Has anyone tried Ivermectin Spot-on?

[muffin]

Hi all, I was just wondering if anyone here has tried the Beaphar Anti-parasite spot-on treatment for guinea pigs? It and a similar product are the only off-the-shelf ivermectin products I have found in the UK. I was just wondering if anyone has any stories or experiences about them? I followed advice from another member that even though the box says 1 treatment lasts 4 weeks, you should really give the appropriate dosage 3 times 7-10 days apart. This worked great, but now that my pigs are bigger they needed a bigger dose, and it has irritated the skin on the back of one of my piggies' necks. I don't think I'll use it again, since she has obviously been scratching at it. My vet said that he can only give injections, which is why I self-treated, but he also said that if their skin isn't red and there isn't lots of dandruff, or bald bits, that it might be better to leave them be. I was wondering if anyone else had had problems with this brand, since someone who runs a shelter said they'd heard mixed reviews about it?

The vet also suggested the sellotape test I know that's what I thought, but what you do is try and pick up skin flakes or bits of scab from the problem area on a bit of tape, and he said he would look at it under his microscope to determine the problem. This sounds like a really good idea, I was also impressed with his concern. I was just wondering what other people's experiences with mites and vets have been?

[Rachy1412]

My vet wouldn't treat my pigs for mites, he didn't think that they had enough symptoms. If he did treat them he would have used ivermectin injections. So anyway, I used the Beaphar spot on stuff and had no problems with it. I was worried at first because Smartie has very sensitive skin but she had no problems with it. I only did two doses though since they were only showing mild signs, now they're fine! The dosing on the box is all wrong so I had to work out the dosage myself.

[daftscotslass]

I used it before and it worked but as Rachy said the dosage is wrong and it is hard to administer correctly. I've also heard mixed messages. My vet will treat mites with either Ivomec (ivermectin) injection or Stronghold (selamectin) topical. They don't believe skin scrapings or samples are very accurate and generally treat if symptoms appear.

[cavy-cool-crazy]

daft sent some boxes over to me as I couldn't buy any here. My vet treated my pigs mites with a sole selamectin injection and frontline spray. I haven't used that vet since. I treated 4 weeks after the vet treatment and gave the pig 2 tubes each, 7 days apart. I only gave two doses. It worked great for my lot!

[muffin]

Thanks everyone. So it looks like two treatments is the key. My vet said he didn't do topical treatments because he doesn't know what he could use as a base for the cow paste, but I'll read over threads and see what the Americans do. Then i'll figure out how not to tell my vet how to do his job next time I'm there, which hopefully won't be for a while. He actually specialises in small nimals, and is really clued up about cavy cuisine and oxbow hay etc.