--------- > From: Espiritus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: MITES-Gema's post > Date: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 8:07 AM > > I have never heard of using Ivermectin for mites. . > .or for anything other than worm infestations OR as a > Rub for cattle. . .can't invision using it on a > gerbil, and it terribly expensive. Actually, Ivermectin is the standard treatment for mites on lots of animals, including guinea pigs and rabbits. It is most commonly injected by vets, but you can also get ivermectin paste for use in horses, calculate the dosage and give it orally in a suspension with propylene glycol. At least 2 treatments should be given 10-14 days apart to kill new mites as they hatch. If it is a severe infestation, 3 or 4 treatments may be necessary. Many keepers treat new animals with it as a precaution when new animals come into the home- it is very safe when correctly dosed and can be used preventatively. It's also used in cats and dogs sometimes, or another drug from the same family (selamectin). >From personal experience I can vouch that, unless you're being seriously overcharged, it's not that expensive in the US. I don't know of any studies that deal with it's safety in rodents, but I believe that if it were dosed correctly it would be reasonably safe to use. Jill
