Beaphar

fleas ticks

Many animal species become infected with fleas and lice by their own siblings, other animals or even people in its surroundings.
If hamsters suffer from fleas and lice, it is generally an indication of poor hygiene and care. Fleas are usually picked up from dogs or cats and live in both the coat of the hamster and the litter in the cage. A large amount of fleas might lead to anaemia and weight loss. Furthermore, hamster fleas can carry a midget tapeworm (onto both hamster and man). The lice you find on hamsters are usually rat lice. Generally they can be found on the back of the hamster or around the breastbone. Even a small amount of rat lice can cause severe irritation and weight loss. A large amount of rat lice can lead to rejection of foetuses and neglection of the young.

When guinea pigs suffer from lice, this can cause the following symptoms: a rough coat, agitation, itchiness, weight loss, anaemia, crusts and eczema.

When rabbits suffer from lice this can lead to the following symptoms, depending on the severity of the infection: itchiness, hair loss, crusts and sometimes skin ulcers. The nits, eggs that stick to the hair of the rabbit, stand out. You will mostly find them on the back and the side of your rabbit and they indicate poor care and housing. Fleas generally spread via wild rabbits and they can also bite people. The female specimen latches onto rabbits’ ears and will cause itchiness and sometimes allergic reactions. Rabbits can also play host to cat fleas, so look out for these if your rabbits and cats mix together.

Chinchillas hardly ever suffer from skin parasites, as their dense fur is difficult for parasites to move through. They may suffer from lice and fleas every now and then, caused by keeping several animal species together indoors. The treatment will then, of course, be part of a general treatment for all your animals.

You can treat rodents with Beaphar Small Animal Insectidal Spray, or Anti-Parasite Spot On for rodents. The living quarters of the rodent should also be treated. You can do this by removing all the bedding and using Bea Clean Disinfectant.

Avoid infections
The term “scabies” is generally used for mite infections of the skin. Rabbits of all ages can suffer from scabies. The mites live off flakes of skin. Most of the time, they cause itchiness, which causes agitation and the animals start scratching and biting, which may lead to skin infections. Other symptoms are a poor coat, dandruff and eczema. People can also suffer from a brief skin irritation in the form of scaling or redness.
Ear mite infections are far more serious for rabbits. They are common and very contagious. The mite causes serious itchiness, scratching and causes the rabbit to frequently shake and tilt its head. In the longer term, crusts may form in the auditory canal, under which is a bloody, purulent infection. If the infection breaks through to the middle ear and the cerebral membranes, this might lead to problems with balance, convulsions or epilepsy. If your rabbit is suffering from ear mites, you should seek veterinary help, To prevent your rabbit from becoming infected with ear mites, you can keep its ears clean with Sherley’s Ear Cleaner.
You can fight all species of ecternal parasites with Beaphar Anti Parasite Spot on. Products are available for golden hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and ferrets, and are also effective against internal parasites, like roundworms and whipworms. A rodent suffering from worms will lose a lot of weight. Its condition will deteriorate and so will its resistance to other diseases. The Spot On’s are available in two different versions: Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On 25 for golden hamsters, Siberian hamsters and gerbils and Beaphar Anti-Parasite Spot On 150 for rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and ferrets. Mange Mites and Fur Mites can be in the environment, so clean regularly and disinfect with BeaClean Disinfectant.