Ivermectin treatment frequency preference.

[Hath]

Just wondering what people's experience is with applying ivermectin as treatment when applied 3 times either week apart or two weeks apart. Even heard 10 days apart. Seems like different vets have different preferences. Has anyone notice any difference or if one method works on one parasite better than others?

 

[Wiebke]

Just wondering what people's experience is with applying ivermectin as treatment when applied 3 times either week apart or two weeks apart. Even heard 10 days apart. Seems like different vets have different preferences. Has anyone notice any difference or if one method works on one parasite better than others?

Hi

The interval depends on the product and the concentration. Please follow the advice on the packaging. Generally the lower the concentration, the shorter the interval and the less effective the product is. Pet shop products are usually too low dosed to cut through an acute outbreak.
Mange mites are usually kept under control by a fully working immune system. Any 'preventative' treatment only contributes to promoting resistancy. It is great that we finally have a couple of substances that are effective against mange.

We recommend 3 rounds of xeno at the weight appropriate strength at the product specific interval of 2 weeks; it is the brand most commonly used by vets familiar with guinea pigs. Please see a vet for a proper diagnosis and do not home treat on spec. Ivermectin is one of the substances where the correct weight specific dosage is very important since overdosing can cause major harm and underdosing won't kill the emerging mites.
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

 

[Hath]

Hi

The interval depends on the product and the concentration. Please follow the advice on the packaging. Generally the lower the concentration, the shorter the interval and less effective the product is. Pet shop products are usually too low dosed to cut through an acute outbreak.
Mange mites are usually kept under control by a fully working immune system. Any 'preventative' treatment only contributes to promoting resistancy. It is great that we finally have a couple of substances that are effective against mange.

We recommend 3 rounds of xeno at the weight appropriate strength at the product specific interval of 2 weeks; it is the brand most commonly used by vets familiar with guinea pigs. Please see a vet for a proper diagnosis and do not home treat on spec. Ivermectin is one of the substances where the correct weight specific dosage is very important since overdosing can cause major harm and underdosing won't kill the emerging mites.
New Guinea Pig Problems: Sexing & Pregnancy; URI, Ringworm & Parasites; Vet Checks & Customer Rights

Thanks for reply. That was my question after talking to a vet. Actually several vets and they all seem to have different "practice" when it comes to ivermectin. Usually they default to the product's leaflet. For example xeno says to wait 2wks between treatment. But Pharmaq Ivermectin is in once a week intervals.

Just wondered if it's general lack of vet's experience with guineas/vet preference, product variation or they have better results when they target specific parasite (depending on parasite's life cycle).

I rehomed two girls from a small rescue and it turned out they have mites/and/or ringworm. Waiting for DTM results for ringworm as not wanting to take her risk introducing them to my boy until then. The rescue stopped responding, which I suppose it's on me for taking a risk with rescue I don't know.
So, hoping it's 'just mites'. But it just got me back to what I always wondered. Why it varies so much.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for reply. That was my question after talking to a vet. Actually several vets and they all seem to have different "practice" when it comes to ivermectin. Usually they default to the product's leaflet. For example xeno says to wait 2wks between treatment. But Pharmaq Ivermectin is in once a week intervals.

Just wondered if it's general lack of vet's experience with guineas/vet preference, product variation or they have better results when they target specific parasite (depending on parasite's life cycle).

I rehomed two girls from a small rescue and it turned out they have mites/and/or ringworm. Waiting for DTM results for ringworm as not wanting to take her risk introducing them to my boy until then. The rescue stopped responding, which I suppose it's on me for taking a risk with rescue I don't know.
So, hoping it's 'just mites'. But it just got me back to what I always wondered. Why it varies so much.

I am glad that I could answer your question. What different vets are using also depends on what they have in stock at the clinic. Ivermectin/selamectin based brands are not prescription-only medications (POMs) with licensing for a specific UK brand for a species in addition to the product coming in various strengths.

