Piggies being outside...

[airethoniel]

I keep Licorice indoors, and i know she likes to be outside sometimes... the problem is, i dont let her on the grass because the last time (and only time) i let her run around in the grass (years ago), all my piggies got a bad case of mites. (we took one of them to the vet and he clarified it, gave us shampoo, and they were gone soon enough).
We've had really nice weather lately, so I was wondering if it should be o.k. again... or if i would be risking giving my piggie the itchies again. (in other words, would the mites nessecarily have come from the grass, or could it have been something else...?)
Im really not that smart when it comes to these types of decisions

[Janet]

My boys are indoor piggies too. I have tried taking them out into the yard and they just sit in the grass! We also have huge crows in our area and I'm terrified that one will swoop down and grab a nice fat piggy. So my little boys stay indoors. There are lots of members who take their piggies out and will probably post soon. Good question!

[skipperdoo]

If they were pet-store pigs, they could have come from the pet store. You can always put something down over the grass if you are concnerned. Just make sure that you stay with them when they are out and that they have water and shade and protection at all times. Also, shampoos don't normally get rid of mites. What is currently used to treat mites is Ivermectin. Maybe they had lice instead?

[samnbud]

I have never had a problem with lice or mites from the outdoors. I would say put a cloth or some thing over the ground this may discourage the pests. Also a good thing to look into is herbal/plant type insect repelents. Certain plants that are safe for guineas, but deter the insects. Also the only thing cedar wood chips are good for is repelling insects...you could spread this out around the area that you keep them in.
For safe plant repellents:
www.aromatica.hr/eng/page.asp?id=proizvodi&sub=insekt1
www.stretcher.com/stories/980625b.cfm

I have used Neem Oil pet shampoo for my guinea Buddy who had the itchies its all natural and it helped him alot!
This is a lovely website on skin conditions and the like.
www.gorgeousguineas.com/
You can also get it here:
www.bytheplanet.com/Neem/Catalog/catalogpetcare.htm

[airethoniel]

Thanks guys!!
I think it might have been fleas, when we thought it was mites, because i was looking for what we used and found a bottle of cats flea and tick stuff.

I checked out a couple of those links, ill have to look at the rest later (pig's cage needs cleaning.. oh, joy. )

Does anyone know if anything in those Bounty dryer sheets are in any way toxic to guinea pigs?? I've heard those make good bug repellent too, but i dont know if they would keep fleas/mites/etc away.

[Josie]

Mine live outside and dont ever seem itchy. When the whether is nice I put them in the run on the grass and they chomp all day until I put them in for the night, never had any problems with mites.

[airethoniel]

Just an update,
Ive taken Licorice outside the past 3 days, and she LOVES it! at first she just kinda sat there, with no idea what to do with herself. Now, if its hot she will RUN (like...just take off) under the trampopline (must be the partial shade?) and lay down.. on slightly cooler days she will find a nice patch of clover or longer grass and lay down in it, the occasional nibble if she is hungry. Its my afternoon entertainment!

[Josie]

Oh thats great! ;D

[Cutecavy]

Aww how sweet! My guinea pigs LOVE the garden too ^_^

[Josie]

How many piggers do you own?

[Marg]

I only took Lucy out one time and she seemed not to enthuriastic then at first she was calm then she decided to be an escape artist. So my piggy doesn't go outside. She doesn't seem to interested in floor time though. Well I hoped I help. Either way its fine I don't think its likely for them to get mites in your grass again.