Brands Cleaning him

[Salomon]

So today i brought this Super Pets Quick and Clean instant shampoo and i was wondering how often do i use it. i only brought because my Bucky started scratching and now flys are coming near him. i want to know if there anything else i can buy for him or anything that will help.

 

[Crystalkate]

Is he kept inside? Maybe you should move him in. He shouldn't get a bath but maybe every 6 months, it is bad for their skin. Try keeping his cage very clean to keep the flies away, especially the veggies that he doesn't eat.

 

[sdpiggylvr]

I don't believe that instant shampoo is safe for guinea pigs. The scent itself is synthetic and made from chemicals that are no doubt harmful to guinea pigs' sensitive systems. A shampoo that stays on the skin and hair is likely not good for the guinea pig's skin either. I personally wouldn't use it. You have to be really cautious about pet store products because most often they are unhealthy and unsafe. Safe shampoos include Bunny Bath (search on Amazon) and Gorgeous Guineas ((broken link removed)).

If your guinea pig scratching, it could be a sign of mites or lice. Please look through this page on parasites with guinea pigs and see if you recognize any of the other symptoms listed on the mange mites, fur mites, ear mites, and lice pages (left-hand menu): https://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html.

Why are the flies around him? Is it his cage or the actual guinea pig they are attracted to?

 

[jacqueline]

flies??!! really??!! does he have open wounds/sores. if so, you might want to vet him and see about treatment. just scratching at his skin shouldn't attract flies. but open sores will i would think. i also agree that if you have him outside, he might need to come inside for awhile. i can't believe that flies around a guinea pig are good.

 

[bpatters]

Get some Squeaky Clean Critter Shampoo, or shampoo for kittens. Guinea pigs don't need bathing often, and if he's scratching, he likely has mites, fleas, lice or a fungus.

Is he scratching just in one or two spots, or all over? And how hard is he scratching?

How are the flies getting to him? If you're housing him outside, he may wind up with fly strike, where they lay their eggs in open wounds and the maggots hatch in the pig's skin. Guinea pigs really shouldn't be kept outside, particularly in places like Fort Lauderdale this time of year. They do much better with cooler weather, and can die of heat stroke if the temperature goes about 85 degrees for any length of time. You no doubt live in an air conditioned house -- do your pig a favor and be sure he's in there with you.

 

[Salomon]

my guinea pig does lives indoor with me. and im going to check him and see if has any open wounds or anything else. thank you all so much for the advice.

 

[bpatters]

Read www.guinealynx.info/mites.html, www.guinealynx.info/lice.html, and www.guinealynx.info/fungus.html. Those pretty much cover the itching issues, and have suggestions for treatments that you can do yourself.