Do guinea pigs have fleas? How to remove it, what treatment to choose?

The guinea pig is characterized by periodic scratching - this is how it takes care of itself. But when she is bothered by ectoparasites, she itches often and for a long time, bites her fur, trying to gnaw them out. Flea bites in guinea pigs can cause wounds, abrasions, suppuration, and allergies (due to antigen proteins contained in the saliva of insects).

Ectoparasites carry infectious diseases, eggs and larvae of helminths. In order not to endanger the health of the pig, its owner must know how to identify and remove them in a timely manner.

If your pig begins to chew out its fur before sores appear on its skin, then the animal may have fleas.

Treatment of lice and lice in guinea pigs

The animal's cage is cleaned, the bedding is thrown away, all objects from the cage are washed and disinfected along with the cage.
When treating subcutaneous mites, it is important how quickly the patient contacts the veterinarian. If the animal has already lost hair, folds and thickening of the skin have formed, first use keratolytic (exfoliating) shampoos “Doctor”, “Lactoderm”

Then the crusts and thickenings are removed. After this, anti-mite ointment is applied to clean skin or the skin is treated with a spray (not listed above) until the itching disappears. After treatment, a second scraping is performed. If the eyes and eyelids are affected, special treatment is prescribed.

In severely advanced cases, treatment may be ineffective and the animal may die. Remember this, and it is better to contact a specialist for help at the first suspicious symptoms.

The pig needs to be combed well and checked to see if any insects are stuck between the teeth of the comb.

Treatment of fleas is not complicated, but it requires attention and treatment of not only the sick animal, but also all other pigs. The animal should be treated with any shampoo or spray containing pyrethritol. The entire cage should be washed with the same shampoo, the bedding should be changed and the entire area around the cage should be treated. The procedure should be repeated after ten days and, if necessary, after another ten days. Usually two procedures are enough to destroy not only insects, but also their larvae.

Ticks

Scabies mite

The subcutaneous mite in a guinea pig can cause very severe itching. An animal infected with scabies mites can not only injure itself, but also die from severe stress and exhaustion. Symptoms of subcutaneous scabies mite infestation:

• Excessive hair loss
• Skin redness,
• Dry skin
• Increased body temperature
• Refusal of food
• The appearance of papules, ulcers, and wounds on the skin.

Most often, ticks settle in the skin of the head, back, sides and shoulders, but with severe infection they quickly spread throughout the body. Open wounds become a source of penetration of dangerous bacteria and infections into the blood, which increases the risk of secondary infection. If a pregnant female is infected with mites, there is a high risk of miscarriage and subsequent complications. A guinea pig can become infected with ticks from other animals, as well as from humans - insects can live on clothing and even on a person’s body without causing him any discomfort. The presence of a tick in the skin of an animal can only be determined by scraping. Not only the infected guinea pig is treated, but also everyone in contact with it. Usually a ten-day course of ivarmectin injections is sufficient.

Fur mite

The fur mite differs from the subcutaneous mite in its localization - it settles on the surface of the skin. Symptoms of tick infestation include itching and hair loss, peeling and redness of the skin. The animal may refuse food and water and show signs of anxiety. If the infection is severe, purulent, painful ulcers may form on bald areas of the skin. Fur mites are transmitted only through direct contact from a sick animal to a healthy one. Treatment is similar to that for scabies mites. The entire room where the animal was kept should be well treated with a special compound.

lice eaters

Treatment of lice eaters involves treating all animals, even those not showing signs of infection.

The sprays Akaromectin, Bars and Bolfo have proven themselves well in the fight against lice eaters. The spray is easier and simpler to use than shampoo: guinea pigs do not tolerate bathing well and experience real stress from water treatments. With a spray, the animal can be treated with greater safety and the treatment can be repeated as many times as necessary. In a regular human pharmacy you can also purchase a special anti-lice spray (it also works well against lice-eaters), which contains permethrin. However, most breeders prefer Advocaat drops. They are safer and less toxic for the animal.

• worms,
• liver flukes.

• tape or flat,
• round.

Only a veterinarian can determine the presence of fluke in the body after collecting tests, and treatment will depend on the degree of infection of the animal.

Do they exist?

