Treatment for mites - options?

[Brittany]

Hey! First-time rat owner here.

I've had my two girls for just under a year now, they are about a year old. This past week I noticed excessive itching and a a couple of small scabs on the back and shoulders of my rats and assumed it was mites but went to the vet just in case. The vet took a skin/fur sample and did NOT find any mites, although she said it was very likely and suggested ivermectin injections. I read that injections are dangerous and sometimes fatal, and looked around for alternatives. It seems you can get a horse-paste type of ivermectin that is administered orally, and I've seen Revolution (for kittens) recommended often as a topical treatment as well. Which is best for my rats?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SQ]

The treatment of choice for mites in rats is kitten revolution
The amount applied to the back of the neck is very tiny and is based on the strength of the revolution and the weight of each rat

Here is some information: http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ectoparasites.php and http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/selamectin_revolution.php

 

[Brittany]

The treatment of choice for mites in rats is kitten revolution
The amount applied to the back of the neck is very tiny and is based on the strength of the revolution and the weight of each rat

Here is some information: http://ratguide.com/health/integumentary_skin/ectoparasites.php and http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/selamectin_revolution.php

Thank you! I saw this info online but wasn't sure if I should start treatment if the vet wasn't 100% sure they actually had mites. It seems Revolution is very low-risk however so I'll give it a shot. Thanks again.

 

[SQ]

you are welcome

Just so you are aware for the future, people treat with revolution when mites etc are suspected,
and do not normally have skin scrapings done as they are painful and unreliable