Yes, guinea pigs can get fleas, typically if they are in the same household as cats and dogs. Fleas usually can’t breed on guinea pig fur, though, so that’s good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read on for a full explainer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Can Guinea Pigs Get Fleas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2902427_guinea-pig-in-a-basket-e1664811456339-683x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough fleas generally don\u2019t choose guinea pigs to be their hosts, it is possible that they have infested your guinea pig. This is particularly possible if you have other pets living in your home, primarily cats and kittens<\/a>, and dogs, but also rabbits and feathery pets like birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFleas are able to jump to your guinea pig if they play around in the same room as your other pets. It\u2019s also possible that if your other pets have fleas that jump onto you<\/em>, you could transfer the flea to your guinea pig when you\u2019re cuddling them!<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf this is the case though, the good news is that any fleas on your guinea pig won\u2019t be able to complete their life cycle, since they can\u2019t multiply easily in your little furry rodent\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is that any fleas on your guinea pig won\u2019t be able to complete their life cycle since they can\u2019t multiply easily in your little furry rodent\u2019s fur.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nBaby guinea pigs and pregnant mothers are at most risk of becoming infected, because of their increased blood flow when compared to other guinea pigs, which raises their temperature. This warmer temperature is what can attract fleas from your other pets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTherefore, your first course of action is to find out if the reason why your guinea pig is scratching an itch is due to actually having fleas. You\u2019ll need to get hold of a flea comb to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Crafterlife Small Animal Pet Grooming Kit<\/a> includes a comb with smooth rounded ends that will prevent any scratches on your guinea pig\u2019s delicate skin while you search for fleas in its fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrooming your guinea pig with this kit will also help to reduce any hair loss, prevent hair balls from forming by eliminating loose hair and tangles, knots, dander and trapped flea dirt, which looks like specks of black pepper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What To Do If You Find Fleas on Your Guinea Pig<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you do end up finding a flea or three on your guinea pig, then the next thing you need to do is treat your other furry animals immediately, and isolate your guinea pig while doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, you will have to treat your home in order to get rid of any signs of infestation. Read our article Will Fleas Go Away On Their Own<\/a>? for tips on how to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor your little guinea pig though, you\u2019ll need to take a different approach, because although you may find fleas on them, fleas generally don\u2019t use this particularly cute little pet as a host in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For your little guinea pig, you\u2019ll need to take a different approach, because although you may find fleas on them, fleas generally don\u2019t use this particularly cute little pet as a host in the long term.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis means that they won\u2019t be able to reproduce by laying eggs and completing their life cycle while hanging out in your guinea pig\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whew. Good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, because guinea pigs are such delicate creatures, they are not able to tolerate the chemicals in the flea treatments available for cats, dogs, and other furry pets like rabbits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means that simply using a comb to find the fleas, and keeping your guinea pig away from your other pets while they are being treated should do the trick, if you do find fleas on your guinea pig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhere Else Can Guinea Pigs Get Fleas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/pestqueen.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5112618_guinea-pig-e1664811534504-1024x754.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBesides attracting fleas from other animals that may be living in your house like cats, dogs, and rabbits, there are other places where your guinea pig may have picked up fleas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adult female fleas are able to lay between 20 and 50 eggs in one day, which happens within 24 hours of their initial blood meal. As well as your other pets, it is possible for them to lay eggs in other soft and fluffy things, such as your clothing, fabric upholstered sofas, cushions, rugs, floor mats, and carpets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This means that if your guinea pig is able to roam around your home, even after treating any other animals, it is possible for your little furry critter to have a flea jump onto them from your carpet, or even from a visitor who had a flea on their clothing, due to an infestation on their animal or in their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your guinea pig is allowed to run around in an open yard outside, then it is also possible for them to have a flea hitch a ride on their fur from the grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you use hay as bedding in its cage, then there may be a chance that the fleas have come from there. If you buy it in bulk and it has become moist (which attracts fleas) hay can be the culpret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of moisture, guinea pigs don\u2019t enjoy direct sunlight, and neither do fleas. This means that when your guinea pig goes outside, it will be sticking to areas that fleas will also be attracted to. Also, because your guinea pig\u2019s bedding is often damp and wet, because of their pee and poop, if there is a flea infestation in the home, they will find this a good place to gather and proliferate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow Fleas Can Hurt Guinea Pigs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Although we know that fleas can\u2019t harm guinea pigs by using them as a host to multiply, it\u2019s still possible that these pests can make them sick. This is why if you find one, you need to comb your guinea pig immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, your guinea pig could possibly consume a flea accidentally while it is grooming itself. This may seem insignificant, but some fleas carry diseases, such as myxomatosis<\/a>, which can end up causing a real health problem if the flea your guinea pig eats has it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn addition, if by chance your guinea pig gets hold of flea eggs or larvae and eats it, the resulting worms can end up causing you cute furry friend to develop tapeworm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow To Treat Fleas On Your Guinea Pig<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In the unlikely event that you do find a flea or flea dirt when you\u2019re combing your guinea pig\u2019s fur, and after you\u2019ve treated any other animals and vacuumed all the floors, rugs, and carpets in your home, then you can also give your little love ball a bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, unless