Guinea pigs do have fleas, and quite often. The most common type is the so-called cat flea. In addition to cats, this parasitic insect can infect dogs, hedgehogs and rodents. Pets pick up an infection on the street, bring it into their homes, become a source of parasites for other animals, and begin to get sick themselves.

Fleas are blood-sucking insects. To feed, they bite the unfortunate animal, as a result of which the latter develops severe itching of the skin. Overcome by fleas or other ectoparasites, the pig is constantly itching and scratching itself. As a result, wounds and abrasions form on the pet’s body, which then develop into dermatitis and other skin diseases. In addition, the animal develops anemia.

lice eaters

This is another type of parasite that differs in that it can feed not only on particles of the animal’s skin, but also on its blood. Due to the small size of the parasites, it is quite difficult to detect them with the naked eye; you will have to use scraping. The first signs include hair loss of the animal, as well as itching. An animal's reduced appetite threatens death from exhaustion. The danger is that lice can get on the animal even with careful care, for example, through the owner’s clothes or toys from the store.

Comprehensive treatment measures include treating all animals that have previously been in contact with or are close to an infected individual, even if they do not show signs of infection.

Akaromectin, Bolfo and Bars spray can be used as medical assistants in the fight against lice eaters. Due to the fact that bathing is considered extremely stressful for pigs, it is best to opt for a spray, as it will cause them less discomfort. The animal does not resist the procedure and, if necessary, it must be repeated the prescribed number of times. This is usually done by a veterinarian. Lice remedies are also available in human pharmacies, but you need to choose those options that contain the substance permethrin. The largest number of breeders recommend choosing Advocate spray. Due to the content of fewer toxic substances, it is safer for the animal.

Lice eaters are localized in the croup and perineum; they parasitize at the roots of the hair, wrapping their limbs around the hair, and feed on blood, epidermal scales and secretions of the sebaceous glands. As a result, the affected hair falls out. Lice eaters are most active in winter, when the guinea pig's fur becomes thicker and longer, which is a favorable factor for the proliferation of parasites.

Lice feed on blood and are able to actively move around the animal’s body, causing itching. Parasites can be seen with the naked eye when parting the fur, mainly in the head area and around the ears.

Guinea pigs become infected with lice and lice through contact with sick relatives, through bedding and food.

Lice and lice cause itchy skin and severe anxiety in a sick animal, up to the appearance of seizures and convulsions. Fleas with intense infestation can cause inflammation of the skin - flea dermatitis. It is characterized by redness of the skin, baldness, and eczema.

Worms

Due to the fact that the main property of this group of parasites is to absorb nutrients from the animal’s blood, this can lead to exhaustion. Typically, guinea pigs are inhabited by tape and round parasites. Worm larvae of this type are dangerous not only for the animal, but also for the owner. With severe infection, you can see not only worm larvae in the stool, but also quite adult individuals with the naked eye. The animal is characterized by lethargic behavior, drowsiness and decreased appetite. If the infection is very strong, parasites crawling out of the anus can also be seen with the naked eye.

If the infection is not severe, you can give the animal a suspension of prazicide for kittens. The amount is calculated at the rate of 1 gram per 1 kg of animal weight. Dirofen paste has a good reputation among veterinarians. When treating an animal with medications, you need to treat the cage and accessories with a chlorine-containing solution.

Preventive measures

Guinea pigs are susceptible to a variety of parasites that live on both their skin and fur. If you properly care for your pet and take preventive measures, the likelihood of parasitic disease will decrease.

It is recommended to treat your pet with a spray if the animal is allowed out for a walk on the lawn in the yard. Washing the cage once a week with flea shampoo will also help prevent the occurrence of parasites. The smell of the product remains and repels pests. Since ticks pose a huge danger, before going into nature it is necessary to treat guinea pigs with a special product. If the pig is in a pen, you should check the animal at least twice a day for the presence of parasites.

Particular attention should be paid to places such as the armpits, stomach and ears. Swipe through the animal's fur. If there is a tick, you will certainly feel it.

Diseases dangerous to humans

• Strongyloidiasis,
• Giardiasis,
• Encephalitis.

Giardiasis

Symptoms of infection:

• Nausea,
• Stomach ache,
• Bloating, gas formation, constipation and diarrhea, replacing each other,
• Skin rashes
• Fatigue, increased drowsiness, loss of appetite, poor sleep and frequent dizziness.

