Lice - Paw Talk

mtmaughan · #1 07-26-2007, 01:46 AM

Has anyone dealt with lice on their rats/mice? My vet found lice on mine several weeks ago, and they were on oral meds for 3 weeks. Well, I think they have them still/again. I was just wondering if anyone has been successful in getting rid of them, and what worked for you?

lilspaz68 · #2 07-26-2007, 07:09 AM

i treated my lice with Revolution from my vet. One drop on the back of the neck and they are gone.

Did your vet give your Ivermectin? Once a week for 3 weeks?
With Ivermectin you have to scrub the cage after dosing then bleach, etc, clean the area, scrub the toys, throw out any wood products etc...otherwise they just hang out there until the treatment is over.

You will see lice, unlike mites which are microscopic. So you will know pretty soon if they are still scratchign like crazy and have those little buggers on them still.

mtmaughan · #3 07-26-2007, 09:53 AM

You only have to do the Revolution once total? My cage is wood, so I'm guessing the Ivermectin never would have worked at all.

Vanilla_Rat · #4 07-26-2007, 11:43 PM

I have dealt with the nasties! I got Revolution too.I also had to scrub/disinfect the cage,freeze any wooden toys and bedding...etc.I also bathed them using kitten shampoo.It took some doing,but finally I got rid of them.

mtmaughan · #5 07-27-2007, 01:03 AM

Is there anything I can do about the cage? How long can they hang out in the wood?

An1ma1Lov3r · #6 07-27-2007, 01:28 AM

I've never had Lice, I mean my rats haven't so I can't be much help. But my vet told me to wash them in kitten shampoo once a month just to keep from getting them. Not sure if it works but so far no lice *Crosses Fingers*

lilspaz68 · #7 07-27-2007, 07:05 AM

Kitten shampoo once a month won't prevent lice sadly since its not made for lice, unless you are talking about medicated shampoo? Even then it will only treat the lice you have. Lice have a 3 week life cycle and come in on infected bedding (paper/wood products), you bring them home with you with a new rat, or by handling rats with lice. I got my lice infestation from cheap aspen shavings, and I have brought home some rescues with lice and mites, but newcomers usually get treated when they come into my home as a preventative. Revolution gets absorbed into the blood stream and stays effective for 1 month which is longer than the life cycle of the lice. One bite and they die. I just treat and do a normal cage cleaning (pitching wood ladders etc, scrubbing cage, etc) then I leave it.

Your wooden cage? Is it sealed or bare wood?

mtmaughan · #8 07-27-2007, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilspaz68


	Your wooden cage? Is it sealed or bare wood?

All the surfaces that the rats touch are painted, but the outsides are bare.

pinkie1205 · #9 07-28-2007, 03:59 AM

Im no expert and I have to admit that lilspaz knows way more then I do...but I would think since the revolution is active for a month that the lice would be dead before they could multiply since the life cycle starts over again. So them being in the wood would wouldnt matter because if they bite the rat they die...

mtmaughan · #10 07-28-2007, 09:07 AM

I was thinking the same thing. I really hope you're right. However, it seems like people wouldn't make a big deal about chucking the wood if the meds simply outlasted the lifespan of the lice. I thought maybe the eggs can lay dormant in the wood or something... If that's the case, my only option will be to treat them with Revolution until winter, at which point I would leave the cage outside to freeze (not with them in it, of course

).

lilspaz68 · #11 07-28-2007, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtmaughan


	I was thinking the same thing. I really hope you're right. However, it seems like people wouldn't make a big deal about chucking the wood if the meds simply outlasted the lifespan of the lice. I thought maybe the eggs can lay dormant in the wood or something... If that's the case, my only option will be to treat them with Revolution until winter, at which point I would leave the cage outside to freeze (not with them in it, of course ).

I think you are probably safe. The chucking and scrubbing is all a byproduct of the Ivermectin days which are only good for a week for each dose. Then you dose again and the new adults bite and die. But I don't often scrub as diligently as I should, since the Rev does cover the life cycle. I would say try it with the Revolution, and see. If it doesn't work you'll have to treat again, but if it does then we will all know that you don't have to worry about wooden cages.

mtmaughan · #12 07-28-2007, 08:36 PM

I will give the Revolution a try. Cross your fingers for me! I found dosage information on the Rat Guide website. That thing is a lifesaver.

lilspaz68 · #13 07-29-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtmaughan


	I will give the Revolution a try. Cross your fingers for me! I found dosage information on the Rat Guide website. That thing is a lifesaver.

the Rat Guide is The Rat Bible.

Just remember that kitten/puppy is 60 mg/ml and Dog is 120 mg/ml.

If you need help with dosages PM me.

darkvixen77 · #14 07-29-2007, 11:04 AM

I got some kind of spot on for small animals. You put some on their neck and back once and then again in a month, got rid of them strait away.

lilspaz68 · #15 07-29-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunnybreeder


	I got some kind of spot on for small animals. You put some on their neck and back once and then again in a month, got rid of them strait away.

Do you know what this topical treatment was? Was it OTC from the petstore? Or did you get it from your vet?