Static lice and weight loss

[popcornpiggles]

Just a disclaimer, I WILL be taking the piggy in question to the vet on Monday! I am just looking for advice in the meantime.

Merlin, my 3 year old boar, has had a sudden drop in weight over the past week, and unfortunately it's quite drastic (estimating around 150g). Yesterday, we also noticed that he had a rather bad lice infestation, and so have treated all of the guinea pigs with Lice 'n Easy. The fact that the lice and the weight loss have occurred at the same time seems like it can't be a coincidence.

Can static lice cause weight loss in guinea pigs if the infestation is bad? He seems to have far more lice than the rest of his cagemates, and even when they had lice a year ago, he also had far more of them. Or is it more likely that something underlying has caused the weight loss, leading to him becoming vulnerable to the lice?

Like I said, I will be going to the vet and will get more answers then, but I'm struggling not to fret about it over the weekend as my vet only takes emergency appointments before Monday. Merlin is a very happy and healthy-seeming fellow in other ways, still eating and pooping and interacting with me and his lady friends, though of course guinea pigs are notorious for hiding illness.

Also, I see him eating just the same as ever, but the weight loss is extreme - should I be feeding critical care? Or perhaps just having some lap time with extra pellets as he hasn't lost his appetite. I'm just worried about the wee guy!

Thank you so much, and I will update as soon as we have seen a vet!

 

[Wiebke]

Just a disclaimer, I WILL be taking the piggy in question to the vet on Monday! I am just looking for advice in the meantime.

Merlin, my 3 year old boar, has had a sudden drop in weight over the past week, and unfortunately it's quite drastic (estimating around 150g). Yesterday, we also noticed that he had a rather bad lice infestation, and so have treated all of the guinea pigs with Lice 'n Easy. The fact that the lice and the weight loss have occurred at the same time seems like it can't be a coincidence.

Can static lice cause weight loss in guinea pigs if the infestation is bad? He seems to have far more lice than the rest of his cagemates, and even when they had lice a year ago, he also had far more of them. Or is it more likely that something underlying has caused the weight loss, leading to him becoming vulnerable to the lice?

Like I said, I will be going to the vet and will get more answers then, but I'm struggling not to fret about it over the weekend as my vet only takes emergency appointments before Monday. Merlin is a very happy and healthy-seeming fellow in other ways, still eating and pooping and interacting with me and his lady friends, though of course guinea pigs are notorious for hiding illness.

Also, I see him eating just the same as ever, but the weight loss is extreme - should I be feeding critical care? Or perhaps just having some lap time with extra pellets as he hasn't lost his appetite. I'm just worried about the wee guy!

Thank you so much, and I will update as soon as we have seen a vet!

Hi

Please step in with feeding support asap to keep him going and weigh first thing in the morning on your kitchen scales for best day to day comparison to enable you best to plan the accurate level of support and number of feeding sessiona needed. What you are replacing is the hay/grass intake which makes over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day but which you cannot control by eye only.
These guides here will hopefully help you with the feeding side:
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

There is likely something underlying going on which is causing the loss of appetite and lowering the immune system to allow opportunists like hay mites ('static lice' is a now outdated vernacular name for chirodiscoides caviae since the old name refers to the egg cases that are fixed to the hairs and not the - invisible - mites that usually come with hay, often imported international brands that are harvested on an industrial scale which churns up the ground much more and allows more bugs to get into the hay. Some strains can be very resistant, unfortunately, hence the mechanical measures (like a severe haircut) that are also suggested in the link below.
New Guinea Pigs Health Problems: URI - Ringworm - Skin Parasites

If there is a sudden further downturn, please see a vet as an emrgency if you can get to one..
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Wishing you all the best.

 

[popcornpiggles]

Hi

Please step in with feeding support asap to keep him going and weigh first thing in the morning on your kitchen scales for best day to day comparison to enable you best to plan the accurate level of support and number of feeding sessiona needed. What you are replacing is the hay/grass intake which makes over three quarters of what a piggy eats in a day but which you cannot control by eye only.
These guides here will hopefully help you with the feeding side:
Weight and Weight Loss Explained: BMI, Weighing, Poos and Feeding Support
How to Improvise Feeding Support in an Emergency
All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

There is likely something underlying going on which is causing the loss of appetite and lowering the immune system to allow opportunists like hay mites ('static lice' is a now outdated vernacular name for chirodiscoides caviae since the old name refers to the egg cases that are fixed to the hairs and not the - invisible - mites that usually come with hay, often imported international brands that are harvested on an industrial scale which churns up the ground much more and allows more bugs to get into the hay. Some strains can be very resistant, unfortunately, hence the mechanical measures (like a severe haircut) that are also suggested in the link below.
New Guinea Pigs Health Problems: URI - Ringworm - Skin Parasites

If there is a sudden further downturn, please see a vet as an emrgency if you can get to one..
Emergency and Crisis Care as well as Bridging Care until a Vet Appointment

Wishing you all the best.

