Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > Hamster Healthcare

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-14-2015, 11:41 AM   #1
BlossomBuddy
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 5
Default Ivermectin for mites?

Hi, quite a while ago I posted about my hamster Buddy. Well soon after I took him to the vet and they took some fur from him and came back and said he had surface mites. They put some cream stuff on his back, which I assumed may have been ivermectin but I didn't find out. It didn't really seem to work so I tried two doses of Beaphars spot on, but Buddy is still suffering from mites. It's pretty bad now and I just can't seem to rid him of them. I do sterilize everything and freeze the bedding etc. I know he's had them for ages now and I feel so bad, he seemed to be getting better a few times but then they must have came back.
I'n gonna get some Ivermectin myself, so can anyone give me some dosage advice and maybe a hand in finding a good link for buying some?
BlossomBuddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-14-2015, 01:09 PM   #2
velma
Moderator
 
velma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Wiltshire, UK
Posts: 3,365
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

Hi. I can't really help with that I'm afraid but I would really suggest you take him back to the vets in case something else is going on. You need to be careful trying to treat him yourself. Keep us updated
velma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 12:00 AM   #3
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

I'd agree with Velma & recommend going back to the vet & explaining what's happened then let them give your ham the correct treatment rather than experimenting with different treatments yourself, it may cost more but it really is a lot safer.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 02:49 AM   #4
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

I think Nancy knows quite a bit about this and I'm sure she said Invermectin is pretty toxic stuff - I wouldn't use it on your own. As the others say, maybe take him back to the vet. I believe I read that mites naturally live on Hamsters without issue, until an outbreak occurs under stress or low immunity, or for some other health reason, when they proliferate. Apparently humans naturally have mites (different type) co-existing on us as well without issue.

I believe there is an injection a vet can give that will cure it if it is still an issue and meanwhile you'll need to disinfect everything again.

It sounds like a vicious circle for you and your hammy - disinfecting everything and changing all the bedding will stress your hamster, and stress can make things worse - but your hammy is probably getting used to the cleaning routine by now.

I would take him to the vets and let them treat him - possibly with an injection. Do you have a pet carrier? Disinfect that first, put new bedding in and maybe leave him in there for an hour or so after going to the vets while you disinfect his cage and pop him back after the vet visit. I'm sure they'll advise on the right way round to do things.

They might advise on boosting his immune system as well somehow. What food does he have? Assuming he has a standard hamster mix, you could supplement with tiny bits of immune boosting food. I give Charlie half a brazil nut once a week - they are full of immune boosting things apparently. They have a high fat content but I reckon half of one once a week is fine. I also bought some dried echinacea leaves from Rodipet - you can probably get them from any herbalist really. But I like the whole leaves - you can just break a leaf in half and put one out once a week or so. That shouldn't be too much.
Supplementing with fresh veg will help keep his immunity up as well (sorry if you already know this). Maybe every other day. A thumbnail sized piece of broccoli, or carrot or cauliflower or cucumber. Those are my four staples - I put a different one out each time so he gets variety. The veg keeps longer if you keep it in the fridge so it doesn't work out too expensive and means we eat fresh veg more often too!

Definitely take him back to the vets though - if he has some other ailment that could be making him prone to them.

I'm sure you know this but after disinfecting the cage with bleach, rinse it really really well and let it air for a bit so it doesn't smell to strong for your hammy. Likewise with plastic toys. I believe freezing wood kills them. A couple of days in the freezer. Sounds like keeping cage contents simple and to a minimum is a good idea at the moment as well - eg cardboard tubes and other disposable things that are easily replaced.

Do you have a pet carrier? (I used ours as a play cage when I'm cage cleaning - it's a guinea pig sized one, so there's room for a couple of little houses in there and our hammy is quite happy in there for a while while I sort his cage out). Useful for vet visits too and familiar if they have it as a play cage in between.