Tick-borne encephalitis

If a guinea pig walks outdoors in the summer, it needs to wear a special anti-mite collar. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the animal will bring back a tick infected with encephalitis from a walk. This disease is dangerous not only for pigs, but also for humans.

An ignorant person, looking at an actively itching pig, is sure that this is how guinea pigs manifest themselves. But this is far from true: the most common cause of itching is one of the types - fur or scabies.

Scabies

This species is more dangerous for a “sea” pet. When it appears, the following symptoms are possible:

• the appearance of papules;
• skin redness;
• the appearance of areas with rough skin;
• hair loss.

Only a veterinarian can accurately determine the culprit. He will do this after examining a scraping taken from the animal’s skin.

Carrying out diagnostics

You can identify fleas yourself. They can be seen with the naked eye on the face and belly of a rodent. If you comb the fur with a single-row, fine-toothed comb, insect droppings will be left in small brown clumps, as well as dead or living insects. Parasites are easier to detect on animals with light fur.

If the diagnosis is made by a veterinarian, they will scrape the rodent's skin for inspection.

A mumps can have several diseases at once, for example:

• allergic dermatosis;
• ectoparasites;
• streptococcal infection;
• neurodermatitis;
• mycosis.

Any of these factors, as well as metabolic disorders and poor nutrition, can cause itching, skin irritation and hair loss.

To determine the presence of the disease, a scraping is taken from the animal's skin.

Other ectoparasites in guinea pigs

Lice, lice and mites also infest rodents. These parasites are much more common in guinea pigs than fleas. Infection occurs mainly through direct contact with a sick animal. Sometimes skin parasites are transmitted through equipment or bedding.

Lice and lice eaters

Pediculosis in guinea pigs is caused by 2 types of lice. The parasites are about the same size as fleas, but have a reddish tint. Lice are easier to detect in light-colored rodents. They prefer to live in those areas of the body where the hair is shorter:

• on the muzzle;
• neck;
• in the area of ​​the ears;
• near the genitals.

Like fleas, lice cause severe itching in guinea pigs. They also pierce the skin and drink the blood of their prey. Parasites lay eggs measuring 0.2-0.4 mm directly in the fur of a rodent - about 60 pieces at a time. Nits are attached to the hairs using a sticky liquid that the females secrete.

Lice eaters in guinea pigs are parasites with a light elongated body 1-2 mm long and 3 pairs of legs. Parasites feed on epidermal cells, secretions from the sebaceous glands and blood. Symptoms of lice-eater infestation in guinea pigs are not immediately noticeable:

• the guinea pig itches intensely and often;
• bald spots, nodules and abrasions appear on the face, in the area of ​​the shoulders and ears;
• the animal looks worried, dejected, as it hardly sleeps due to itching;
• weight loss is noted.

Ticks

In addition to fleas, lice and lice, guinea pigs also get ticks. There are 3 types of arthropod parasites.

Ticks cannot be detected by visual inspection. Their size is much smaller than that of fleas and lice. Parasites can only be seen under a microscope. For diagnosis, scraping of the deep layers of skin is taken.

Cat fleas

When figuring out whether lice eaters are dangerous for humans, you need to know what they look like. The insect is difficult to notice in the fur. Body length reaches 2 mm. The shape is slightly elongated, flattened. The top of the body is covered with a shell of chitin, which has a pale yellow tint. The head is slightly wider than the thoracic part. There are no wings, so they are not able to fly.

The female is fertile. Lays about a hundred tiny eggs, attaching each one with a special uterine secretion to the hair.

They feed on animal blood plasma, pet fur, and skin particles. For such an unusual way of feeding they received other names: lice eaters, wool eaters.

Lice eaters are found extremely rarely in humans; much more often they live in the fur of pets. They are transmitted through contact during walks or during mating.

Signs indicating the presence of insects in dogs and cats:

• itches constantly;
• scratches and wounds appear in the area of ​​the tail, ears, hips, and neck;
• wool loses its attractiveness: tangles appear, bald spots are noticeable;
• white inclusions resembling sand are visible on the hairs (this is what nits look like);
• causeless howling of an animal during the day and night;
• pet's loss of appetite;
• the appearance of nervousness and aggression.

