Kay701
Junior Guinea Pig
Hello, I just wanted to share a bit about the hay mite journey we've been on for the last year and a bit - because we finally have a happy ending!
Our babies came to us at the age of 10 months with bad cases of hay mites (they came from awful conditions) which they had probably had for their whole lives. In the last year and a bit, they must have had about four rounds of ivermectin (as in four rounds of three does each two weeks apart), two rounds of mite shampoo (again three baths two weeks apart, one of them in conjunction with ivermectin, another separate from it), with so many full cage cleans, drastic haircuts etc.... every time the mites would reduce (as in I could see less egg cases) and I'd think they were gone. I'd leave it a few weeks, and then see the egg cases spreading again, get that confirmed at the vets, and start more treatment. It was so demoralising.
Eventually our new vet suggested (after yet another post treatment confirmation that mites were still there) that we go back to the Cat & Rabbit Clinic, where we'd had Waffle's operation done, to see if they had anything stronger, given how long we'd been trying ivermectin and getting nowhere. I wish I could remember what it's called, but Simon prescribed this mite treatment meant for kittens that is two doses each a month apart. I have to say I was sceptical.
A few weeks after the second dose of this, I took them back to our regular vets... and... for the first time in their lives... they have been declared mite-free!! We've been told to give them two more doses of ivermectin to make doubly sure, but... the mites are gone!
I honestly cried at the vets, I'm so happy they don't have to live with mites any more
The girlies have no idea about it all other than feeling less itchy but they definitely appreciated the massive carrot cottage we bought them to celebrate 
And also as an encouragement, if you're struggling with treatment-resistant hay mites, definitely find a knowledgeable vet and ask for other options, because ivermectin is not the only solution!
Our babies came to us at the age of 10 months with bad cases of hay mites (they came from awful conditions) which they had probably had for their whole lives. In the last year and a bit, they must have had about four rounds of ivermectin (as in four rounds of three does each two weeks apart), two rounds of mite shampoo (again three baths two weeks apart, one of them in conjunction with ivermectin, another separate from it), with so many full cage cleans, drastic haircuts etc.... every time the mites would reduce (as in I could see less egg cases) and I'd think they were gone. I'd leave it a few weeks, and then see the egg cases spreading again, get that confirmed at the vets, and start more treatment. It was so demoralising.
Eventually our new vet suggested (after yet another post treatment confirmation that mites were still there) that we go back to the Cat & Rabbit Clinic, where we'd had Waffle's operation done, to see if they had anything stronger, given how long we'd been trying ivermectin and getting nowhere. I wish I could remember what it's called, but Simon prescribed this mite treatment meant for kittens that is two doses each a month apart. I have to say I was sceptical.
A few weeks after the second dose of this, I took them back to our regular vets... and... for the first time in their lives... they have been declared mite-free!! We've been told to give them two more doses of ivermectin to make doubly sure, but... the mites are gone!
I honestly cried at the vets, I'm so happy they don't have to live with mites any more
The girlies have no idea about it all other than feeling less itchy but they definitely appreciated the massive carrot cottage we bought them to celebrate And also as an encouragement, if you're struggling with treatment-resistant hay mites, definitely find a knowledgeable vet and ask for other options, because ivermectin is not the only solution!
