Guinea Pigs: The Best way to Treat Hay Mites

Guinea pigs are adorable, friendly miniature pets that make the cutest squeaky noises. We had lots of pets growing up, including guinea pigs, and they were always so sweet and friendly. Like other pets, they depend on us to provide the best possible conditions for their health and happiness, with particular attention to detail and prevention in keeping our pets healthy, especially concerning conditions that can develop to cause considerable discomfort and/or illness. One such condition is hay mites. Hay mites are quite common and will plague most guinea pig owners at some point.

Here we take a look at general guinea pig health, including some common health issues, suggestions on how to keep your little buddies happy and healthy, and an extensive guide on how to recognise, prevent, and treat hay mites.

General Health of Guinea Pigs

Although classified as a small rodent, the guinea pig, or cavy as it is sometimes called, has a long lifespan for a small animal, anywhere from 5 to 7 years or more. The more knowledge we have of the basic health needs of guinea pigs, the more likely they are to live long, happy lives.

1. Diet and Nutrition

Diet is important for keeping your guinea pig healthy and well. Your guinea pig needs 4 main food sources to thrive:

Hay: Quality timothy or meadow hay should be available at all times. Their digestive systems are highly dependent on this, as are their teeth (which never stop growing).

Fresh vegetables: leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, cilantro, and parsley are good. Guinea pigs need vitamin C every day because they do not synthesise it. Vegetables that have high levels of vitamin C like bell peppers and kale are good.

Pellets: Guinea pig pellets that are fortified with vitamin C can also be part of a balanced diet – there are many commercial options available.

Water: Fresh, clean water should be readily available.

A bad diet, for example, one with vitamin c deficiency, can lead to lethargy, joints with swelling, and a hair coat that is dull with scurvy.

2. Housing and Hygiene

Guinea pigs need a clean, spacious, well-ventilated home with absorbent, soft bedding, a weekly change of litter and removal of food debris to avoid the development of ammonia that can affect their respiratory system. Tunnels, hideouts, exercise wheels and chew toys are useful for combatting stress and boredom. These factors are instrumental in maintaining mental and physical health in pet guinea pigs.

3. Exercise and Mental Stimulation

As all domesticated animals, guinea pigs need exercise and stimulation, especially when kept indoors. Safe, supervised time outside the cage in guinea pig-safe areas will provide the physical activity needed for their well-being. Interaction with people and other guinea pigs is also a helpful mental stimulus.

4. Signs of Illness

Guinea pig owners should check their pets regularly for signs of illness but since guinea pigs are accomplished deniers, any of the following signs may herald a health problem:

• Weight loss or decreased appetite
• Changes in behaviour, such as lethargy or irritability
• Laboured breathing or nasal discharge
• Rough, unkempt fur or hair loss
• Swelling or lumps on the body
• Excessive scratching, intense itching, or signs of skin irritation and skin problems such as bald patches

If any of these signs are seen, immediate veterinary care is recommended to take a look at your guinea pigs’ skin, especially when the vet is familiar with guinea pigs.

Hay Mites: A Common Health Issue

Another potential skin problem and extremely painful condition for a guinea pig is hay mites (Trixacarus caviae) — tiny parasites that live in hay and can end up infesting a guinea pig, leading to itching, hair loss and skin inflammation. Guinea pig mites are very small, so if you see one in your guinea pig’s fur, it’s probably best to assume that there are more that you can’t see with naked eye. Although not immediately obvious, static mites can have some very serious impacts on your pet’s health if left untreated. Static mites (chirodiscoides caviae) are a different type of mite from sarcoptic mites (Trixacarus caviae). A sarcoptic mange mite burrows under a guinea pig’s skin as opposed to living in their hair and running up and down guinea pigs’ hair shafts.

Causes of Hay Mites

Hay mites are transmitted to your guinea pigs through contaminated bedding or hay, or from other guinea pigs that came in contact with an infested pig. Since guinea pig mites can live in hay, you need to obtain it only from reputable suppliers and screen it frequently.

Mites can go into a phase called cryptobiosis, or become inactive for part of their life cycle, so your guinea pig can have an outbreak without getting them from another animal.

Symptoms of Hay Mite Infestation

The signs and symptoms of hay mite infestation in guinea pigs depend on the severity of infestation. Common signs to look out for in affected areas include:

Unusual Picking: If your guinea pig is picking at himself more than he/she has in the past, your pig could have mites.

Excessive Scratching: If he/she is scratching more than he/she has in the past, it could be due to mites.

Hair Loss: Guinea pigs might start scratching and biting themselves due to inflamed skin, causing some hair to fall off.

Scabs and Crusty Skin: Prolonged infestation of mites can result in scabs and a crusty appearance to the skin, especially around the neck, back and shoulders.

Restlessness or agitation: Some infested guinea pigs may begin to seem restless or agitated due to the irritation.

Secondary Bacterial Infections: Open sores resulting from scratching may, in severe cases, lead to secondary bacterial infections, which require additional treatment.

Diagnosis of Hay Mites

A vet should be consulted immediately if you suspect your guinea pig has mites, and especially if you have a pregnant guinea pig. A vet will normally check the skin of a guinea pig and do a skin scraping, which involves taking a small sample from the skin and putting it under a microscope. This is usually the standard diagnostic method, but an animal with a lot of mites may have a lot of dead skin growth on its back, necessitating blood work or a biopsy to rule out diseases that can be easily confused with mites.

Treatment options for Hay Mites

Thankfully, treating hay mites in guinea pigs is a relatively easy task, as there are multiple treatment avenues available when you’re considering the best way to do so:

Topical Treatments: Ivermectin or Selamectin are often topical treatments used to rid mites, and while Ivermectin is an injection, they’ll kill the mites. Injections are often made with dosages based on your guinea pig’s weight, and sometimes your vet will recommend multiple treatments to rid the tiny mites.

Oral Medications: For more serious cases, oral ivermectin (an anti-parasitic drug) can be given to kill fur mites from the inside out.

Antibiotics: If your guinea pig’s wound has become a secondary bacterial infection (e.g., if they have been scratching it), the vet may prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Environmental Cleaning: It is essential to thoroughly clean your guinea pig’s cage, bedding and toys or accessories to avoid re-infestation. Mites can live in the environment and be picked up by your guinea pig later, so doing a deep-cleaning, using a mite-safe disinfectant and washing everything if possible in hot water, will help eliminate the presence of mites and any left behind.

Preventing Future Infestations

After the most common types of mite mites are treated, there are some steps you can take to prevent re-infestation:

Hay and bedding: Inspection of hay and bedding is again very important. Check it before introducing it to your pig’s environment, and purchase it from a trusted supplier to minimise the risk of contaminated material.

Quarantine: Quarantine any new guinea pig in your herd for 3 to 4 weeks before allowing it to mingle with others in the household. This gives any mites time to hatch. Upon bringing a new pet home, carefully check for mites before releasing the newcomer onto the carpet.

Regular Health Checks: Don’t forget to check your guinea pig on a regular basis for signs of mites or other problems. Checking once a week is a good idea and will help you catch more problems early before they become serious.

Guinea pigs make great pets as long as they are fed the right thing, housed in the right way, and taken to the vet if they get sick, and especially if they have mites. Hay mites are tiny parasites but can be the cause great discomfort to a pig. These mites can easily be treated as long as you spot them in time and have good hygiene so that the mites won’t return.

If you see unusual or worrisome symptoms in your guinea pig, please consult with a small animal vet immediately. And remember to stay on top of your guinea pig’s doctor appointments in order to provide the best preventative support for your guinea pig!

See more of my pet-related posts here!

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.