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Lice?

Chaz

Chaz

Junior Guinea Pig
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Recently, I have loads of bites. I notice them after cuddling my girls and my mum suggested they might have lice. I thought this too so I checked Trixie and couldn't find anything. Luna went to the vets 2 days ago and he would've picked up if she had lice. They are scratching a bit, but not a huge amount.
So is it them? Or am I getting bitten by a different source?
 
I think it will be something different and not lice that is biting you. Are you sure it’s only after you’ve been holding them?
 
Are you’re piggies long haired? My Bellamy a Lunkayra with black/white fur got lice and they were VERY easy to spot 🤢. Like wiggling mini maggots all in the fur. They never bit me tho...think it was only my mind that made me feel itchy afterward. You can always see a vet just to again get the all clear, they can get mites -but again I’m not sure these would bite you. They tend to be host specific like the lice so would only affect your piggies.
 
Jesse's pigs said:
Are you’re piggies long haired? My Bellamy a Lunkayra with black/white fur got lice and they were VERY easy to spot 🤢. Like wiggling mini maggots all in the fur. They never bit me tho...think it was only my mind that made me feel itchy afterward. You can always see a vet just to again get the all clear, they can get mites -but again I’m not sure these would bite you. They tend to be host specific like the lice so would only affect your piggies.
Click to expand...
Hi
I have short haired and I have checked them and can't find anything. I'm probably getting them from somewhere else. Thanks for the help.
 
Chaz said:
Recently, I have loads of bites. I notice them after cuddling my girls and my mum suggested they might have lice. I thought this too so I checked Trixie and couldn't find anything. Luna went to the vets 2 days ago and he would've picked up if she had lice. They are scratching a bit, but not a huge amount.
So is it them? Or am I getting bitten by a different source?
Click to expand...

Hi!

Skin parasites are species specific. There are only very few things that that will cause temporary discomfort to humans; none of the guinea pig specific parasites does this. You may want to have your piggies checked for cheyletiella parasitivorax, a very irritating fur mite which also affects cats and dogs (and may have been picked up from them) that can cause dermatitis in humans. it is comparatively rare in guinea pigs and usually only affects them in households with a mix of pets or where it has been carried in.
Your vet won't necessarily pick up on parasites that don't cause any visible discomfort or baldness. Mites are generally not visible to the naked eye.
Here is more information: Guinea Lynx :: Fur Mites

Lice are the only guinea pig specific skin parasite that is visible as pale crawly things. Guinea pig lice don't affect humans, though; and neither do the two guinea pig specific mites, trixacarus caviae (mange mites) and chirodiscoides caviae (hay mites).
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
 
Thanks for the link. They haven't got anything. My bites must've come from elsewhere.
 
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