How to Treat Guinea Pig Lice
A guinea pig relaxing
Is it Normal for Guinea pigs to Have Lice?
Sadly, it’s quite common for guinea pigs to attract parasites such as lice, mites, or fleas. Their thick fur is a perfect nesting ground for them, so once they move in, they can be tricky to get rid of.
While guinea pig lice is a common issue, it doesn’t mean it’s not serious. One or two lice may not cause many problems but left untreated and an infestation can break out. Lice infestations can be super uncomfortable for piggies, and in many cases painful too.
If you believe your guinea pig has the start of a lice infection, then you’ll definitely want to give your vet a call. They will most likely arrange an appointment to examine your piggy in person, but as lice are highly contagious, they will potentially want to fit you in when the clinic is a little quieter.
How Do Guinea Pigs Get Lice?
Lice are extremely annoying and durable little creatures and can be hiding almost anywhere. The majority of the time you will find your guinea pig lice has come from another guinea pig. Lice spreads incredibly easily from one to another, and before long your entire herd can become infested.
To prevent the potential of a lice infestation, it’s always best to quarantine new guinea pigs before introducing them to the main herd. This will give you the chance to monitor them and make sure there’s no lice, or anything else like guinea pig mites. If you do spot any lice, then you can treat it as soon as possible.
Guinea pig lice can also be spread through contaminated bedding, so if you’ve had an infestation occur, not only do you need to treat the animals, but you also need to thoroughly wash all bedding they have come into contact with. If you use wood shavings or paper shreds, then you should remove it all and replace with fresh bedding. Once any fleece beddings have been washed, you will probably want to wash it a second time.
Lice can be pretty resistant, and it’s better safe than sorry.
How to Tell If My Guinea Pig has Lice?
Lice can be tricky to spot at first, but not impossible. You can notice lice by moving around their fur and taking a good look. A magnifying glass may be helpful, as lice are quite small. You will want to focus looking around their neck or face first, as this is the first area guinea pig lice tend to hide in.
In more developed guinea pig lice infestations, your guinea pig will be noticeably itchier than usual, and will probably take frequent pauses to scratch themselves. They may even be more irritable and even aggressive with other piggies as they become more uncomfortable.
Eventually, you may notice sores forming, where their skin has become red, irritated and dry. At this point, it’s safe to assume your piggy is experiencing a reasonable amount of pain from the lice and should be treated as soon as possible.
Can you Treat Guinea Pig Lice at Home?
When it comes to lice, guinea pigs should ideally be taken to a vet before any attempt at treatment is made. There are several types of lice that could be causing the infestation, and a vet will need to determine which one it is to provide the correct medication. A vet will typically supply a topical medication to soothe the skin and parasiticides to remove the guinea pig lice.
It is highly advised that you avoid any over the counter treatments, or even guinea pig mites or lice treatments commonly sold in pet shops. They may seem like the quicker and cheaper option, but often the ingredients in these are too harsh for a piggy, or simply don’t work well.
However, there are certain types of guinea pig shampoo that can be effective to use alongside the vet’s treatment. In less severe cases, washing a guinea pig with the right shampoo may be more than enough. Using a guinea pig shampoo as a lice preventative may be a wise idea too. If you’re quarantining a new piggy to introduce into your herd, then popping them in a bath with lice shampoo may be highly effective.
Guinea pig snacking on some grass outside
Types of Guinea Pig Lice
There are actually three types of lice your guinea pig may catch. The majority of cases are caused by the same type but are instances of the others causing problems too. The three types are:
Gliricola porcelli – Also known as biting lice, are the most common type of lice found causing infestations. They’re slender, with a narrow head and are roughly 1 – 1.5mm long.
Gyropus ovalis – These are less common than Gliricola porcelli, yet aren’t impossible to catch. They’re more of an oval shape, with a wide head and are about 1 – 1.2 mm long.
Trimenopon hispidum – This is the rarest type of lice to find. Their bodies are slender, but their heads are in more of a triangular shape.
Lice Shampoo Recommendations
If you suspect your piggy has caught a few lice and wish to prevent it from developing into an infestation, then not to worry. Here is a list of some of our favourite guinea pig shampoos.
Most Effective Shampoo
Farrier’s Equine Care Lice and Mite Shampoo for guinea pigs is a perfect, well-rounded option for washing a guinea pig. This shampoo is completely safe for the skin and comes with a pleasant scent. This shampoo can kill lice and mites on contact, all while giving your piggies a nice deep cleanse and relaxing lather.
Farriers Equine Care Lice & Mite Shampoo
Most Affordable Shampoo
Johnsons’ Small Animal Insecticidal Shampoo is a great choice if you’re looking for something more affordable. If you’re wanting to wash several guinea pigs at once, or intend to use it as a preventative, then using a less expensive shampoo is absolutely ideal. This shampoo is non-irritating and completely safe for guinea pigs.
Johnsons Small Animal Insecticidal Shampoo
