LauraBean
Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2009
- Posts
- 173
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2009
- Messages
- 173
Sunday is cage cleaning day at my house. It's usually very uneventful. Strip and wash blankets, wipe coro, replace blankets. Today was a whole different story.
While rolling up the fleece and padding, I noticed tiny black bugs crawling and jumping on the random bits of poo that had gotten under the blankets. Closer inspection revealed them EVERYWHERE! On the coro, on the blankets, on the carpeted ramp, in the fleece forest, on the carpeted floor under the cage, etc. Everywhere except on the pigs, that is. I have given each pig a close look over, and none have any bugs on them, not bald or irritated spots. Nothing to indicate any biting insect. I also have two solid white cats, one with severe Flea Allergy Dermatitis, and nothing there to indicate fleas either.
The bugs, are small, black, have wings, and sort of jumped and floated rather than actually flew. They were easily squished. Yuck.
I can't swear they were fleas, but I also couldn't swear they weren't. I always prefer to be safe than sorry, so I have sanitized and cleaned just as if they were. I washed all the bedding twice in hot water with plenty of vinegar. scrubbed all plastic bowls and such in almost boiling water with lots of soap, and sprayed the area where the pig cage is, and the cube frame itself with Syphotrol ( all animals were removed from the area, not to be allowed back until 6 hours of ventilation time has elapsed). I also threw out the coroplast. I have not seen any living bugs in several hours.
I plan to call the vet first thing in the morning to discuss flea treatment/preventative, just in case.
I think I have done everything I can to get rid of any bugs in their environment. However, I cannot figure out how the bugs got there to begin with. The guinea pigs and the cats are indoor animals, and never go outside. I don't feed fresh grass or line dry their blankets. I can't think of any reason fleas would be in their cage, or in my house. Perhaps they aren't fleas at all? Any insight or advice would be appreciated!
While rolling up the fleece and padding, I noticed tiny black bugs crawling and jumping on the random bits of poo that had gotten under the blankets. Closer inspection revealed them EVERYWHERE! On the coro, on the blankets, on the carpeted ramp, in the fleece forest, on the carpeted floor under the cage, etc. Everywhere except on the pigs, that is. I have given each pig a close look over, and none have any bugs on them, not bald or irritated spots. Nothing to indicate any biting insect. I also have two solid white cats, one with severe Flea Allergy Dermatitis, and nothing there to indicate fleas either.
The bugs, are small, black, have wings, and sort of jumped and floated rather than actually flew. They were easily squished. Yuck.
I can't swear they were fleas, but I also couldn't swear they weren't. I always prefer to be safe than sorry, so I have sanitized and cleaned just as if they were. I washed all the bedding twice in hot water with plenty of vinegar. scrubbed all plastic bowls and such in almost boiling water with lots of soap, and sprayed the area where the pig cage is, and the cube frame itself with Syphotrol ( all animals were removed from the area, not to be allowed back until 6 hours of ventilation time has elapsed). I also threw out the coroplast. I have not seen any living bugs in several hours.
I plan to call the vet first thing in the morning to discuss flea treatment/preventative, just in case.
I think I have done everything I can to get rid of any bugs in their environment. However, I cannot figure out how the bugs got there to begin with. The guinea pigs and the cats are indoor animals, and never go outside. I don't feed fresh grass or line dry their blankets. I can't think of any reason fleas would be in their cage, or in my house. Perhaps they aren't fleas at all? Any insight or advice would be appreciated!
