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Static lice! Any advice?

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Miss Magpie

Miss Magpie

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I was just checking over the girls when i noticed iris had this weird looking dirt type stuff in her fur. I checked greta next and she had this too!
I got onto the net straight away to look it up, poised to book a vet appointment and found they have static lice!
I'm cleaning their cage out throughly now. The shampoo I need (lice and easy) I already ordered this morning from gorgious guineas, after they recommended it to me when I emailed them about gretas stained botty. Isn't that a bit of luck! :(|)

The only reason I can think of them getting it is that its come in through their hay? I thought it was a weird batch!
I'm glad its not too serious though but i would never leave it go untreated, i havent seen any pic of bad cases but I can imagine how yucky it could go?! Its not too ichy for them is it?
Anyone else's piggie had this? Any further advice anyone can give me?

What a day i've had and now this...poor lady pigs!
:)p
 
All mine had this in the past month, it's nothing major. They do scratch a little but not too much! :)

It does come in off the hay, horrible things!
 
Hi

Static lice is very common at the moment and normally comes from the hay. We see these lice on most of the piggies that come to us. Lice n easy is the best solution. It will take a couple ( maybe 3 ) baths using the shampoo, 7-10 days apart.

Another product i've been told works well is the Johnsons bird lice and mite spray. I'm a bit put off by it as it's an aerosol but i've heard it's very good and quicker to cure the problem than the shampoo method.

Claire
cc
 
My piggies regularly pick these up ... yes, they are from the hay and are called haymites.

They are very common and do look like dusty bits on the shafts of the hair.

I use Shelen shampoo from my vets, although it is expensive. Otherwise I use a guinea pig insecticide shampoo such as Johnsons, which kills lice and mites. But this should not be used on baby piggies ... best to check the label.
 
looking over mine last night, around 5 of them have these too, dam things, so shall be bathing them in lice and easy over the weekend.
 
I found some of these on my piggies as well do you think its best to use a different type of hay or is there anything u can use with the hay to stop them getting these mites?
 
As far as I've found it's just bad luck that sometimes they come in in the hay,regardless of where you buy it. I think you just have to check them and accept it happens the same way as us mums have to deal with kids bringing nits home from school
 
They look like very tiny little whitish worms, if you pull the hair in the wrong direction you spot them wiggling close to the skin.
 
Thanks, just wanted to know so I will know incase my pigs ever get anything like this (which is quite possible and likely I know!)
 
Its definately one of those things that you just have to treat, and my piggies seemed more bothered by the baths than the lice themselves
 
I use Fleaordie shampoo on my pigs, CCT recommended this to me and it really does work.

Unfortunately unless you can afford to buy hay, like the Timothy Hay, which is imported from the states and heat treated and dust extracted then there is always the chance of getting lice from any other hay.

I make sure I check my lot regularly and bath as necessary.

Regarding seleen shampoo, you can buy Selsun shampoo at the chemist which is the same thing but for humans and cheaper, but i use this more for skin/fungal problems.

The lice are so small that it can just look like dust, but look at them under a microscope and that will make you itch!
 
If the lice are white wiggly ones they are normal lice and not haymites. These can be seen easily when you part the fur.

Haymites are tiny lice that do not appear to be moving. They can only be seen to be moving by microscope. Haymites look like dust particles but don't move if you try and brush them away.

Both can be treated with lice n easy. If you have babies under 12 weeks old with lice the best treatment is to cover them with neem, available again from gorgeousguineas.

Claire


xx
 
kingkio said:
I use Fleaordie shampoo on my pigs, CCT recommended this to me and it really does work.

Unfortunately unless you can afford to buy hay, like the Timothy Hay, which is imported from the states and heat treated and dust extracted then there is always the chance of getting lice from any other hay.

I make sure I check my lot regularly and bath as necessary.

Regarding seleen shampoo, you can buy Selsun shampoo at the chemist which is the same thing but for humans and cheaper, but i use this more for skin/fungal problems.

The lice are so small that it can just look like dust, but look at them under a microscope and that will make you itch!
Click to expand...

Oxbow, which is the most commonly seen American timothy hay in this country, do not heat treat or dust extract their hay. I telephoned petlife international and asked them this question after Vedra at the CCT told me only to use this and they told me they do nothing except harvest and bag it! Hay cannot be heat treated (autoclaved)as this involves using steam.
 
That is really interesting to know.
Thanks.

Sorry to have posted some wrong info, but I was obviously mis-informed too.

It certainly is a superior quality hay, so bound to carry less unwanted visitors I suppose, if you can afford to use it.

But the Fleaordie shampoo is still a good product and certainly does the job.
 
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