What do you all use as a precautionary measure against mites for your

Guinea Pigs?

The breeder I have just got Josie from uses Neem oil and I was wondering if

anyone else uses this. If so do you get it from Holland &Barrrett or where?

If not what else do you use?

Any suggestions would be good.

__________________

I dont have guineas but last time one of my rats had mites I covered him in olive oil and it cleared up within a couple of days.

__________________

Aw interesting. Wonder how that kills the mites? suffocation??

Not really sure how often to do it but surely the hay/straw must have mites in it?

__________________

Yes they can get mites from their straw, not sure about hay tho as my rabbit is kept on hay and she has never had any problems with mites. If I was using straw then I would freeze it before hand to kill anything that might be hiding in it. That might be an idea.

Not sure how the whole oil thing works but it worked for me. If oil doesnt work then I would recommend using the beaphar spot on.

__________________

I was told by a vet quite a few years ago that hay mite didn't actually come from hay and that it was actually in the guinea pig itself. That would explain really why I have had a guinea pig with hay mite and two others in the same hutch that didn't have it.

I don't use anything to prevent it on my guinea pigs but if they get it it's very easily treated with Xeno 450 from Vetuk. Only had to use it once in the last few years. A lot cheaper than the weekly injections at the vet used to be.

I was told the same about rats. Apparently they have them living on their skin all the time but you only notice them when the animal is stressed and starts to scratch. The scabs you see on the skin are not mite bites but are where the animal has scratched itself. It does make sense. If its true then it also explains how using oil helps, just means that the oil must sooth the skin and make it less itchie.

__________________

Thanks Jazzy so basically not to do anything preventionally (if thats a word ) only if they have them. Will keep in mind the xeno 450.

__________________

Yes that's what I do - just wait till they get them really and you can usually tell because they are scratching a lot and get bald bits. You won't be able to see the mites though as they burrow under the skin. Easily treated though, just use the Xeno like you do frontline on dogs.