Thank you so much for this information, I did not know that static lice was an outdated term. It turns out I myself was referring to the wrong parasite anyway! It is not hay mites, but in fact running lice that Merlin has. In my haste to make this post I referred to the wrong type of lice but at least I learned something new, lol.

I am certain that it is lice that Merlin has and not hay mites, as they are little yellowish bugs that I can see crawling in his fur.

I have begun supported feeding to help with his weight and will let you know how he is getting on. Thanks again for the advice and I'll be hoping for the best at the vets on Monday

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you so much for this information, I did not know that static lice was an outdated term. It turns out I myself was referring to the wrong parasite anyway! It is not hay mites, but in fact running lice that Merlin has. In my haste to make this post I referred to the wrong type of lice but at least I learned something new, lol.

I am certain that it is lice that Merlin has and not hay mites, as they are little yellowish bugs that I can see crawling in his fur.

I have begun supported feeding to help with his weight and will let you know how he is getting on. Thanks again for the advice and I'll be hoping for the best at the vets on Monday

Lice can multiply quickly in a weakened piggy. But there is only one type of them. The misunderstanding is historical and in the UK goes back to Peter Gurney popularising the expression 'static lice' with his books in the 80ies.

My own Merlin is wishing your Merlin all the best and is keeping is paws firmly crossed for tomorrow!

 

[popcornpiggles]

Lice can multiply quickly in a weakened piggy. But there is only one type of them. The misunderstanding is historical and in the UK goes back to Peter Gurney popularising the expression 'static lice' with his books in the 80ies.

My own Merlin is wishing your Merlin all the best and is keeping is paws firmly crossed for tomorrow!
View attachment 267791

That's very interesting, thank you so much for telling me this! And thank you Merlin for your kind piggy wishes! What a handsome boar

Here is my Merlin being fed - thankfully he quite likes it!

 

[Wiebke]

That's very interesting, thank you so much for telling me this! And thank you Merlin for your kind piggy wishes! What a handsome boar

Here is my Merlin being fed - thankfully he quite likes it!

Wishing your Merlin all the best and a good recovery.

 

[popcornpiggles]

Merlin had his vet trip today, and the vet was unable to find anything wrong with him on examination. This is could be a good thing, as there are no obvious signs of anything like teeth problems, cancer or other palpable issues. However, the vet essentially confirmed what I already suspected: he is either having a significant reaction to the lice that has caused a big drop in weight, or there is something underlying that is likely much harder to diagnose and treat.

The next step would be blood work, but I was advised to monitor his weight over the next few days and continue the supplemental feeding and ivermectic shampoo treatment as planned, just to see if there is an improvement. The vet advised that bloodwork can be difficult with guinea pigs due to their size, and that even if a blood test showed an illness, it would be highly possible that treatment for it would not be possible.

Really, really hoping that it's just the lice that have bothered him. I will update as soon as I have anything else to add!

 

[Wheekallweek]

Fingers crossed he's feeling better soon, handsome boy

 

[Wiebke]

Merlin had his vet trip today, and the vet was unable to find anything wrong with him on examination. This is could be a good thing, as there are no obvious signs of anything like teeth problems, cancer or other palpable issues. However, the vet essentially confirmed what I already suspected: he is either having a significant reaction to the lice that has caused a big drop in weight, or there is something underlying that is likely much harder to diagnose and treat.

The next step would be blood work, but I was advised to monitor his weight over the next few days and continue the supplemental feeding and ivermectic shampoo treatment as planned, just to see if there is an improvement. The vet advised that bloodwork can be difficult with guinea pigs due to their size, and that even if a blood test showed an illness, it would be highly possible that treatment for it would not be possible.

Really, really hoping that it's just the lice that have bothered him. I will update as soon as I have anything else to add!

Fingers firmly crossed!