Fly Strike on a Guinea Pig

[Pumpkin Becki]

I've kept Guinea Pigs ever since I was a little girl, and have become the resident 'expert' at work. A collegue approached me at lunchtime and asked if I'd ever experienced fly strike on a Guinea Pig. I had to be honest and say 'No, never'. It's the sort of thing I associate with sheep, but something makes me think rabbits can be prone to it. Needless to say his 'Guinea' is under the care of a vet to clear up the current infestation, but does anyone else have any experience of this and are there any preventative measures he can take for the future?

[OverWyreGrower]

Keep the hutch/run/bedding absolutely scrupulously clean.... especially in summer. If it needs to be cleaned out 3 or 4 times a week, then this has to happen.

Train the rabbit/guinea to 'go' in a litter tray away from the bed, then poo etc is kept away from the bedding area.

I find it often happens when it's warm/damp and the hutch/bed area isn't cleaned out as often as it could be. Also, if the guinea hasn't a lot of outside access, then they don't always have the motivation to clean themselves up.

Also... check that the fur round the bottom (esp. if a long haired breed) isn't becoming matted, as this means that the bottom area isn't as hygenic as it should be....

[Pumpkin Becki]

Thanks OWG, I've also suggested spraying/dabbing the house with a little teatree oil as it seemed to keep the number of flies near the hutch down a little bit.

[Two_Sheds]

This happened to one of my guineas last month, while the weather's been very hot. It was horrendous, but I caught it early (I check them over every day or so).

The flies had laid eggs in the soft poops in the hutch, and around her bottom, and maggots hatched out.

I sat her in a strong salt solution until all the maggots had died, then I combed through her fur ... they hadn't broken her skin, they were just in the fur.

I've found maggots in the hutch again, in the soft poops, despite emptying the litter tray twice a week and disinfecting it thoroughly every week. Nasty little boogers.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Oh dear TS - I can only think its the weather conditions we've been having lately. There certainly are an awful lot of flying insects around this year. Hope your little one is okay now. Vigilance is the key I guess.

[petal]

Yes, our wiggles has a mucky bottie - which would get maggoty if we didn't shave it off bald and clean him up and sudocreme it regularly!

[rustylady]

Mine have been OK, cleaned out regularly and half the ark is open to grass so they get out and about regularly. There have been an awful lot of flies / insects about this summer though.