How do guinea pigs get mites and what's the best way to prevent them?

Do not introduce any new guinea pigs to your current pigs without them being quarantined first for at least 2 weeks. That way no new infections will be introduced. Feed them a high quality diet like Oxbow. Remember, the majority of the diet should be hay (preferably Timothy). ( https://www.viovet.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=oxbow ) Make sure all the husbandry is 100% correct - housing, diet, supplements, bedding, etc. Regular vet checks - about once per year - to check their teeth and overall health. ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-best-way-to-care-for-and-feed-your-guinea-pig/ )

Rabbits and rodents with mite issues are best resolved with Revolution for kittens / cats. It is a vet only product so you will need to obtain a vet prescription to obtain the product, which will likely mean bringing your piggy in for a visit. Hope this helps.

The best ways to prevent URIs is to make sure to use a dust free bedding, change the cage at regular and appropriate intervals, feed a high quality diet and supplement with high quality vitamin C. Keep the cage well ventilated and away from drafty windows or other conditions which may cause extremes in temperature. Providing lots of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables will also help improve the immune system. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It's not likely to be fleas (not common in guinea pigs and you would usually see them) , it's more likely to be mites, which are tiny creatures that you cannot see with the naked eye. you will need to buy a treatment against mites, you can find those at pet shops and veterinary clinics.

Guinea pigs can get intestinal parasites but really it is not that common. They can also get fleas but again, not that common. You have to be very careful what medications you use on them. There are not guinea pig specific medications so it is easy to use the wrong thing and it is easy to overdose them. It is best to not use anything unless you are seeing a problem. Some signs that he may have worms: * weight loss * diarrhea * lose of appetite * bloating Some signs he may have fleas: * scratching * hariloss * bald patches * red skin I suggest you just monitor him for any of the above signs and if you see anything abnormal then take him to your vet for an exam so you can give the appropriate medication. Best wishes.

There could be some sanitary problems due to being late in replacing a bedding, it can usually either affect the respiratory system or the feet. mite is not something that your guinea pig can get due to neglecting the cleaning of his cage though.

I would be very suspicious that your guinea pig may be reinfected with mites. However they are also very susceptible to ring worm which causes hair loss as well. I would make sure that you are supplementing with Vitamin C and then I would encourage you to have a follow up appointment with your veterinarian. Make sure to sterilize his cage well multiple times during treatments and make sure he does not have contact with other animals. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.