• constant itching of the skin;
• the appearance of bald spots on the scalp;
• nervous exhaustion, irritation.

If you suspect that a person has lice eaters, treatment can begin after examination by a specialist. Medicines that destroy lice will help get rid of insects, larvae, and nits.

There are several reasons for this:

1. lack of thick wool;
2. low body temperature for the life of lice eaters (in dogs, the normal temperature is 37.4º - 39.3).

Conclusion

Insects are carriers of the disease trichodectosis, but cases of human infection with it are not found in the medical literature. The lice eaters carry the cucumber tapeworm. When insect larvae enter the human gastrointestinal tract through dirty hands and mouth, the disease dipylidiosis develops.

The guinea pig is a very friendly, cute and funny animal. Thanks to these qualities, they are often purchased as gifts for young children, in order to instill in children a sense of care and responsibility from childhood.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the best drops on the withers for cats against fleas and worms

However, it happens that the animal begins to get sick. And it’s doubly sad when, in addition to sympathy for a sick pet, you also feel sympathy for a child upset by the situation. Many pet lovers have encountered similar unpleasant situations more than once.

The variety of diseases in the animal world is no less numerous than the list of human ailments, and often, even with ideal care, pets can get sick for no apparent reason. There are countless folk superstitions and signs on this subject.

Whatever the reality, we can always influence the current situation. Before you begin to act, you need to understand the causes, symptoms, treatment and consequences of the most common ailments that can affect our pet.

Very often, the symptoms of the disease, which were not paid due attention to in its early stages, lead to death. This is a consequence of the fact that many guinea pig owners do not seek qualified help when they notice something is wrong.

The most common problem that occurs in guinea pigs is cat fleas. They switch to the animal from other pets. Characteristic signs are hair loss, itching, and skin damage. If there are a lot of parasites, anemia may develop.

How can you tell if your guinea pigs have fleas? Take a comb and thoroughly comb out the animal's fur. The comb may contain either the parasites themselves or brown granules - flea excrement. The larvae feed last.

The most common problem that occurs in guinea pigs is cat fleas. They switch to the animal from other pets

However, it is prohibited to use any other products for dogs or cats without consulting a veterinarian.

Types, symptoms and treatment

As mentioned earlier, pests in guinea pigs can be external (ectoparasites) and internal - helminths and protozoa (endoparasites). Some live on the skin or fur of an animal, others have adapted to parasitize inside the body.

The most common types of ectoparasites in guinea pigs are ticks and lice, and less commonly, lice and fleas.

Subcutaneous mite

It is also called scabies mite. The infestation may come from another sick animal. This parasite causes very severe and painful itching, wounds appear on the rodent's skin from scratching and biting, and some of the hair falls out. A tick cannot be seen with the naked eye, only under a microscope. In a healthy animal with proper nutrition, the subcutaneous mite can even remain inactive for several years. However, as soon as the pig gets pregnant or gets stressed, the problem will come out.

At the veterinary clinic they take a scraping for examination, although it sometimes gives a false answer. In this case, if there are symptoms of subcutaneous mite infection, treatment is carried out for diagnostic purposes. If it gives a positive result, a full course of the drug is prescribed. For treatment can be used:

• Advocate.
• Stronghold.
• Otodectin (solution for injection).
• Ivermectin (solution for injection).

To avoid an overdose and not harm the pet, only one drug is prescribed.

lice eaters

They are a serious threat to the health of guinea pigs. They can be carriers of helminths and fungal infections. The first sign that a lice eater has settled in an animal’s fur is severe itching. The animal seems worried and often itches, causing ulcers and wounds to appear on the skin.

The parasite can be seen with the naked eye by examining the pet's fur. These are small insects up to two millimeters in length, grayish or yellowish in color (depending on the color of the rodent).

If you find a lice eater, there is no need to panic. Today there is a large selection of medicines that can cope with infection:

• Spray Frontline. It is easy to use and most often the therapeutic effect occurs after the first use.
• drops are the most effective remedy. They not only cure the pet, but also prevent the reappearance of pests. Famous brands: Bars, Green Fort, Advantage.
• Among emulsions, Neostomozan is in demand.
• Collars.
• Shampoos.
• Powder.

