My guinea pigs have either lice or mites! HELP!

[Fudge and Rainbow :)]

My friend came over and noticed my guinea pigs itching and scratching so she said they might have lice like hers did. She checked Fudge who had small wriggly things in her fur! :{ It was like a farm, I had checked before but never noticed them moving so I didn't think she had anything. We then checked the other 2 and they have them as well. What should I do? I need to get rid of them! 8...

 

[Deb H]

I've just bought Lice ''n' Easy from Gorgeous Guineas for the same problem.

It comes highly recommended by most people and as I use Chrissies Posh 'n' Go on my long haired piggies I know it should be good.

Good luck with the bathing!

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

I've always used the traditional route with my boys:

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/anti-parasite-spot-on-for-rabbits-and-guinea-pigs-by-beaphar-15792

It is easier than having to bath them all and I personally find it more effective than the shampoo.

 

[Gemmy]

if you go to the vets you can get a cheap (ish) drop to put on the back of their necks called Xeno450. I've used it a handful of times on my guineas and its always done the job.

hope your little ones are feeling better soon. x

 

[Ryo_the_Rat]

I use the drops for my other animals but the Gorgeous Guineas Lice n Easy is fantastic stuff and really works! I had one vet a few years ago inject the piggies when they had lice(he was a complete moron and insisted they were mites, even though you cant see mites with the naked eye!) this didnt work, but the shampoo did. it might be a little more hassle then drops but its safer and if you are used to bathing your piggies regularly anyway then it shouldnt be a problem! the lice were gone after one shampoo when i used it, but you need to shampoo again to get any eggs that may have hatched. good luck!

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

It may be 'safer', but I found it didn't work so well on my boys. They also get very stressed out with being bathed so a few drops of solution on the back of their necks was much easier for them.

It must be safe to use these treatments on small animals - in the same way as human drugs, these are rigorously tested for suitability.

 

[Ryo_the_Rat]

It may be 'safer', but I found it didn't work so well on my boys. They also get very stressed out with being bathed so a few drops of solution on the back of their necks was much easier for them.

It must be safe to use these treatments on small animals - in the same way as human drugs, these are rigorously tested for suitability.

I didnt mean to imply that the drops wern't safe, though obviously there is a risk of overdosing that isnt there with the shampoo. As i stated i have used both the beapher drops and ivermec drops from my vets with my other animals in the past with no problems whatsoever so its certainly an option. I just wanted to give my personal opinion that if your piggie is used to being bathed then the Lice n Easy is brilliant stuff-sorry it didnt work for your boys but it worked wonders for mine, i was a bit dubious at first and was amazed at the results when i used it for the first time

 

[Fudge and Rainbow :)]

Thanks everyone but I'm not sure on bathing them. Fudge and Rainbow will be 6 in January and have never had a bath in their life, not sure how they'd react? Little Petal is only 4 months old. Would it be fair on them to wash them or am I better with drops?

 

[Ryo_the_Rat]

Thanks everyone but I'm not sure on bathing them. Fudge and Rainbow will be 6 in January and have never had a bath in their life, not sure how they'd react? Little Petal is only 4 months old. Would it be fair on them to wash them or am I better with drops?

In that case then i would certainly give the drops a go first, just make sure you follow the instructions on the pack for the beapher drops or obviously what your vet says. again, good luck!

 

[ellie_jo3213]

pet stuff bought anti parasite stuff is s**t!! why do you think its sold so cheap?!
get prescription ones from vet if you want reliable and SAFE.

wouldnt touch bob martins or other cheap pet shop one with a barge pole!

(ps same goes for cats/dogs etc...if you worm dogs/cats with cheap pet shop stuff then you basically havent wormed them.)

Sorry but I feel so strongly about this, I'm working myself up now just thinking about it!

 

[Abi_nurse]

pet stuff bought anti parasite stuff is s**t!! why do you think its sold so cheap?!
get prescription ones from vet if you want reliable and SAFE.

wouldnt touch bob martins or other cheap pet shop one with a barge pole!

(ps same goes for cats/dogs etc...if you worm dogs/cats with cheap pet shop stuff then you basically havent wormed them.)

Sorry but I feel so strongly about this, I'm working myself up now just thinking about it!

Its something I feel strongly about too, so please dont be sorry. We sell Xeno in the vets, and i'd recommend that.

If your worried about bathing try a spot on first.

x.

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

pet stuff bought anti parasite stuff is s**t!! why do you think its sold so cheap?!
get prescription ones from vet if you want reliable and SAFE.

wouldnt touch bob martins or other cheap pet shop one with a barge pole!

(ps same goes for cats/dogs etc...if you worm dogs/cats with cheap pet shop stuff then you basically havent wormed them.)

Sorry but I feel so strongly about this, I'm working myself up now just thinking about it!

Its something I feel strongly about too, so please dont be sorry. We sell Xeno in the vets, and i'd recommend that.

If your worried about bathing try a spot on first.

x.

Can you please state WHY they are so, erm, rubbish? Like I said in my previous post, they would not be on sale if they are UNSAFE! I have been recommended in the past to use such things on my pigs and have had no problems. I'm just curious as to why you are putting the fear of God into people?

The base ingredient in these treatments is Ivermectin, so again, can you tell me the difference please, other than a consultation fee at the vet?! It's almost exactly the same as the brand name vs generic medicines for humans - you tend to pay through the nose for the brand name yet the ingredients used are exactly the same...:{

 

[Laure]

Someone correct me if I am jumping the gun and understood wrongly but I think they mean that the dosage of the active ingredient (Ivermectin) is not the same. I.e it is lower the shop bought one. Making them less effective rather than not safe.

It would make sens that pet shop are not licenced to sell same dosage drugs as the vets.

Can you please state WHY they are so, erm, rubbish? Like I said in my previous post, they would not be on sale if they are UNSAFE! I have been recommended in the past to use such things on my pigs and have had no problems. I'm just curious as to why you are putting the fear of God into people?

The base ingredient in these treatments is Ivermectin, so again, can you tell me the difference please, other than a consultation fee at the vet?! It's almost exactly the same as the brand name vs generic medicines for humans - you tend to pay through the nose for the brand name yet the ingredients used are exactly the same...:{

 

[MintyAndGarry (TEAS)]

That may be the case, but most medicines are available in variable doses. It doesn't mean to say that they are not still worth trying, especially as a first port of call.

The dose rate for Xeno 450 has been calculated to deliver an average of 400µg per kg bodyweight.

http://www.genitrix.co.uk/text-only/Rodents/XENO4502.php

ACTIVE INGREDIENT: Ivermectin 150ug

http://www.thepetmedicinecompany.co...its,-Guinea-Pigs,-Rats-and-Ferrets-GUI001.php


So going by that, the Xeno 450 gives an 'average' (vague?!) of 400µg.

Beaphar gives 300µg per dose.

Not a huge difference. Also, Xeno is available online.

 

[Fudge and Rainbow :)]

Well I bought Beaphar spot on and I'm happy to say the mites have cleared up! |) I have tried the Xeno before and to be honest it worked just the same. Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[Sheppey_GuineaPigs]

Hi All

Just to a quick note to this discussion

Spoton type anti-mite and Shampoo Anti-Mite treat different types of mite so should be used togerther

Spoton treats mites that feed on blood and shampoo treats the type that live in the hair.

If you can see them with a mignifying glass or the naked eye then you need shampoo.

Ivemec should be given orally every 3 months along with a wormer, [*]please note thought that the ivemec that is given orally is not the same as the one in a spot-on. [/*]

Regards

SGP