Small white bugs on Shadow

[Jennicat]

They're not really safe for kittens either, to be honest. Pyrethrins are the main ingredient in so many of the Hartz products known to seriously harm both dogs and cats.

They're more commonly used in agriculture to spray on plants to kill bugs. I wouldn't put them on ANY of my pets. We were always instructed to wash ourselves carefully and wear gloves when using that chemical at even a very weak concentration.

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

Shampoos like that do not eradicate fur mites. They live under the skin.

I suspect you will have another infestation soon.

[ziggypig]

Then it was not fur mites either. It was something I could see . It was as small as a flake of dandruff that moved around. They were mostly on the top of her hair not down by her skin.

From what im reading you have to feed the guinea pig large amounts or make them inhale a high dose of Pyrethrins before you have a problem. I used a dab of the shampoo on the tip of my finger and like I said I lathered and rinsed right away I didnt leave it on her.

Either way its done now. I used it , it worked . Maybe in the meantime I willl order advantage so If they contract something elese I can treat with that insted.

[Jennicat]

Those products do not have a strict amount which causes problems. When they test them for the safety sheets, they figure out a number that's called an "LD50". That's the amount required for a lethal dose in 50% of the population. That means that some die from much smaller quantities, and some die from much larger quantities. It depends on each individual's metabolism and body.

Playing around with poisonous products is never recommended, especially on an animal like a guinea pig that is so susceptible to poisons, and especially when there are safer alternatives available.

[Megan]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I've had those bugs before. The vet told me kitten flea/tick shampoo works the best....put a very small amount on and do not leave it on the guinea pig and they'll be fine. I don't remember the brand he told me, but it worked great and my pig never had any problems with it. That was the recommendation the vet gave me.... I think you did the right thing. I remember finding them on my pig...I wanted them gone as soon as possible!

[sus4rabbitsnpigs]

Your vet is wrong. Not all vets are cavy savy. GPs don't typically get fleas or ticks. Mites and lice are more common. New eggs hatch. Shampoos do not eradicate them.

[ziggypig]

I think Megan is the only person on here that knows what kind of bug im talking about.

It was not lice on her. Lice are larger then these bugs were. They were not a typical mite which is on they guinea lnyx fourm .

I have not found no eggs. They were a bug that roamed on the top of her fur. I did not find any of them or eggs near her skin.

They were a bug that did not bother her in anyway. She was not scratchin or biting nor is she missing any hair nor or there any marks on her skin.

So I will keep you all up to date , so far there are none on her and its almost 2 weeks since the bath.

[Megan]

For the life of me I wish I knew what kind of bugs the vet said they were. You are right ziggypig....they are not lice/mites. They are not a nuisance nor do they bother the animal. They don't make the pig scratch or bite. My vet was a small animal vet and he knew a lot about cavies, I trusted him and it worked for me and did no damage to the animal. I'm glad your piggies are bug free now! I hope it stays that way!!

[Jennicat]

I personally don't go to doctors that prescribe poisons for me, so I try not to take my pets to vets that prescribe poisons for them. Just because you got lucky and your animal didn't become sick from a pesticide doesn't mean your vet "knows a lot about cavies", it means he's been extremely lucky and has avoided killing yours so far.

[ziggypig]

Just to update on this post. 3 months have past Shadow is Fine and no return of them little bugs.