A variety of agents may be used in small mammals with ectoparasites. Download this easy-to-use table for a list of agents used to manage lice, flea infestation, mange or acariasis.
Mite taken from a skin scrape sample in a rat. Photo credit: Dr. M. Scott Echols. Click image to enlarge.
Rabbits
Flea, louse treatment
| Table 1. Flea adulticides for use in rabbits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Dose |
| Cholinesterase inhibitor | Carbaryl (Sevin dust 5%, Garden Tech) | Topically q7d |
| Macrocyclic lactone | Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | 6-10 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn |
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% (Advantage 40 for cats, Bayer) | 10-16 mg/kg topically (single 0.4 ml cat dose) |
| Nitenpyram (Capstar, Novartis Animal Healthy | Dose as in cats Give patients <2 lbs (kg) 0.5 tablet |
|
| Phenylpyrazole | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial) | TOXIC Do not use |
| Pyrethroids | Permethrins | Topically as directed q7d |
Insect growth regulators
Insect growth regulators inhibit the development of immature stages of insects, such as preventing flea eggs from hatching and killing flea larvae or early pupae.
Insect growth regulators for post Ectoparasite Control in Small Mammals
| Table 2. Insect growth regulator use in the rabbit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Dose |
| Insect growth regulator | Lufenuron (Program, Novartis Animal Health) | 30 mg/kg POq30d |
Ticks and mites
Acaricides kill members of the arachnid subclass Acari, such as ticks and mites.
| Table 3. Acaricides for use in the rabbits | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Dose |
| Formamidine | Amitraz | |
| Macrocyclic lactones | Ivermectin | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC x 10-14d for 3 tx |
| Moxidectin (Cydectin 1%, Fort Dodge | 0.3 mg/kg PO w/ or w/o sunflower oil* 0.2 mg/kg PO q10d for 2 tx |
|
| Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | 6-10 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn |
|
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% (Advantage 40 for cats, Bayer) | 10-16 mg/kg topically (single 0.4 ml cat dose) |
| Phenylpyrazoles | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial)* | TOXIC Do not use |
| Pyrethroids | Pyrethrins (select kitten-safe product) | Topically as directed q7d |
| * Lipid administration may increase bioavailability | ||
Cuterebriasis
Cuterebriasis for post Ectoparasite Control in Small Mammals
| Table 4. Medical management of cuterebra in the rabbit | ||
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Dose |
| Macrocyclic lactone | Ivermectin | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC x 10-14d for 3 tx |
Rodents
Flea and/or lice treatment
Flea adulticide
| Table 5. Flea adulticide use in rodents | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Chinchilla | Gerbil | Guinea pig | Hamster | Rat/mouse |
| Cholinesterase inhibitor | Carbaryl (Sevin dust 5%, Garden Tech) | Topically q7d | Topically q7d | Topically q7d | Topically q7d | |
| Macrocyclic lactone | Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | 6 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn | ||||
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% & moxidectin 1% (Advantage Multi, Bayer) | 0.05 ml topically once | Topically as directed 3X per week OR shampoo q7d for 4 wks | Topically as directed 3X per week OR shampoo q7d for 4 wks |
||
| Phenylpyrazole | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial)* | TOXIC Do not use | 7.5 mg/kg topically q30-60d | 7.5 mg/kg topically q30-60d | ||
| Pyrethroids | Pyrethrins | Topically as directed q7d | Topically as directed q7d | |||
| Permethrins | 0.25% dust in cage | 0.25% dust in cage | ||||
| *Use of Fipronil may be contraindicated in squirrels (Beck 2000) | ||||||
Acarides
| Table 6. Acaride use in rodents | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Chinchilla | Gerbil | Guinea pig | Hamster | Rat/mouse |
| Formamidine | Amitraz (Mitaban, Pfizer) | 0.3% solution topically q7d | 1.4 ml/L topically q7-14d x 3-6 tx | Topically q7-14d for 3-6 tx |
||
