The veterinarian will usually prescribe an insecticide shampoo or an injectible insecticide to treat affected guinea pigs. Lice can be transmitted by direct and intimate contact between infested and uninfested guinea pigs. Therefore, pet guinea pigs are very unlikely to harbor these parasites unless they are recent acquisitions that were previously in contact with louse-infested guinea pigs. Established pet guinea pigs could also be infested by being placed in close contact with new, infested guinea pigs. Guinea pig lice do not parasitize people.
Mites are microscopic, spider-like organisms that live within the outer layers of the skin.
They usually cause intense scratching and significant hair loss. Some cases without scratching have been reported. Some guinea pigs are so miserable because of the infestation that their constant scratching produces serious wounds. They may run wildly or in circles, and occasionally even have convulsions. A veterinarian must do a number of scrapings of the skin to confirm the diagnosis.