Occassional Scratching

[LillyB]

One of my piggies has been scratching on and off over the last couple of days and I wondered if it was anything to do with the dust causes by changing their hay/wood shavings in their cage? I dont think its mites as its not constant or aggressive scratching & she does settle to sleep quickly. Its mainly after a sleep when she gets up. My other piggie who is in the cage with her doesn't do this, which also makes me think its not mites. I just wondered if this is normal behaviour? Having not had piggies before, this is all very new territory and want to make sure she isn't suffering.
Thankyou

 

[Wiebke]

One of my piggies has been scratching on and off over the last couple of days and I wondered if it was anything to do with the dust causes by changing their hay/wood shavings in their cage? I dont think its mites as its not constant or aggressive scratching & she does settle to sleep quickly. Its mainly after a sleep when she gets up. My other piggie who is in the cage with her doesn't do this, which also makes me think its not mites. I just wondered if this is normal behaviour? Having not had piggies before, this is all very new territory and want to make sure she isn't suffering.
Thankyou

Hi!

Just keep an eye on it for the time being.

It can be a change in weather or the very start of mange or hay mites - they usually take several days to get going and not all piggies will be necessarily affected at the same time, especially not with mange mites which are more often than not already present as eggs in the skin and kept perfectly under control by a healthy immune system. An outbreak of mange mites is more likely to start with a single piggy. In hay mites you should be able to feel or see the eggs as minute (perhaps 1 mm or less) beads fixed to hairs at the bum end. It is often easier to feel them than to see then, especially in coloured guinea pigs.

This guide here tells you a bit more: New piggy problems: URI - ringworm - skin parasites

 

[Piggies&buns]

Dust gets into the air ways and makes them sneeze. I suppose it could irritate their skin if it is a bedding which doesn’t agree with them - not all piggies can be bedded on shavings. Piggies do just scratch though, like we do, without there being a medical cause. Keep an eye and speak to a vet if you Become concerned

Do be aware though that it is entirely possible for only one piggy to get mites. A healthy immune system can usually keep them at bay but that also means it is possible for one piggy to be affected by mites by having a lower immune system and for the other piggy to be fine.

 

[LillyB]

Thankyou.....i will definitely keep an eye on her. We are going to do a clean of their cage tomorrow, so it will be the perfect time to check her over.

What are best alternatives for bedding other than shavings? We are putting lots of hay in the cage with the shavings......is it best just to use hay on its own?

Thanks again for your help and tips

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thankyou.....i will definitely keep an eye on her. We are going to do a clean of their cage tomorrow, so it will be the perfect time to check her over.

What are best alternatives for bedding other than shavings? We are putting lots of hay in the cage with the shavings......is it best just to use hay on its own?

Thanks again for your help and tips

If you choose not to use shavings, then you do still need something absorbent under hay - you could use paper bedding, puppy pads (you can get washable versions).
I use newspaper (as I have an endless supply!) under hay and remove any wet pieces daily.

 

[Wiebke]

Thankyou.....i will definitely keep an eye on her. We are going to do a clean of their cage tomorrow, so it will be the perfect time to check her over.

What are best alternatives for bedding other than shavings? We are putting lots of hay in the cage with the shavings......is it best just to use hay on its own?

Thanks again for your help and tips

Hi!

Many of our forum members have switched to fleece for their indoors piggies but we have also others on fitch bedding (hemp) as there is no one bedding that appeals to everybody.
Here is our overview: Bedding For Guinea Pigs - Overview

Please keep in mind that the stress from a heat spike can lower the immune system and allow opportunists a foot in.
Hot Weather Management, Heat Strokes and Fly Strike

 

[LillyB]

Thankyou.......I have just read the link and I think Fleece is the way to go. I will buy some and see how this goes. I also read on the link about the wood shaving and how this can possibly cause skin irritation, so this could be the cause. I am so glad we are cleaning out the cage tomorrow....i will leave out the wood shavings and see what happens. I did buy some Fitch Bedding when I first got their cage last week, so I will use that tomorrow.

Thankyou again......really helpful advice and tips

 

[LillyB]

If you choose not to use shavings, then you do still need something absorbent under hay - you could use paper bedding, puppy pads (you can get washable versions).
I use newspaper (as I have an endless supply!) under hay and remove any wet pieces daily.

Thankyou so much I will give the Fleece a try but in the meantime newspaper and hay will be perfect

 

[Piggies&buns]

Thankyou so much I will give the Fleece a try but in the meantime newspaper and hay will be perfect

My boys live in a shed and I use a mixture of both newspaper with hay in one area and fleece in another (in the summer only though). Both have their benefits!