In any case, I would recommend that you get hold of some F10 disinfectant concentrate online because that is also effective against ringworm, where hygiene is as important (if not more) to get on top of the long-lived and highly contagious, species jumping spores. The concentrate lasts for ages and is ultimately a lot cheaper than buying diluted anti-bacterial (but not anti-fungal) disinfectant. It is ideal for occasional deep cleaning.
You can find our very detailed and very practical ringworm guide via the link in my first post if you need it. We are here for any further questions.

I am however very sorry for the situation you are finding yourself in. Unfortunately, anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder in this country with no licensing and control; and sadly the results can be accordingly when you fall for a backyard breeder with a side line in no longer wanted stock.
At least your two girls are lucky to have found a good and caring owner!
Here is information on the recourse you can take: Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs (includes a chapter on how to spot a bad rescue)

The links are all part of our very useful New Owners resource which is there to help you learn what is normal and not and deal with the more commonly encountered unanticipated issues. Over 15 years on this lively forum with tens of thousands of questions and up to half a century of owner experience have gone into our guides.
You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need since you will take different things from some guides at different levels of experience: Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners

We are of course always here for any questions as well as a supportive community.

 

[Hath]

I am glad that I could answer your question. What different vets are using also depends on what they have in stock at the clinic. Ivermectin/selamectin based brands are not prescription-only medications (POMs) with licensing for a specific UK brand for a species in addition to the product coming in various strengths.

In any case, I would recommend that you get hold of some F10 disinfectant concentrate because that is also effective against ringworm, where hygiene is as important (if not more) to get on top of the long-lived and highly contagious, species jumping spores. The concentrate lasts for ages and is ultimately a lot cheaper than buying diluted anti-bacterial (but not anti-fungal) disinfectant.
You can find our very detailed and very practical ringworm guide via the link in my first post if you need it. We are here for any further questions.

I am however very sorry for the situation you are finding yourself in. Unfortunately, anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder in this country with no licensing and control; and sadly the results can be accordingly when you fall for a backyard breeder with a side line in no longer wanted stock.
At least your two girls are lucky to have found a good and caring owner!
Here is information on the recourse you can take: Rescues (Adoption and Dating), Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs

The links are all part of our very useful New Owners resource which is there to help you learn what is normal and not and deal with the more commonly encountered unanticipated issues. Over 15 years on this lively forum with tens of thousands of questions and up to half a century of owner experience have gone into our guides.
You may want to bookmark the link, browse, read and re-read at need since you will take different things from some guides at different levels of experience: Getting Started - Essential Information for New Owners

We are of course always here for any questions as well as a supportive community.

Thank you. Yes, I've been using F10 for years now. Just as a regular cleaner. I really don't like ringworm. The fact it can just chill around for months makes me paranoid. Fostered few moms with babies and they had ringworm, so really hope I won't have to go through the itrafungol and imaverol route with my girls. Hoping for negative DTM results. Just gave them bath with the gorgeous guineas melt and shampoo to lift the scabs whilst we're waiting for the results.

I knew it was a risk, but needed girls for my lonely neutered boy and these sounded perfect. Especially the fact they didn't go through any trauma of treatment and having tough start. Spent December getting my boy through abscess removal and then vet visits and cleaning out the wound and syringe feeding. So really wanted princesses I can just spoil! But once I brought them home and checked them over I couldn't take them back -was worried they wouldn't get the treatment needed. They were also dangerously small for their age. So it was straight to vet the next day and check up week later. They're gaining weight nicely, weighing them every day. Just didn't want to quarantine them cause of their age. But once I found the scabs and patches I just had to. My set up is fleece and c&c. Would be nightmare to treat everyone for confirmed ringworm...
I've been lurking for a while, so read your guides already, they're very helpful and recommend them to new piggies people cause i like how you send people to the vet and give bridging care advice in meantime! I hate the videos when people show how to treat ringworm with antifungal creams and not knowing the difference between bacteria, fungus etc...

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you. Yes, I've been using F10 for years now. Just as a regular cleaner. I really don't like ringworm. The fact it can just chill around for months makes me paranoid. Fostered few moms with babies and they had ringworm, so really hope I won't have to go through the itrafungol and imaverol route with my girls. Hoping for negative DTM results. Just gave them bath with the gorgeous guineas melt and shampoo to lift the scabs whilst we're waiting for the results.

