Ivermectin question

**dojero** · #1 09-05-08, 10:41 am

I am suppose to pick up my 2 babies today-they are now 3 weeks old. My friend says are itching like mad and having researched this site it sounds like maybe mites? I went to the feed store to look for ivermectin but the guy there said it is NOT advised to put on babies, so where does that leave me? I know I may take them to the vet but I called around today to try to find a cavy vet and it will around $100 to just walk in the door with the two GP and then any medication is extra. Had anyone used this (ivermectin) on small GP?

**banjosnotbombs** · #2 09-05-08, 11:59 am

I think, but not 100%, they can be given a dose of ivermectin as long as they weigh at least 12 oz.
Honestly though, you shouldn't do this without a vet. You need to have this issue looked at by a vet, mites is can be pretty serious.
Dosing guinea pigs without a vet is something I don't recommend. Even experienced owners prefer to take their guinea pigs to a vet, because of issues that could arise.
Read these links:
http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #3 09-05-08, 06:59 pm

You can use it as long as they weigh more than 12 ounces.

**PiggieMamaKelly** · #4 09-05-08, 08:17 pm

I respectfully disagree Banjos. :) Experienced pig owners treat their pigs for mites at home all the time. Ivermectin is pretty cheap and if you follow the instructions on guinealynx there isn't much to it. It is pretty tough to overdose on ivermectin. Vets don't have any special Ivermectin that can't be found at feed stores. The stuff isn't even made for guinea pigs, it's an off-label use.

**banjosnotbombs** · #5 09-05-08, 08:56 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

I respectfully disagree Banjos. :) Experienced pig owners treat their pigs for mites at home all the time. Ivermectin is pretty cheap and if you follow the instructions on guinealynx there isn't much to it. It is pretty tough to overdose on ivermectin. Vets don't have any special Ivermectin that can't be found at feed stores. The stuff isn't even made for guinea pigs, it's an off-label use.

Thanks, that is good to know. I've just heard from other owners that they'd prefer to see a vet, and reading about overdosing it's not something I would want to do on my own, and luckily I haven't had reason to really explore it.
PiggieMamaKelly, could you post that link?

**rabbitsncavyluv** · #6 09-05-08, 10:14 pm

Advise them to skip the skin scrape and just ask for ivermectin treatments.

It is pretty easy to do at home. Vets usually want to do shots. Doing it orally or topically is often less stressful for the pig and more effective in some cases.

**PiggieMamaKelly** · #7 09-06-08, 01:50 am

http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin_topical.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin_oral.html

Both pages have links for charts that tell you how much ivermectin based on weight of pig.
I have used both oral and topical ivermectin before and have found I prefer the topical, but that's just me.

**<3PinkysMom<3** · #8 09-06-08, 01:58 am

Try to avoid a shot. My vet gave my piggie a shot today for mites. He made it seem like it was no biggy till my poor baby started screaming. I will never make that mistake again unless it is a matter of life or death. =*(

Thank you rabbitsncavyluv for this useful post, says:
salana (09-05-08)

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