| Macrocyclic lactones | Ivermectin | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC, PO q10d x 2 tx | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC q14d x 3-4 tx | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC, PO q10d x 2 tx | |
| Moxidectin (Cydectin 1%, Fort Dodge | 400 ug/kg PO q7d | 2 mg/kg PO, repeat after 14d |
||||
| 0.5% Cydectin pour-on, Fort Dodge | 0.5 mg/kg topically | |||||
| Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | | 6 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn | ||||
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% & moxidectin 1% (Advantage Multi, Bayer) | 0.05 ml topically once | ||||
| Phenylpyrazoles | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial)* | 7.5 mg/kg/kg topically q30-60d | 7.5 mg/kg/kg topically q30-60d | |||
| Pyrethroids | Pyrethrins | Topically as directed q7d | Topically as directed q7d | |||
| Permethrins | 0.25% dust in cage | 0.25% dust in cage | ||||
| Broad-specttrum fungicide and parasiticide | Thiabendazole- dexamethasone- neomycin (Tresaderm, Merial) | 2 drops AU q24h x 7d, repeat in 7d | ||||
| *Use of Fipronil may be contraindicated in squirrels (Beck 2000) | ||||||
Ferrets, hedgehogs & sugar gliders
Flea and/or lice treatment
| Table 7. Flea adulticide use in ferrets, hedgehogs & sugar gliders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Ferret | Hedgehog | Sugar glider |
| Cholinesterase inhibitor | Carbaryl (Sevin dust 5%, Garden Tech) | Topically q7d | ||
| Macrocyclic lactone | Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | 6-10 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn | 6-10 mg/kg topically q30d | |
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% (Advantage 40 for cats, Bayer) | 10-16 mg/kg topically (single 0.4 ml cat dose divided over 2-3 sites on back) | ||
| Imidacloprid 10% & moxidectin 1% (Advantage Multi, Bayer) | 0.4 ml topically | |||
| Phenylpyrazole | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial) | 1 pump of spray or 1/5th of cat tube q30-60d | POSSIBLY contraindicated (Beck 2000) | |
| Pyrethroids | Pyrethrins | Topically as directed q7d | Topically as directed q7d | |
| Permethrins | Topically as directed q7d | Mist pet, cage & bedding w/ 1% spray | Topically as directed q7d | |
Insect growth regulators
Insect growth regulators inhibit the development of immature stages of insects, such as preventing flea eggs from hatching and killing flea larvae or early pupae.
| Table 8. Insect growth regulator use in the ferret | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Ferret | Hedgehog | Sugar glider |
| Insect growth regulator | Lufenuron (Program, Novartis Animal Health) | 30-45 mg/kg PO q30d | --- | --- |
Acarides
Ferrets, hedgehogs & sugar gliders Acarides for post Ectoparasite Control in Small Mammals
| Table 9. Acaride use in ferrets, hedgehogs & sugar gliders | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug class | Drug | Ferrets | Hedgehogs | Sugar gliders |
| Formamidine | Amitraz (Mitaban, Pfizer) | 0.0125-0.025% dip q7d x 3 tx (one drop in ears prn) | 0.3% solution topically q7d | |
| Macrocyclic lactones | Ivermectin | 0.2-0.5 mg/kg SC q14d x 3-4 tx | 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC, PO q14d x 3 tx (topical AU prn) | 0.2 mg/kg SC, PO q10-14d |
| Selamectin (Revolution, Pfizer) | 6-10 mg/kg topically q30d x 2 tx prn | 6 mg/kg topically q30d | ||
| Neonicotinoids | Imidacloprid 10% (Advantage 40 for cats, Bayer) | 10-16 mg/kg topically (single 0.4 ml cat dose divided over 2-3 sites on back) | ||
| Imidacloprid 10% & moxidectin 1% (Advantage Multi, Bayer) | 0.4 ml topically | |||
| Phenylpyrazoles | Fipronil (Frontline, Merial)* | 1 pump of spray or 1/5th of cat tube q30-60d | POSSIBLY contraindicated (Beck 2000) | |
| Pyrethroids | Pyrethrins | Topically as directed q7d | Topically as directed q7d | |
| Permethrins | ||||
| Broad-spectrum fungicide and parasiticide | Thiabendazole- dexamethasone- neomycin (Tresaderm, Merial) | 2 drops AU q24h x 7d, repeat in 7d | ||
Abbreviations
q: every
d: days
prn: as needed
SC: subcutaneous
AU: in both ears
w/o: without
tx: treatment
PO: per os
Download Ectoparasite table as PDF
References
References
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