I knew it was a risk, but needed girls for my lonely neutered boy and these sounded perfect. Especially the fact they didn't go through any trauma of treatment and having tough start. Spent December getting my boy through abscess removal and then vet visits and cleaning out the wound and syringe feeding. So really wanted princesses I can just spoil! But once I brought them home and checked them over I couldn't take them back -was worried they wouldn't get the treatment needed. They were also dangerously small for their age. So it was straight to vet the next day and check up week later. They're gaining weight nicely, weighing them every day. Just didn't want to quarantine them cause of their age. But once I found the scabs and patches I just had to. My set up is fleece and c&c. Would be nightmare to treat everyone for confirmed ringworm...
I've been lurking for a while, so read your guides already, they're very helpful and recommend them to new piggies people cause i like how you send people to the vet and give bridging care advice in meantime! I hate the videos when people show how to treat ringworm with antifungal creams and not knowing the difference between bacteria, fungus etc...

Thank you for the compliments.

Very sorry for the bad start. We are here to help you re. how to organise things for most efficiency but least upset if needed.

 

[Hath]

Just dropping an update. Girlies finally reached 300g at 11,5 wks old. Only had them for 3 wks, been to 3 vet checks and done 3 imaverol dips. Second xeno dose tomorrow. The F10 barrier cream really soothed angry and scabby skin.
DTM came back negative (know they can give false negatives), but because of how fluffy they are I wanted to do the dips for peace of mind and to ensure I am treating any hidden patches. I didn't want to do itrafungol because of how tiny they are. Hoping we'll get away with dips and xeno. Their patches already have hair regrowth. Really hope good quality diet and clean environment will give them the boost they need.

They're very sweet, settled in and popcorning a lot. So this warms my heart, as I really didn't want to put them through treatment like this. Glad they don't hate me for it!
Hopefully, if nothing new appears, I'll be starting bonding next week. Send us all the good luck vibes

 

[weepweeps]

Glad the treatment is going well. Good luck with the bonding.

 

[Wiebke]

Just dropping an update. Girlies finally reached 300g at 11,5 wks old. Only had them for 3 wks, been to 3 vet checks and done 3 imaverol dips. Second xeno dose tomorrow. The F10 barrier cream really soothed angry and scabby skin.
DTM came back negative (know they can give false negatives), but because of how fluffy they are I wanted to do the dips for peace of mind and to ensure I am treating any hidden patches. I didn't want to do itrafungol because of how tiny they are. Hoping we'll get away with dips and xeno. Their patches already have hair regrowth. Really hope good quality diet and clean environment will give them the boost they need.

They're very sweet, settled in and popcorning a lot. So this warms my heart, as I really didn't want to put them through treatment like this. Glad they don't hate me for it!
Hopefully, if nothing new appears, I'll be starting bonding next week. Send us all the good luck vibes

All the best.

Please be aware that ivermectin suppresses ringworm temporarily but cannot eliminate it. It will come back after the ivermectin leaves the system; what it does is taking care of any mites/skin parasites when your vet is not quite sure what they are dealing with and prefers a two-pronged approach with the imaverol dips addressing any potential ringworm/fungal issues.

Please make sure that there are always 48 hours between any dips and ivermectin drops on the skin to allow each product to be properly absorbed by the skin.

I am sure that they are already feeling a lot better in themselves by now!

 

[Hath]

Thank you both

Yes, that's why I am doing dips as well as xeno. I waited before applying anything until they had the plug test so we had as accurate of sample as possible and got sample from all the patches. I just didn't want to do itrafungol without positive test for ringworm and hoping dips are enough. I've fostered moms with babies and couple had ringworm. It's just different when I wasn't mentally prepared for it, I always trusted rescues. So this is my first bad experience.

It's quite a lot of planning, have got a calendar to ensure we're leaving enough time between treatments as it's a lot to remember. This is the only week dips and xeno clash. So having to push the dips for later.

I feel like I spent these last 3 weeks just at vets, doing baths, putting on creams, weighing them and cleaning! They're eager to explore and their quarantine cage not big enough for the popcorns and zoomies!

Never used imaverol on it's own, only in combination with itrafungol. So don't know how this will turn out!