Fleas and lice

Fleas are more common than lice, but the latter are dangerous because they can also parasitize humans. You can find lice or fleas using a comb. Their appearance is also accompanied by: itching, hair loss and scratching on the rodent’s body. If the infection is not advanced, then treatment will not be difficult.

To get rid of fleas and lice, use a spray or shampoo for cats, which should contain pyrethritol. Both the animal itself and the cage in which it lives should be treated.

Prevention

If in addition to the guinea pig, there are other pets in the house - cats or dogs, they must be regularly treated with insecticides so that they do not catch the infection and “reward” the little pet with it. This rule especially applies to those pets who are allowed to go outside for a walk.

The usual requirements for the conditions of keeping a pig play the role of preventive measures. These include:

• cleaning the animal's house;
• changing filler and bedding;
• treating the pet's cage and items with disinfectants.

All this should be done regularly and on an ongoing basis, and not just during or after an illness. Before going on walks, your pig needs to be protected against parasites.

It is very important to seek medical help at the first symptoms of infection. The consequences of an advanced disease are irreversible for the animal’s body, which leads to its death. The sooner treatment is started, the greater the chances of ridding your pet of the disease and returning him to his normal life and normal well-being. It is not worth treating the animal on your own - only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct treatment. Self-selected therapy can cost the animal its life. Control by a veterinarian and a responsible approach to healing your pet are the key conditions that will soon allow you to see your pet healthy and active.

Feed deficiencies in guinea pigs

Although commercially available pre-mixed foods are usually sufficient for most animals, it is unfortunately common for many guinea pigs to show symptoms of certain nutritional deficiencies. The most common is probably vitamin C deficiency, although it is rarely severe enough to cause obvious symptoms. Therefore, one must constantly be aware of this threat, recognizing that a lack of vitamin C weakens the body's natural immune system and increases the likelihood of disease.

If your pig gets vegetables and fruits, you can be sure that she is not at risk of vitamin C deficiency. In addition to the greens that are usually given, you can slip her a bunch of parsley tops from time to time - they contain a lot of vitamin C. Almost all guinea pigs eat her very willingly.

Progressive deficiency of vitamin C leads, as in humans, to scurvy. Here is what the famous German writer and journalist Bernhard Grzimek writes about this in his book “Our Little Brothers”: “... these funny fat animals have one thing in common with us humans: they can, like us, get scurvy. True, in their homeland, Peru, where a lot of both wild and domestic guinea pigs roam, they have never suffered from such a disease. It is we, people, who awarded the unfortunate experimental animals with such a disease.” In the process of evolution, they have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C. Symptoms of scurvy are loose teeth, and in an extremely acute form - attacks, during which the animal usually lies on its side with outstretched paws and an expression of pain on the face. In this case, the only salvation can be a strong dose of vitamin C, preferably in the form of a solution, which is given according to the instructions of a veterinarian.

Guinea pigs can be given at least 5 mg of vitamin C daily in their drinking water. As an approximate dose, we can recommend 1 mg of ascorbic acid per 1 ml of water. Since ascorbic acid easily enters into chemical reactions, the solution must be changed daily. When keeping a guinea pig at home, it needs an average of 20 mg of vitamin C per day.

In cases of other vitamin deficiencies, for example, those manifested by hair loss or skin allergies, it is recommended to give a multivitamin preparation daily. In addition, of course, one should strive to exclude the cause of the disease, because with proper nutrition such a problem should not arise in principle.

Already weakened animals catch cold easily. This occurs mainly when food shortages are accompanied by incorrect placement of the cage. When your pig catches a cold, it is necessary to: eliminate the root cause of the disease; keep the animal warm; try to strengthen his immune system by increasing the dose of vitamins.

Less dangerous, but also unpleasant, are eye inflammations caused by drafts. In this case, the first step should also be to move the animal from an unsuitable place. In addition, eye drops prescribed by a veterinarian are used.

In order not to expose your guinea pig to the danger associated with sudden changes in temperature, you can take it out onto the balcony only when the weather is really warm. This South American rodent feels best at temperatures around 20°C. Animals kept outside the home should regularly receive vitamin C in preventive doses.

