Treating mom and babies for lice?

Wed May 21, 2003 1:18 am

My new rescues include 2 mice (male and female, now separated) and their 12 little babies. The babies are maybe about a week old, they're just starting to get their hair. Today I found lice on the babies and so they'll need to be treated with ivermectin. I have the ivermectin horse wormer paste I use for my rats and was wondering if anyone has treated their mice with this? I just want to make sure I don't overdose them.

Also, I've heard with rats you can treat the mother if the babies are still nursing and it'll automatically treat the babies? Anyone experienced with treating such young babies for parasites? Thanks!

Wed May 21, 2003 2:03 pm

I use the Ivermectin horse wormer paste with my mice. Ive never used it on babies. Personally, I wouldnt, I would wait until they are a decent size & weight. I did once overdose a mouse with Ivermectin, its scary because your using such a tiny amount. I dip the end of a toothpick in and dab a tiny bit onto a glob of peanut butter, mix it, and feed each mouse a dose individually once a week for three or four weeks. Its tedious to say the least!

I think the lice pose less of a threat than the Ivermectin.

How did you come to get them, always like to hear a rescue story...

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