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Ivermectin?

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chanty

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Opinons please, when we got our guineas the breeder suggested we use ivermectin occassionally on them as a precaution. Also she didnt mention but I've read on her about treating for worms. Whats others opinion on both of these, should we treat for both as a precaution (guineas out on the grass in the day when weather is nice and in a hutch the rest of the time), if we should treat for both as a precaution how often should we do it? Also we've seen the vet today with our beardie, and hubby mentioned to him and he said guineas didnt need treating for either like you would a cat or dog.

Chantelle
 
Many pet guinea pigs don't get treated for either regularly, as with good care risk factors are reduced. Opinions are divided about treating for endoparasites (piggies very rarely get worms); I have also heard the argument that a too frequent use of ivermectin can impair the effectiveness of ivermectin in an actual case of mites (as they can acquire a degree of immunity to it).
Here is the case for worming made by one member: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=47407

You won't necessarily prevent mites with regular ivermectin treatment; it is better to treat them promptly if and when they happen with a full 3 times interval course. Please have your piggies checked by your vet to make sure that you are really dealing with mites and not a fungal problem (they can look sometimes more similar than you'd think from the pictures), or you could make things worse!

Make sure that you weigh your piggies once weekly and give them a good onceover as a health check, but for your own peace of mind preferably NOT on a Saturday afternoon after the vets have closed for the weekend! Try to find a piggy savvy vet in your area, or one that is open to learn more.
http://www.guinealynx.info/weigh.html
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36332 (early signs of illness)
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=58854 (body quirks; to help you to learn what is normal, and what to look out for)
 
Hi i have used Ivermectin on my pig with no ill effects, but i did think she had the beginnings of a mite infection, you will need to use Ivermectin at least 3 times to kill the mite cycle, and Ivermectin is used in tiny qauntities. i will give you some links below one about the mites and the others a Ivermectin guide, they are all on the same site but just thought I would make it easy.
http://www.guinealynx.info/parasites.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin.html
http://www.guinealynx.info/ivermectin_topical.html
 
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