brainstormin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>I have written the list about this before, but I still have a mite problem.
>Several months ago, before I started breeding, my gerbils got mites. I
>called the vet and he gave me Ivermectin. I followed his directions,
>putting the medicine on the gerbils once a week for three weeks. In
>addition, I cleaned all three cages twice a week, sterilizing them each
>time. I thought I was rid of the mites.
>
>Then my gerbils had pups. When they were three weeks old, I noticed them
>scratching. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the mites had returned. I
>called a small animal specialist, and he said I could not use any Ivermectin
>until the pups were at least six weeks old. He said to take the wood
>shavings out and use newspaper for bedding instead. Now my gerbils have had
>their second litter. Because I could not use the Ivermectin, the mite
>population has really grown. When the mites started biting my children, I
>had to move all of the gerbils into my garage. This whole thing has become
>a nightmare! The new babies are only two weeks old. It is cruel to make
>them live mite-infested for four more weeks, but I don't know of anything
>else to do.
>
>Sure wish I had a solution!
>
>Kelly
If you treat the mites with Ivermec for the required number of weeks to
destroy the mites at all stages of their development, and it is quite
few from our experiences with cavies, 6 to 8 weeks is not unusual, you
should not have a mite problem unless you are reintroducing them.
Hay is a prime candidate, wood shavings could also be a cause, but I
think the food is more likely than the shavings.
--
Julian
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* Jackie and Julian *
* [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* National Gerbil Society *
* http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
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