Lice, mites may be a problem with small pets. Here's how to treat them | Pet Peeves
Dear readers,
There are very few reasons to take a rabbit or any pocket pet (small pets like rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) to the veterinarian; they do not need vaccinations.
But one such condition is parasite infestation of the skin. Mites and lice will, on occasion, infest family pocket pets.
Once they are diagnosed, they are relatively easy to treat with ivermectin or the topical flea and heartworm medicine called Revolution.
The symptoms of these infestations are generally itching, dandruff and hair loss. When infestations have gone on for some time, the pet may lose weight and become anemic.
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While finding out your pet has skin parasites can make your skin crawl, don’t worry. Lice are very host specific. You cannot catch them from your pet, nor can your pet catch them from you.
Some mites can cause transient infestations in humans. These mites include the Cheyletiella species. They are also known as “walking dandruff” because they create a lot of white dandruff, and the rather large mites can be seen to move around on the skin.
While mites may cause a transient infestation in humans, they are treatable once you get the source of the infestation (your pet) cleared up.
One common question I am asked is, “How did my pet get mites when he is always in my house and never around other animals?”
It is perplexing, but I think that the mites come in on bedding, hay or sometimes food. Perhaps the place where the hay or bedding was harvested had an infestation, or the warehouse had a problem. That is the only answer I have for a pet that has been inside for several years and never had mites before.
Because of that, when I treat these pets with ivermectin I tell the owner to go home and throw away the hay, bedding and food and get all new bags. Also, all toys and cages should be cleaned thoroughly with hot soapy water.
One type of mite seen in rabbits is ear mites. Again, these mites are host specific. The symptoms are usually very crusty ears. If you are going to treat your rabbit for ear mites, don’t try to scrub or clean out the ears. Trying to clean out the ears while they have active mites can cause the inflamed ears to bleed and can be too painful for the rabbit. They do not handle stress very well.
After the mites are killed, the ears will heal remarkably well. If you want to put something in the ears, mineral oil is perfect. It is soothing and will help the ears to heal.
While it may be tempting to try and treat your pet for mites without the help of your veterinarian, it could be dangerous. Pocket pets all have greater sensitivities to certain chemicals and poisons. For instance, Frontline can be fatal to rabbits because it kills the microbes that live in the rabbit’s gut and aid in normal digestion.
If you see crusty skin and hair loss coupled with itching, be sure and visit your veterinarian. That will be the safest and most effective way to treat a parasite infestation.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Lice, mite infestation in small pets: Treatment advice from a vet