How to withdraw

Infection with ectoparasites should be treated at the first signs of the disease. It is also necessary to take into account the presence of other animals in the house. If one of the pets is infected, all the others are examined. Depending on the results of the examination, either therapeutic or preventive measures are applied to them.

Only a veterinarian in a clinical setting can determine what specific type of parasitic insect an animal is infected with. Only a veterinarian can prescribe suitable treatment therapy, determine its duration and dosages of drugs. Self-medication is no less dangerous for a pet than illness - even a small excess of the required dose of medication will lead to intoxication of the body and subsequent death of the animal. In addition, when selecting medications on your own, there is a high risk of making an erroneous choice and causing side effects.

To get rid of ectoparasites, external medications are prescribed, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy. Some people use medications intended for cats, but this method is quite dangerous - such drugs are too concentrated for pigs. The insecticide content is excessive for a small pet, so such medicines may not cure the animal, but poison it.

The best option is to use products made specifically for rodents (guinea pigs and hamsters). The active ingredient must be pyrethrin. These medications have a detrimental effect not only on fleas. They will also help remove lice from your guinea pig, and also cope with ticks and lice-eaters. To treat a pet, the animal is treated with special insecticidal agents:

It is important that during processing the products do not get into the eyes and mouth of the rodent.

In addition to the animal itself, it is necessary to treat the entire home, the pet’s house and all the objects that it uses with appropriate means. The bedding and filler are completely replaced.

Methods for removing parasites

For treatment use:

1. Shampoo. When bathing, apply to wet fur and rub over the entire body so that it does not get into the eyes and ears. The product must be rinsed off well. When it enters the body, the digestion of animals is disrupted. You need to wash the cage and the area near it with the same shampoo, and change the bedding. The procedure is repeated after 10 days to destroy the larvae. When choosing this method of treatment, one must take into account that pigs are afraid of water and experience stress when bathing.
2. Spray. The jet is directed onto the skin against hair growth. Most drugs have an unpleasant odor, so it is better to carry out treatment on the balcony or on the street. The pig should be held in your hands until the spray dries to prevent it from licking the medicine.
3. Drops. The dose is drawn into a syringe, the needle is removed, the fur is pulled apart and dripped onto the skin, but not onto the wounds. You need to hold the animal in your hands for about 10-15 minutes until the product is completely absorbed.
4. Injections. Subcutaneously into the withers.

Basic rules of treatment:

• at the same time it is necessary to process the hair of all domestic animals;
• every 3 days, disinfect cages and bedding (they must always be dry);
• You cannot use several different drugs at the same time;
• the preparations Neostamazan, Ethnomazan, Stomazan, Butox are not used for pigs (they can only treat surfaces - cages, bedding and other equipment).

The cage must be cleaned every three days.

Used against fleas:

• drops – Advocate, Blokhnet, Stronghold, which can be combined with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs;
• shampoo “Nizoral” and others containing pyrethritol;
• sprays – 8 in 1, Frontline, Bolfo.

Do not exceed the dose - this can lead to poisoning of the pig. It is better to buy special preparations for rodents. When using medications intended for kittens, take 0.1 ml of Advocate or 6 ml of Stronghold per 1 kg of pig's weight.

Use flea drops in conjunction with antimicrobial drugs.

The above sprays and drops are used against ticks in the same way, as well as injection preparations:

1. Ivermectin. Per kg of weight, 0.02 ml of the drug is combined with 0.2 ml of saline solution. The product is considered difficult to use, since it is difficult to calculate the dose and measure it, and exceeding it is dangerous for the pig’s brain.
2. Otodectin (variation with 0.1% ivermectin) at the rate of 0.2 ml/kg.

Injections are given once every 10 days, 2-4 injections in total (depending on the degree of damage). Ivermectin is applied to inflamed areas of the skin 2-3 times a day. The cage needs to be washed with a solution containing chlorine and the bedding changed.

Often a tick infection is complicated by the appearance of a fungus. It primarily affects the scalp, neck and extremities. It is treated with Chlorhexidine, Lamizine, etc.

We make injections into the animal's withers.

Help against lice and lice:

• sprays Bars, Celandine, Bolfo, Dana, Akaramectin;
• Ivermectin injections (if there are a lot of parasites);
• Advantix drops, Frontline, Advocate.