you have done this before, it is best to consult your vet, especially if they have a medical condition like open-mouth breathing, or they get distressed easily. If you do give them a bath, then make sure that you use specialized guinea pig shampoo that is made with natural ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough fleas generally don\u2019t choose guinea pigs to be their hosts, it is possible that they have infested your guinea pig. This is particularly possible if you have other pets living in your home, primarily cats and kittens<\/a>, and dogs, but also rabbits and feathery pets like birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fleas are able to jump to your guinea pig if they play around in the same room as your other pets. It\u2019s also possible that if your other pets have fleas that jump onto you<\/em>, you could transfer the flea to your guinea pig when you\u2019re cuddling them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this is the case though, the good news is that any fleas on your guinea pig won\u2019t be able to complete their life cycle, since they can\u2019t multiply easily in your little furry rodent\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that any fleas on your guinea pig won\u2019t be able to complete their life cycle since they can\u2019t multiply easily in your little furry rodent\u2019s fur.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Baby guinea pigs and pregnant mothers are at most risk of becoming infected, because of their increased blood flow when compared to other guinea pigs, which raises their temperature. This warmer temperature is what can attract fleas from your other pets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, your first course of action is to find out if the reason why your guinea pig is scratching an itch is due to actually having fleas. You\u2019ll need to get hold of a flea comb to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Crafterlife Small Animal Pet Grooming Kit<\/a> includes a comb with smooth rounded ends that will prevent any scratches on your guinea pig\u2019s delicate skin while you search for fleas in its fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grooming your guinea pig with this kit will also help to reduce any hair loss, prevent hair balls from forming by eliminating loose hair and tangles, knots, dander and trapped flea dirt, which looks like specks of black pepper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do end up finding a flea or three on your guinea pig, then the next thing you need to do is treat your other furry animals immediately, and isolate your guinea pig while doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After that, you will have to treat your home in order to get rid of any signs of infestation. Read our article Will Fleas Go Away On Their Own<\/a>? for tips on how to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For your little guinea pig though, you\u2019ll need to take a different approach, because although you may find fleas on them, fleas generally don\u2019t use this particularly cute little pet as a host in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For your little guinea pig, you\u2019ll need to take a different approach, because although you may find fleas on them, fleas generally don\u2019t use this particularly cute little pet as a host in the long term.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that they won\u2019t be able to reproduce by laying eggs and completing their life cycle while hanging out in your guinea pig\u2019s fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whew. Good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, because guinea pigs are such delicate creatures, they are not able to tolerate the chemicals in the flea treatments available for cats, dogs, and other furry pets like rabbits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that simply using a comb to find the fleas, and keeping your guinea pig away from your other pets while they are being treated should do the trick, if you do find fleas on your guinea pig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides attracting fleas from other animals that may be living in your house like cats, dogs, and rabbits, there are other places where your guinea pig may have picked up fleas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adult female fleas are able to lay between 20 and 50 eggs in one day, which happens within 24 hours of their initial blood meal. As well as your other pets, it is possible for them to lay eggs in other soft and fluffy things, such as your clothing, fabric upholstered sofas, cushions, rugs, floor mats, and carpets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means that if your guinea pig is able to roam around your home, even after treating any other animals, it is possible for your little furry critter to have a flea jump onto them from your carpet, or even from a visitor who had a flea on their clothing, due to an infestation on their animal or in their home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your guinea pig is allowed to run around in an open yard outside, then it is also possible for them to have a flea hitch a ride on their fur from the grass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you use hay as bedding in its cage, then there may be a chance that the fleas have come from there. If you buy it in bulk and it has become moist (which attracts fleas) hay can be the culpret.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of moisture, guinea pigs don\u2019t enjoy direct sunlight, and neither do fleas. This means that when your guinea pig goes outside, it will be sticking to areas that fleas will also be attracted to. Also, because your guinea pig\u2019s bedding is often damp and wet, because of their pee and poop, if there is a flea infestation in the home, they will find this a good place to gather and proliferate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although we know that fleas can\u2019t harm guinea pigs by using them as a host to multiply, it\u2019s still possible that these pests can make them sick. This is why if you find one, you need to comb your guinea pig immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, your guinea pig could possibly consume a flea accidentally while it is grooming itself. This may seem insignificant, but some fleas carry diseases, such as myxomatosis<\/a>, which can end up causing a real health problem if the flea your guinea pig eats has it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, if by chance your guinea pig gets hold of flea eggs or larvae and eats it, the resulting worms can end up causing you cute furry friend to develop tapeworm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the unlikely event that you do find a flea or flea dirt when you\u2019re combing your guinea pig\u2019s fur, and after you\u2019ve treated any other animals and vacuumed all the floors, rugs, and carpets in your home, then you can also give your little love ball a bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, unless you have done this before, it is best to consult your vet, especially if they have a medical condition like open-mouth breathing, or they get distressed easily. If you do give them a bath, then make sure that you use specialized guinea pig shampoo that is made with natural ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat To Do If You Find Fleas on Your Guinea Pig<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhere Else Can Guinea Pigs Get Fleas?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow Fleas Can Hurt Guinea Pigs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow To Treat Fleas On Your Guinea Pig<\/h2>\n\n\n\n