🐹 Guinea Pig Lice: A Vet’s 2025 Guide with Dr Duncan Houston BVSc 🩺

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc – Lice infestations, while less common than mites or fleas, can still pose issues for guinea pig comfort and health. In 2025, this in-depth guide covers causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment protocols, environmental control, and prevention—ensuring your cavies stay itch-free, happy, and healthy! 🪳✨

📘 Understanding Guinea Pig Lice

Guinea pig lice (typically Gliricola porcelli and Gyropus ovalis) are species-specific, wingless insects that feed on skin debris and blood. These parasites are visible to the naked eye (about 1–2 mm long) and may cause mild to moderate irritation, especially in young, elderly, or immunocompromised animals. Unlike mites, lice live freely on the coat and lay eggs (nits) attached to hair shafts.

🐾 How Lice Spread

• 🤝 Direct contact between infested and non-infested pigs.
• 🔁 Shared bedding, hides, grooming tools, or human handling.
• 🌱 New guinea pigs introduced without quarantine.

😣 Clinical Signs to Watch For

• 🪳 Visible lice crawling on fur, often around neck, shoulders, flanks.
• 🥴 Itching, rubbing, scratching—leading to hair thinning or patchy fur.
• 🪡 Presence of nits (white “eggs” glued to hair shafts).
• 🐾 Possible skin irritation, redness, mild crusting if infestation goes untreated.
• ⚠️ Secondary bacterial infection from excessive scratching.

🔬 Diagnosing Lice Infestations

• 🔎 Carefully part the fur under bright light to spot lice and nits.
• 🧴 Use lubricated gloves to gently wipe fur; live lice may crawl onto gloves.
• 🪡 Nits are firmly attached to hairs and not easily dislodged.
• 🧪 Skin scrapes are typically unnecessary unless secondary skin disease is suspected.

💊 Treatment Options Today

Treatment aims to eliminate adult lice, nits, and prevent reinfestation. Options include:

✅ Topical Pyrethroid Sprays/Shampoos

• Deltramethrin or permethrin-based spot-on sprays, safe for guinea pigs, kill adult lice. Always follow veterinary guidance.
• Shampoos containing veterinary-approved insecticides can be used—avoid bathing stress and rinse fully.
• Repeat treatment in 7–10 days to remove newly hatched lice.

🎯 Ivermectin & Moxidectin Use

• Off-label use of injectable or oral ivermectin is effective; dose as prescribed by your vet (usually 0.2–0.4 mg/kg, repeated in 10–14 days).
• Moxidectin topical solution is also effective against lice and easier to apply.
• Require care with dosing and monitoring; repeated dosing ensures full life-cycle control.

🌿 Supportive Care for Comfort

• Apply colloidal oatmeal sprays or aloe-based lotions to soothe itchy skin.
• Provide a clean, secure resting area free from parasites.
• Monitor humidity and temperature to support healing skin.

🏠 Environmental Management & Prevention

• 🧼 Remove and clean cages, hides, bedding, bowls, and toys with pet-safe disinfectants.
• 🔥 Wash or discard bedding; wash fleece liners in hot water and dry fully to kill lice and nits.
• ⌛ Quarantine any new or returning pigs for 4 weeks, with at least 2 vet-recommended lice treatments before integration.
• 🧳 Regular inspections of all guinea pigs—especially after travel or new introductions.

🧪 Monitoring & Follow-Up

• 📅 Re-examine at 7–10 days and 3–4 weeks post-treatment—look for lice or nits.
• 🔁 Repeat topical or systemic treatment if necessary.
• 🩺 Observe coat health, appetite, and behavior to detect stress or reinfestation.

📊 Quick Reference Table

📲 Ask A Vet, Woopf & Purrz Support 🐾

Need help identifying lice or choosing the right product? The Ask A Vet app offers 24/7 photo-based consultations, prescription guidance, and follow-up support—ideal for prompt treatment. 🩺

Woopf offers pet-safe cleaning sprays and washable fleece liners to help control parasites. Purrz features skin-soothing gels and immune-boosting supplements to support recovery after infestation. 🛍️

🔬 2025 Vet Innovations & Tips

• 🐾 Wearable coat sensors for early detection of excessive scratching or biting.
• 🌿 Natural insect-repellent bedding blends with lemongrass and cedar-neutralizing compounds.
• 🧬 Research is exploring oral insect-parent vaccines—future hope for parasite control.

📣 Final Word from Dr Duncan Houston BVSc 🩺

Lice infestations are treatable when recognized early. With targeted medication, thorough environmental control, and supportive care, your guinea pigs can be lice-free and comfortable once more. Regular checks and responsible hygiene are key to prevention in 2025. 💚🐹

👉 Download the Ask A Vet app today for expert lice guidance and care support—because every guinea pig deserves a healthy, itch-free life! 📱🐾