Itchie Piggie

Question
I have a short-haired male guinea pig.  Recently, he won't stop itching his sides.  We thought that maybe it was an irritation to his new shampoo, so we bathed him again with the shampoo we usually used.  We also washed out everything in his cage.  But he won't stop itching his sides.. I'm not sure what's causing this.

Answer
Laura -

Well, there are many causes for a guinea pig to be itchy.  It could be as simple as dry skin or as complex as a parasite or a skin disorder.  What I would ask is for you to check out his skin in detail and note the color (i.e. if it seems to be redder than normal), condition (if it is dry or moist), if you notice any signs of a parasite infestation (actual "bugs", flea dirt, hair loss, etc.) and write me again with your findings.  I can help you better then.

Thanks,
Lorena