Zip

[Pearl and Zip]

She has flecks of brown near her bottom. Is this just her coloring or is it a concern?

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Please have Zip vet checked for hay/fur mites (chirodiscoides caviae).

These come usually with hay (in the last few years usually with imported shop hay rather than with untreated cheap farmers hay) and fix their egg cases on especially the hairs on the back end - which are usually perceived as black specks, a bit like if somebody had turned a peppermill over a piggy. The mites themselves are invisible and live on hair and skin debris.

They are the mildest of all guinea pig parasites, but require the same treatment as all mites and lice.

 

[Pearl and Zip]

My other guinea pig has health problems too, and had to go to the vet. My parents are always reluctant to take the pigs to the vet, and they definitely won’t want to take Zip now that Pearl just had a visit.

Is there a way to fix this hay mite problem without the vet? We already ordered a new box of hay and will discard the old one.

 

[Betsy]

No it requires a vet visit for proper treatment. Shop bought treatments are not strong enough and only mask the problem and will end up costing more in the long run. Both piggies will need to be treated. Could you do some extra chores around the home to earn some money to pay for the vet for yourself? Just a thought.

 

[EmmaW]

Disnt you say on another thread that after a trip to the vets they confirmed that pearl had hay mites?

 

[Betsy]

Disnt you say on another thread that after a trip to the vets they confirmed that pearl had hay mites?

I thought I read that somewhere too but thought I must have been dreaming it!

 

[Pearl and Zip]

Disnt you say on another thread that after a trip to the vets they confirmed that pearl had hay mites?

Yes. Pearl

The vet thought it was likely. Pearl also got a fungal infection medicine in case it was that.

 

[Pearl and Zip]

No it requires a vet visit for proper treatment. Shop bought treatments are not strong enough and only mask the problem and will end up costing more in the long run. Both piggies will need to be treated. Could you do some extra chores around the home to earn some money to pay for the vet for yourself? Just a thought.

I think I’ll do that. Thanks

 

[Betsy]

I think I’ll do that. Thanks

You can come and dust my house for a start. I loathe dusting with a vengeance and only do it when I really have to! I don't mind anything else just hate, hate, hate dusting! I can't help it, it's in my genes my Mum and my Gran were both the same!