Mite/Cleaning question

[John4216]

I take my 6 piggies to the Vet every 2 months (and glad I do now) and this month discovered that puffy has mites. I have no idea how she has mites as the vet checked (a stressful process for the piggies and me) all 6 of them very carefully and only puffy has them. So puffy is getting the treatment (and yes I am taking them back so they all get it, I wasnt able to go this time grrr) for mites but I am in somewhat of a pickle. My piggies live in a 4X5 with a 3X3 wing attached and there is a doorway so they can walk out and freely run the pig-proofed bedroom they live in as well. Old 50lb hay boxes from oxbow with lining and hay as well as partial C&C's with papers and hay over them room for them to play in and such.

The problem I am worried about is how to effectively clean the carpet to make sure any parasites are dead without leaving any harmful residue for the piggies?? Would just carpet cleaning with very hot water (steam cleaned) work?? I feel awful that puffy somehow has these things and want to make sure I do what I can to clean the room properly so they dont re-occur.

(As a side note Puffy is the golden abby in the pictures I have on here)

 

[Plummie]

Steam cleaning wouldn't hurt, but I don't know if it would kill all the mites. Not sure how hardy they are. Can you ask the vet?

 

[A4PigHome]

I have been told that mites cannot survive off their host. So if there are any mites around the room, I guess they would be dead.

Mites can be difficult to find on a gp. I personally witnessed this last Friday as the vet struggled to find the mites and mite eggs on 2 of my cavies. You may want to consider giving all your cavies the treatment. Even though only 2 of mine were scratching, I didn't want to take the chane of the other 2 having them and end up going through this all over again. Plus the mites can be dormant and that may be why the other 2 weren't scratching yet.