If nits are present, the treatment is repeated after 2 weeks. Insecticides kill only adult insects.

The least toxic are pyrethrin-based preparations, such as 8 in 1 sprays and Beaphar. They can be used to treat pregnant and lactating females and cubs weighing up to 500 g.

Sprays against lice and fleas destroy only adult individuals, but not nits.

Seek help from a veterinarian

Not really

Let's sum it up

If the owners had any doubts as to whether guinea pigs could be attacked by fleas, then after all of the above they will disappear. These blood-sucking creatures can greatly harm your pet, so it is very important to monitor any changes and, at the slightest suspicion, seek help from a doctor. Regarding what and how to treat, these recommendations can only be given by a specialist and only for individual indications. Using the wrong treatment is very dangerous to health and can cause complications.

Symptoms of guinea pig infection with ectoparasites

Parasitic organisms pose a considerable danger to the animal. The gradual consequences of the disease are:

• exhaustion;
• anemia;
• blood poisoning;
• death.

To prevent the death of your pet, it is important to detect parasite infestation as early as possible. To do this, you need to carefully monitor the behavior of the animal.

In case of atypical manifestations or detection of alarming symptoms, you must immediately take your pet to a veterinarian.

You can tell that a guinea pig has parasites by its restless behavior. The main symptom of the animal's disease is severe itching. Things are wrong if the pig is constantly itching and also chewing on its fur coat. At the same time, a lot of scratches (some to the point of bleeding) and already formed wounds or sores can be seen on the pet’s skin. Scratched areas become red, swollen and accompanied by painful sensations. All this also serves as confirmation of the presence of external parasites in the animal. The reason for the animal’s nervousness is the bites of ectoparasites, which cause severe itching of the skin.

The infected animal does not eat well, as a result of which it noticeably loses weight. Hair begins to fall out on the pet's paws and head. The disease in an already advanced stage is recognized by large bald spots on the pet’s body and noticeable wounds (some with suppuration).

It is worth noting that the main signs of infection with ectoparasites - severe itching, restlessness and lack of appetite - are also considered the main signs of the presence of endoparasites.

The presence of any of these symptoms in an animal is a reason for an immediate visit to a veterinarian. Treatment should be prescribed exclusively by a specialist, otherwise there is a high risk of losing your pet. An incorrectly selected method and attempts to cure the animal on your own will only harm the pet (cause intoxication, etc.) and speed up its progression through all stages of the disease, even death.

Care instructions

Try to change your pet's living conditions and diet. His house should be free and clean. Remember to regularly clean your pet's cage. Even the most comfortable house gets boring over time, so you need to periodically let the animal out to walk around the room and play with it.

Guinea pigs do not like sharp and loud sounds, so it is better to place their home in a quiet corner. There should always be food, useful elements and clean water inside. Make sure that water can flow from the waterer before placing it in the cage.

If a pet is infected with parasites, then this ultimately leads to sad consequences. If you notice that the animal is itching and is acting restless, then you need to start treating it immediately. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. Remember that by providing your pet with favorable living conditions, you reduce the risk of parasite infection.

Symptoms of parasite infestation

The symptoms of lice and fleas are almost identical. Inexperienced owners can easily confuse them. Lice most often infect the head and neck.

They are much smaller than fleas. They have an oval body with a characteristic yellowish tint. A characteristic sign of lice is white nits, which are firmly attached directly to the hairs themselves.

But such lice are not dangerous for humans.

There are two types of ticks that infect mumps:

1. Itchy.
2. Fur.

With mites, the itching is so severe that the baby literally convulses. Such a defeat is a real test for the pig’s body. Pregnant individuals even have a risk of miscarriage.

Symptoms of tick infestation:

1. itchy skin;
2. rough skin areas appear;
3. There are places where hair falls out.

If you start the right treatment, you can get rid of ticks quickly.

If you have any suspicions, it is better to take your pig to the veterinarian. He will accurately determine whether there is cause for concern. He has a microscope at his disposal, under which he can easily detect any parasite on the fur.

Preparations containing ivermectin are used. It is recommended to treat the animal's fur several times at intervals of 7-10 days.

The cage can be treated with sulfuric lime.

We suggest you read: Whitefly in a greenhouse: how to get rid of it using folk remedies