Problem with my new guinea pigs

[guineapugs]

I've had the new baby guinea pigs for almost a week. They have mites! Having informed the farm where I purchased the piggies, they gave me one dose of anti mite drops to go on back of their heads. I had to administer it myself with no experience. I pushed a drip through the fur and onto the skin on the back of the guinea pig's neck, not ear. No follow up dose given to me. I'm upset that they came to me with mites. Am I doing the right thing? Should. Take them to vets and get the farm to pay? I thought buying from someone I actually know at a local farm would be better than a large pet store chain but now I'm not so sure. Please help!

I know it can be treated but I've never had to deal with it myself. Those I do know who have done it have used baths and treatments. I'd go to the vet to get advice on how best to treat it. Mites can lead to awful skin issues and must feel terrible for the piggies. Wherever you got them from should ideally pay, if you're completely sure they had the mites when they came to you. If not, do it for the piggies.

Thanks. One definitely had a bald patch on his rear when I purchased them.

Look at Mason's Cavies on Facebook, Sophie had done videos showing how to treat guinea pigs with mites.

Hi OP, are they lice? Can you see them on the fur?

If they're mites and burrowed under the fur (these will cause skin rashes and lots of itching) then they're likely mange mites.

If they're lice, Gorgeous Guineas do a nice shampoo called lice n easy that will help. Google Gorgeous Guineas and it should come up.

Otherwise, if it's mites, ivermectin is the solution. The vet can administer this. You can also get ivermectin from wilko or pets at home for about £6 for four pipettes. You need to repeat the dose (dose depends on size of piggy) ten days after the first so you can kill any new mites that have hatched.

Good luck OP.

Thank you. I didn't expect to be needing to treat them for anything when I haven't even had them for a week!

Can't see any lice, just scabby bald patches.