I think we have gone to one too many rabbit shows. A little critter jumped off of someone's rabbit, onto my rabbit, during the judging process I assume. They are all shoved up against one another there, and wool mites jump ship, as I understand it. Sigh. Thus, we discovered we have wool mites.
We had originally decided to treat with Ivermectin paste, available at the Feed Store, every week for 2-3 weeks. However, after reading several articles on veterinary science websites, we found that this may not be the best course of action. Our basis for discontinuing with the paste treatment is due in part to an article studying the efficacy of treatment of cheyletiellosis (the so-called "walking dandruff" mite) using Ivermectin injections vs. Ivermectin paste vs. Selamectin on-spot applicators (a liquid placed on skin), in rabbits (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235873/). This study found that the oral Ivermectin paste may not absorb as well in rabbits, or the dose orally was too small, as rabbits taking Ivermectin injectable once and continuing with Ivermectin paste had a higher rate of re-infection, or a lack of remission (i.e. if it was cured, it wasn't cured for long!). The article found that Selectin on-spot and Ivermectin injectables dosed at a rate of 200-476mcg/kg weight every 11 days, 2-3 times, had a much better remission rate and weren't as prone to re-infection with mites (rate of 81.8%).
Thus, we will be purchasing some swine & cattle Ivermectin 1% injectable at Green's Feed tomorrow for follow-up dosing, as opposed to the paste we treated with first.
Many articles have been written about what dosage 200-476mcg/kg looks like (or 0.2-0.476mg/kg; example: https://angorarabbit.com/hutch/articles.php?article_id=17). Some authors recommend up to 600mcg or 0.6mg (http://wildpro.twycrosszoo.org/S/00Chem/ChComplex/Ivermectin.htm ; see lagomorphs section references). It is basically this: for a given 5 lb baby angora rabbit, at the dose of 0.2mg/kg weight, you give 0.05 ml/cc twice at 10-14 day intervals.
If you prefer a dose closer to the median dosage range, you would give about 0.075ml/cc at the same dosing schedule.
If you have larger rabbits, you dose slightly higher, at about 0.1ml/cc, which is the dose I will give to my adult angoras. The vet also suggests isolating those rabbits that went to shows for 48 hours before returning to the general population, as well as giving one dose of ivermectin upon return during the isolation period. You should also consider dosing cats and dogs, but NOT with the feed store Ivermectin. Cats need Selemectin on-spot applicators (vet) and dogs can get away with HeartGuard.
The life cycle of a mite is carried out on a host: egg to adult, no flying. Mites typically live out their life cycle on one type of host, and cannot survive without a host. Mites are also specific to a host; indeed, most live on just one type of animal, or prefer to. It is unlikely that they will survive on carpets, housing, etc. without dying, in that if the host is treated and skin is toxic to mites, they have nowhere else to host on, and die. They die pretty quickly off a host, as the host is the source of both water (blood) and food. You treat pets for 21-24 days, so that any eggs that were laid by the dead adults can hatch and eat the poison as well, thus ending the cycle. We know about mites, as we hosted several foster cats & kittens from the Humane Society, that then turned around and gave one of our cats mites once. It was so much fun.
Aren't bugs fascinating? I have to admit these ones make me squirm a little, though. I am a bug-person and enjoy looking at and studying bugs. Yes, I actually catch and release spiders from our house, back into the wild. No, I don't find them creepy at all. Yes, I am weird. I guess.
We will be treating the cat, after speaking to our vet, he said one type of wool mite can travel onto cats, although it isn't likely. It's so much fun giving a cat medicine. Yay, me! Bloody arms, here we come.
Even with a very clean and efficient set up, taking rabbits to a show can lead to disease (snuffles) & mites. It is a chance we take, as our son likes to do 4-H and Angoras are his project. Our rabbits are currently NOT for sale, as we are holding them for treatment. They will be available in THREE weeks for pickup, when they are mite-free, or by West Coast Classic time (thank goodness!).
Links to a very clearly written articles on treating mites:
https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/fs1183/
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