Lice

[SardonicSmile]

I feel like a first time owner (I’ve had pigs for over 25 years now), but I just some confirmation I am doing the right things.

After the loss of one of my pigs a month ago, I was gifted two babies two days ago for my birthday. One is 320grams and one only 260grams. They are in their own cage, though in the same room as my adult guineas. I washed my hands between handling the youngsters and the oldies. They all have their own stuff, so no sharing of bedding, hides or accessories.

The young ones have little white specks that move, so I figured they are lice. I have never dealt with lice before. From way back I remembered that ivermectine should not be used on piggies weighing less than 300grams and I should be looking for selamectin. I went to the vet and picked some up. I dosed both the little ones behind their ears according to the guidelines. Just to be safe I gave the older piggies a dose of ivermectin.

I will repeat treatment with selamectin in two weeks time and maybe again two weeks after that, depending on what I see, or hopefully don’t see. Repeating the ivermectine in a weeks time and probably the week after that too.

I have been reading up and lice should be species specific, so I should be safe. But are my other guineas safe? How far can those little bugs travel from their host? Or won’t they travel?
Is it enough that I wash hands after handling the little ones before handling the older ones? Or do I need to change clothes too if I’ve held the little ones for a while and want to hold the older ones.

What about their bedding? Can I wash it all together? Or should I wash them seperate. I can wash the bedding of the little ones on 60degrees, but not the bedding of the older ones, that can only be washed on 40degrees.

Should I be using anything specific to clean their cage? I was planning on using vinegar.


This is one lesson in guineapig care that I would have gladly gone without ever having to learn about…

[Lynx]

I think the washing bedding together should be okay, especially if you use hot water.

I cannot say whether or not you will have issues transferring lice from the little ones to the others but it may be a possibility. I expect while you are doing all the things you are doing (good job), you will be observant. After the little ones are fully clear, I'd check all your guinea pigs when handling them perhaps once a week.

If they do show up in the adults and you have to treat them, that should be a plus for overall elimination of parasites.

I do not think lice are a serious problem unless they are heavy and are not treated. Mites, to my mind, are more deadly due to the pain.

[SardonicSmile]

I am treating the older ones anyway right now, just to be sure. And I won’t try introductions till the little ones are free of the lice. (Both little ones are mostly black, and these lice are very white, so they were easy to spot once my brain registered the movement my eyes were seeing)

[Lynx]

I think you'll be fine then.

[Sef]

When our Sebastian had lice, I treated him and treated his cagemate prophylactically. The cagemate never had an issue, and the other guinea pigs who were housed in the same room never developed lice. That said, I suspected that Bassy got lice because I forgot to change my clothes after handling a pet store guinea pig that the owner wanted me to determine sex on. Pretty sure I handled Sebastian later that same day, but that has been so many years ago that I can't be positive. I just remember we didn't have an outbreak.