This is the one we have - you can get a good few inches of substrate in it as well. Obviously that needs disinfecting after use as well, and new bedding in.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Ala...rplast+Aladino

I have it on my knee in the car with a blanket over it when we have taken Charlie somewhere, to make sure he can't get jiggled about. (Assuming someone else is driving! Otherwise, wedge it in somewhere where it can't move).

I hope your hammy gets sorted at the vet this time and life gets easier for you both.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 04:20 AM   #5
racinghamster
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
racinghamster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Central Scotland
Posts: 13,415
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

I agree that another check up from the vet wouldn`t go amiss, although they usually use Ivermectin topically, sometimes injected, as a first line treatment for mites/lice or suspected mites. Not sure what the gel might have been...

The only product that is considered safe and effective available to buy online is a product called Xeno50 mini. It`s Ivermectin in small vials, the same stuff your vet would prescribe and it comes with a dosing chart, so it`s easy to follow and know you are not under or overdosing.

The Beaphar stuff sold in pet shops does contain the active ingredient Ivermectin, but whether the strength is correct for what it`s sold for is questionable. I used it myself and found it done nothing.

I also wouldn`t bother freezing your bedding as only high heat kills parasites, they usually survive cold temperatures. Supreme Cosi n Dri is a good non-dusty product, but I`ve read that it`s being discontinued, although it is still available to buy if you look for it.

Sometimes mites can cause a reaction to the skin even when they themselves have gone, causing irritability. Ivermectin itself is a nerve agent and can sometimes cause hyperactivity in small animals, which is why they should be kept a close eye on especially after application. Just to be sure it doesn`t have a negative reaction, although it`s usually safe. x
__________________
Get A Life, Get A Rodent!
racinghamster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 06:14 AM   #6
BlossomBuddy
Newborn Pup
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 5
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

Thank you so much for your suggestions, I too have felt like maybe I should take him back to the vet and I think I will. It just feels so pointless because they will just give us the same stuff which may not work again, and then it's wasted money. Think I'll still take him though, incase there is something else wrong.
BlossomBuddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 07:07 AM   #7
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

It's difficult isn't it. Could you ring the vet first? Might save some money if they just say treat it with another dose of Invermectin. At least you could discuss whether it's worth another visit, and if you do go, what they will actually do.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 07:15 AM   #8
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

I'd make a note of what's been happening, what you've been doing & what your concerns are before you go, it's all too easy to forget things you meant to ask when at the vet & if they have the full picture may be better able to give you something that will be more effective.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-15-2015, 10:55 PM   #9
Nancy's Hamsters
ST's Hamstery
 
Nancy's Hamsters's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid Ohio USA
Posts: 2,574
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

I would NOT dose him myself and I have had several Hamsters die from a Vet administered dose of Ivermectin so I hate the stuff.

A few questions for you.
1) does your hamster have anything wooden in his cage including wood shavings? Mites can lay their eggs in the tiniest of cracks and I have never been able to sterilize anything wooden and not have mites return. Mite eggs are unaffected by Bleach, heat or cold so two eggs hatched and being male and female means an infestation in just 14 days. Wood is a great eggs sanctuary for survival.
2) have you treated around his cage with a flea spray or powder? Mites can travel and infest a lot farther then just inside the cage. If the shelf, floor, and even the wall behind his cage are left untreated the mites will keep returning again and again.
3) ask your Vet if they carry any Feline Flea treatment which contains Filpronil (in the USA it is called Frontline) Here we have it in a spray for kittens and cats and it works wonders on the hamsters and also around their cages. I've even used it on 3 week old pups with no ill effects. It has a 14 day residual effect so by spraying the inside and outside of their cage and all shelves and walls as well as floors with and without carpet I have been Mite free despite me having mite infested wild mice in my hollow walls which bring in mites.
__________________
Nancy,and The ST's Hamsters
Nancy's Hamsters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-16-2015, 07:43 AM   #10
Bertiebobbins
Hamster Overlord
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Sussex, UK
Posts: 744
Default Re: Ivermectin for mites?

You can get Frontline in UK as well. I used to use it for mites on horses.
Bertiebobbins is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:50 PM.