Help my piggies!!!!!!!!

Question
Hello, I'm very sad and sick to say that my guinea pigs are sick.  I'm very sure that they are, but I just want to check, and see if there is anything more that i could do foir them.  My guinea pigs have lately shown some SCARY signs.  One of them has lost a ton of weight, I'm talking pounds!!!!!!  She has lots of hair loss, loss of appetite, nver have to feed her water, she never drinks it!!!!  The other guinea pig that I have is very sick as well, she always scratches her skin,a nd black stuff falls off.  But whenever I hold her NOW she always hates it!!!!!!  She never used to before, but now whenever I hold her she squeals, bites me, and sometimes screams very loud.  Like whee whee whee!!!!  Over and over again.

Answer
Kara,
this sounds serious. It sounds like RUNNING LICE. They are a small white insect which can be seen running through the fur. Take a look.
The symptoms of RUNNING LICE are these:
* Lethargy (reduced activity)
* Blood present in cage or on animal
* Sitting in a hunched position with fur puffed out
* Discharge from eyes (see note below), nose or ears
* Raspy-sounding vocalizations
* Wheezing or difficulty breathing
* Limping
* Diarrhea
* Lack of feces output
* Head tilt or loss of balance (may indicate an ear infection)
* Wheeking while urinating
* Sensitivity to touch
* Fur loss
* Excessive scratching
* Weight loss
* Rapid weight gain/shifting of bodily weight

Some sound similar to what your Guinea Pigs have.

Treat them with Ivermectin or Advantage (imidacloprid), before the infection advances.

Hope I have helped!

Megan