Once Is Not Enough – Lice Alert!
When Lice ‘n’ Easy Shampoo starts outselling Manuka & Neem Shampoo (normally our top selling shampoo), you can be sure that the warmer weather is here and the lice are back in action!
Piggy lice are host-specific and will not live or breed on humans. However, they are easily transmitted from guinea to guinea by direct contact, or by contact with a human that has recently held a contaminated guinea. This can happen at guinea pig shows or with guineas who live together. Lice are often picked up when piggies our out on the grass, hence their “popularity” in the summer months.
Lice are visible to the naked eye, about 1mm long and look like tiny white / cream worms wriggling around. They are commonly found around the head, ears and rump of the guinea. They feed off skin debris, but do not cause the same intense itching as Mange Mites that live under the skin. Nevertheless, action should be taken to remove them sooner rather than later.
Lice ‘n’ Easy Shampoo has been designed especially for guineas with lice, and works a treat when the instructions are followed. Two rounds of two shampoos one week apart will usually see them off unless the infestation is really bad; occasionally a third round of shampoos will be required.
The first two shampoos will wash away the live lice and most of the eggs; the second two shampoos a week later will wash away lice that have hatched from the eggs left behind after the first shampoos.
Please don’t be tempted to do just one round of shampoos because it appears all the lice have gone. Several of our customers have done this and regretted later when the lice came back. They then had to start again and do the two rounds of two shampoos.
ACTION TIME: Check your guineas for “little wrigglers” and then go shopping for Lice ‘n’ Easy Shampoo to get rid of any that you find.
Click here for more information about Piggy Parasites.
Information contained in this article is no substitute for proper Veterinary care.
