Home care notes for sarcoptic and other mange mites
Treating Sarcoptic Mange in Small Furry Animals
There are 3 aspects to this:
The animal: This consists typically of 2 injections of ivermectin at 3-week intervals. The vet may also add in some cortisone to help reduce itch levels while the ivermectin begins to work.
In Contact Animals: If you have other companion animals sharing the same cage / hutch then be sure to check that they to do not have any skin lesions. If lesions are present (even if mild) it is essential to treat them early in synchronicity with the treatment of your pet.
Failing to do so may result in relapse / failure in the primary animal.
Always ensure that newly introduced animals are clear of infestation. You may want to quarantine them for 1-2 weeks before introducing them to existing pets.
The environment: Just as important as treating the animals is treating their environment. This is usually where in infestation arose.
Clean out the housing completely of old bedding. Throw this away.
If you have a bale of straw / hay that you have been using, it's a good idea to dispose of this and to buy in new. This is a common source of infestation as mice especially may shed into the material while still on the farm.
Spray the empty hutch with a good insecticide such as Permoxin™ spray (available at this surgery). Leave in situ for 2 hours.
Rinse the cage clear THEN reintroduce the animals.
Following this procedure you will see an effective, rapid and permanent response to treatment.