfortunately this problem keeps reoccurring ! I only treated him about 2wks ago with selleen shampoo which I read about in abook recommended 2 me as I didn't want 2put him through the stress of injections again(he squeaked terribly).Yesterday I was holding him and found some crawlies again.I've looked up on internet n maybe I'm treating 4 wrong thing maybe he's got more than 1 problem! The crawlies are pale brown in colour and although I've searched his back can't really see any but he is scratching his back the ones I saw were round his eyes and top of his head. He is also shaking his head and I,v previously looked in his ears and did again yesterday- can't see anything,but could he have earmites 2? I really need 2 sort this out don't want him to suffer. any ideas what I can do and also can we catch them as we do cuddle and stroke him regularly. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Injections won't do anything for lice because they don't suck blood from the host. You need either topical ivermectin (which often won't work) or try lice n easy shampoo from www.gorgeousguineas.com. The topical ivermectin should help if there are ear mites.
 
what about otodex eardrops someone told me these r ok 2 use and where do I get topical ivermectin?
 
skiddy sj said:
what about otodex eardrops someone told me these r ok 2 use and where do I get topical ivermectin?
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Go to a vet. Injectible ivermectin can also be used topically. You don't know for certain that it's ear mites so I would go using products intended for a cat or dog on a piggy.
 
I doubt it's ear mites as these are naked to the human eye. They just cause head shaking and wax build up in the ears. What you are describing is lice - they do tend to live around the base of the guineas back, or around the head area. When you shampoo you need to very carefully shampoo the whole of your gps head area, not including the ears or eyes! You need to reapeat this after 7 days, then another 7 days after that.

Like DSL said Ivermectin only works for mites, which are microscopic. You can use Otodex for the guinea, although I wouldn't say he/she has ear mites
 
ok thanks evry1 better get on and sort gizmo out and make him more comfy just hope it works this time!
 
Why would a piggie keep getting a recurrent bout of lice like this? Where do they come from?! I know where my kids get their head lice from - other kids (!) - but if all your piggies are treated and lice free why would they come back?
 
Nope mites don't come from hay, they occur during times of stress. Lice are on hay though O0
 
Yep mites are caused by stress which is why many pigs who change homes get them say from like pet shop to your own home. Lice is from hay I'm just getting mine over a batch of lice because of hay!
 
Does anyone find black fly in there hay? I got a bale of hay from a pet shop and it was covered in black fly! Never had that before!
 
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