missuscluck Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 This is the first summer I have had GP's. They have been moved outside now the weather is better. How common is it that they get mites. What should I look out for? We brush them but have never needed to bath them. As they are now outside should I change their care routine if there is a chance they may get mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoriabunny Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 In my experience it doesn't matter if they're indoors or out - mine always got mites from hay, as we bought it in bales from a local farm. It's pretty obvious when they've got them - they constantly scratch and develop large bald patches. The vet gives them an injection which sorts them out. Lice are less common, but are visible wriggling about in the fur if you look. They're treated with a powder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 1, 2008 Share Posted June 1, 2008 Ours got lice and a vet friend said to give them a bath with a special shampoo and we then used a grey powder on them to be doubly safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 Our Sheltie got lice from a batch of hay, too. I treated him with the cat's spot-on flea stuff (Frontline), two drops on the neck sorted it out within two days. It's licenced for cats and dogs but safe on Guinea Pigs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 One of our GP's got mites I think he got them from hay We had him injected at the vets, and then something to bath him and his brother in, and it soon cleared them I still have some guineapig and rabbit shampoo if you want some, all though it won't kill mites it just gives them soft and bouncy hair Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted June 6, 2008 Author Share Posted June 6, 2008 Ill bear that in mind Karen if they are feeling a little down and in need of a make over Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pelicano Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 As I understand it from vets, the most common mites don't come from hay, but are already present in the guinea pigs. Stress and anything really can make them increase in numbers and cause problems. I'm sure this is true, as I've had only one guinea pig in a group develop symptoms before. Because they burrow, bathing doesn't help, and ivermectin needs to be given. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchlayer Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Could you dust them diatom or not? Just asking as I have loads for the chooks and was thinking about this last night as I was watching the creepies in the hay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 How easy is it to bath a GP?. My longer haired one probably could do with a bath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BooBoo Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 They are quite easy (and very cute) to bath. I bath my long haired gp whenever her fur gets a bit greasy looking. As long as I put a towel in the bottom of the sink for her to stand on she is fine. I usually only put about 1 inch of water and just pour water over her body with a cup (ensuring it goes no where near her ears or head!) It also helps to have a second washing up bowl ready prepared to move her to for rinsing out the shampoo. The only problem I have is drying her when its not a sunny day. She has a lot of fur and it can take ages with towels (yes, I tried a low set hair drier and it didn't go down well ) Try Gorgeous Guineas for some really good shampoo products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 My friend sprayed her two piggies with my chooks Xeno 200 spray. I made her weigh them first! 1.2kg! It is suitable for guinea pigs as well as birds and was a lot easier than bathing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 A drop of ivomec in their mouth then another in 10 days time plus regular bathing will help break the mite cycle. You've got to keep on top of it tho. Mites can be present in hay - bedding - a new introduced pet. Its just one of those things that you have to deal with. When you do treat for it make sure that the whole hutch is sterilised too, no point washing the pig without washing the home. I would too recommend Gorgeous Guineas. Chrissie is fantastic & will help with any querie. Its about time Guineas & their uniqueness was catered for - well done GG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted August 16, 2008 Author Share Posted August 16, 2008 They dont have mites. I check them over regularly with a magnifying glass My medium haired one just keeps getting little bits stuck in her fur. Nothing major and it dosent get knotty. She can be a bit grumpy so I was a lttle worried about upsetting her with a bath more than anything. Ill try the towel and not much water method when we next have a hot sunny day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hils78 Posted August 16, 2008 Share Posted August 16, 2008 LOL @ grumpy pigs - My thumb is currently plastered up having been savaged by my friends guinea today just for doing its nails - I have a deep 1 cm cut which runs from under my nail grrrrr! I still gave her some grass after though! I'm not sure you'll be able to see mites under a magnifying glass - lice definately.... just a thought. Hx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted August 17, 2008 Author Share Posted August 17, 2008 Ouch!! Thats interesting re. the mites. The thing that made me stop and wonder about the mite issue in the first place is she gets little black specks in her white fur. I have checked these under the magnifying glass and it is specks of dirt that she must pick up when she is out in her run on the grass. I guess when you are hairy, things stick to you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyupchuck Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 Ivomec from a dropper between the shoulder blades kills all parasites, internal and external in days. Fab stuff, we couldn't live without it, so many gpigs come into us with mites and they do catch them from hay etc.... If your gpig is just dry on it's belly and losing fur, then that is a vitamin c deficiency which some people mistake for mites. We buy our Ivomec from local chemist although they do order it in for us. Lyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
