Expensive readers,
There are only a few causes to take a rabbit or any pocket pet (small pets like rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and many others.) to the veterinarian; they don’t want vaccinations.
However one such situation is parasite infestation of the pores and skin. Mites and lice will, every now and then, infest household pocket pets.
As soon as they’re recognized, they’re comparatively simple to deal with with ivermectin or the topical flea and heartworm drugs referred to as Revolution.
The signs of those infestations are typically itching, dandruff and hair loss. When infestations have gone on for a while, the pet might shed some pounds and turn out to be anemic.
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Whereas discovering out your pet has pores and skin parasites could make your pores and skin crawl, don’t fret. Lice are very host particular. You can’t catch them out of your pet, nor can your pet catch them from you.
Some myths may cause transient infestations in people. These myths embrace the Cheyletiella species. They’re also referred to as “strolling dandruff” as a result of they create quite a lot of white dandruff, and the reasonably massive mites might be seen to maneuver round on the pores and skin.
Whereas mites might trigger a transient infestation in people, they’re treatable when you get the supply of the infestation (your pet) cleared up.
One frequent query I’m requested is, “How did my pet get mites when he’s all the time in my home and by no means round different animals?”
It’s perplexing, however I feel that the mites are available in on bedding, hay or generally meals. Maybe the place the place the hay or bedding was harvested had an infestation, or the warehouse had an issue. That’s the solely reply I’ve for a pet that has been inside for a number of years and by no means had mites earlier than.
Due to that, once I deal with these pets with ivermectin I inform the proprietor to go residence and throw away the hay, bedding and meals and get all new luggage. Additionally, all toys and cages needs to be cleaned completely with scorching soapy water.
One sort of mites seen in rabbits is ear mites. Once more, these myths are host particular. The signs are normally very crusty ears. If you’re going to deal with your rabbit for ear mites, do not attempt to scrub or clear out the ears. Attempting to wash out the ears whereas they’ve lively mites may cause the infected ears to bleed and might be too painful for the rabbit. They don’t deal with stress very nicely.
After the myths are killed, the ears will heal remarkably nicely. If you wish to put one thing within the ears, mineral oil is ideal. It’s soothing and can assist the ears to heal.
Whereas it could be tempting to attempt to deal with your pet for mites with out the assistance of your veterinarian, it might be harmful. Pocket pets all have larger sensitivities to sure chemical compounds and poisons. For example, Frontline might be deadly to rabbits as a result of it kills the microbes that stay within the rabbit’s intestine and aids in regular digestion.
In case you see crusty pores and skin and hair loss coupled with itching, make certain and go to your veterinarian. That would be the most secure and only method to deal with a parasite infestation.
This text initially appeared on Northwest Florida Every day Information: Lice, mite infestation in small pets: Therapy recommendation from a vet
