Withers in guinea pigs: how dangerous "woolen" parasites can be for humans
Guinea pigs, unlike most rodents, are very clean animals. If you do not monitor the cleanliness of the cage and do not follow certain rules, parasites belonging to the genus of lice may appear on the pet's coat. They do not pose a danger to the life of the animal, but they cause very unpleasant symptoms and a rodent and cause a lot of trouble to the owner.
Content
- Who are guinea pigs with lice and how dangerous they are
- How can a guinea pig become infected with lice?
- Symptoms and first signs of lice in guinea pigs
- Are lice transmitted to humans from guinea pigs
- Special remedies for lice in guinea pigs
- Prevention of the appearance of parasites
- What not to treat a guinea pig
Who are guinea pigs with lice and how dangerous they are
Vlasoyed - representatives of the detachment of lice. They do not feed on blood and lymph, they eat only animal hair and dead epidermal cells. External signs of a pest:
- the body can be painted in shades from transparent yellowish to gray;
- flattened body, its length is not more than 2 mm;
- a large shield-shaped head, gnawing mouthparts;
- three pairs of legs ending in claws, thanks to which the pest can stay on the hairs for a long time.
Since they do not feed on blood, their appearance does not cause itching, bleeding wounds and similar unpleasant symptoms in guinea pigs.
However, they still pose a serious danger:
- with active reproduction of ticks, a massive invasion of the animal occurs, which can cause its complete baldness;
- parasites carry infectious diseases, some of which are dangerous to other animals and humans;
- invasion has a negative impact on the general condition of the body of pigs, which is manifested in a decrease in appetite, exhaustion.
- Vlasoyed can cause an allergic reaction.
How can a guinea pig become infected with lice?
Most often, infection occurs outside the home, for example, through contact with other animals. An animal offered for sale in a pet store may already be infested with lice. In rare cases, the host may bring the parasite from the street on clothes or shoes. Also, infection is possible through purchased bedding, hay.
Symptoms and first signs of lice in guinea pigs
Symptoms of infection may not appear immediately, but only after a few months. Typical signs of the appearance of pests on the coat of a guinea pig include the following.
| Itching | The animal experiences discomfort, tries to gnaw out parasites from its fur. Often rodents do not control the force of bites, inflicting wounds on themselves. |
| restless behavior | Appetite decreases, normal sleep is disturbed. As a result, there is a decrease in immunity, vitamin deficiency occurs, which leads to even greater depletion of the body. |
| Apathetic looking animal | The pig has to spend all its strength on fighting parasites, which exhausts it greatly. |
| Appearance | Wool falls out and takes on a sloppy look - sticks together, does not shine, looks greasy. The manifestation of allergic reactions in the form of redness on the skin. |
Are lice transmitted to humans from guinea pigs
The opinions of experts on this issue differ. Some believe that infection of a human with a guinea pig is impossible for several reasons:
- the body temperature of a person and a rodent is significantly different, lice are not adapted to life on the human body;
- insufficient density of human hair.
However, studies have shown that withers can settle on any hairy surface. When pests appear, a person will experience itching, irritation, and allergic reactions are possible.
Special remedies for lice in guinea pigs
There are no special remedies for the treatment of guinea pigs; therapy is carried out using drugs for cats and dogs. When carrying out procedures, you must be careful: the dosage for pigs should be lower than for other pets.
| Spray | The preparations have an insecticidal effect and allow you to effectively deal with parasites. It is necessary to spray all the animal's hair with a spray, and then rub it with massage movements. Complete drying will take about 30 minutes, during this time it is better to let the animal move freely around the room. Most often, one treatment is enough to get rid of parasites. |
| Drops | Drops are one of the most effective means to combat ectoparasites. The preparations are also based on insecticidal components and help get rid of not only lice, but also fleas and ticks. Drops are applied to the back of the animal, closer to the cervical region. Means destroy both adults and larvae. |
| Emulsions | The emulsion is a concentrated suspension, the solution for processing is prepared independently. |
| Shampoos | Pedicule shampoos are the most gentle means to combat ectoparasites, but they are powerless with severe infestation. It is advisable to use them as a complex therapy, as well as a prophylactic agent. To get rid of withers, the animal will need to bathe the pig several times. |
| Collars | There are 2 types of collars against parasites: some have an insecticidal effect and destroy pests, others can only be used as a preventive method. In any case, the collars are quite effective, but they have a drawback - they can cause allergic reactions. |
| Powder | Powder or powder helps relieve unpleasant symptoms of infection, such as itching, redness and inflammation of the skin. The agent completely covers the body of the rodent, trying to rub it into the skin as much as possible. The effect of powder treatment lasts for one and a half weeks. |
Prevention of the appearance of parasites
To minimize the risk of guinea pig infection with lice, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Timely clean the cage, change the bedding and keep the room clean.
- If the rodent is dirty, it must be bathed.
- Regularly inspect the pet's coat for the appearance of parasites, comb out often.
- Once every 6 months, carry out preventive treatment of the guinea pig with special preparations;
- Use high-quality feed, provide the animal with a complete balanced diet.
What not to treat a guinea pig
You should not use the advertised means: entomazan, butox, stomazan. They are intended for larger animals, use for guinea pigs can greatly harm their health. However, these preparations can be used to treat cages and equipment.
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