Problem using spot-on treatment - 2008/03/21 09:07Harriet has been losing quills and is a bit thin so I took her to the vet. He thinks that she probably does have mites so he gave me Stronghold (what Revolution is called here) spot on and told me to put a drop of it behind her ear.............easier said than done!
She kept struggling and I couldn't see anything coming out of the tube, and I dropped the tube, it ended up empty, but I have no idea how much actually went on her.
I could smell it on her and was worried that I had overdosed, so I rinsed her under the shower. Now I am not sure if she has any of it still on her, had she absorbed too much in the time I took to wash her off, had any of it been absorbed at all? In the 'sticky' that Kelly wrote it said that she knew of several people who used the whole tube on one hedgehog with and they were fine, but I'm still going to keep checking on her all day to make sure she is ok.
APH's are just so new in this country, my vet had never even seen one before. Fortunately he is a great vet and is prepared to do his research. I had already given him my copy of 'The Hedgehog Primer' and he had also been on the internet reading up about them. He knew to use selamectin, not ivermectin for mites, and even asked me if that was a hedgebag I had Harriet in? But he is still learning as he goes along.
I'm going to get the vet to put the Stronghold on Hector himself next week (he seems fine but I'm going to get him treated just in case). I think it would be better using a syringe and measuring out the exact amount required instead of just 'a drop' of it, then there is no danger of giving too much or too little.
What should I do about Harriet? When can I treat her again, will I need to leave it the whole month just incase, even if she is still losing quills?
Sorry I know that I have been rambling, but i'm just not sure what to do for the best.
Post edited by: thistle, at: 2008/03/21 09:08Barbara with Hector & Harriet Hog Glasgow, Scotland
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Stasi
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Re:Problem using spot-on treatment - 2008/03/21 10:26I can't answer your question about 'redosing' your hedgehog right away, though I am sure you didn't overdose her, the hedgehogs tend to have a high tolerance. I do want to pass along though that putting the dose anywhere on the back (in between the quills) works here, so you don't *have* to dose right behind the ear. I generally get them on their shoulders, which seems very effective.Stasi Terrapin Hedgehogs Joppa, MD www.terrapinhedgehogs.com
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Julie Pierce
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Re:Problem using spot-on treatment - 2008/03/21 12:05Those tiny tubes are hard to handle. Dont worry about getting behind the ears. As long as it reaches the skin you are all set. At this point you know you got some on her so I would let her be for a while and hopefully it will work. Some people have also had success with vegetable oil put in the bath water. The oil is suppose to suffocate the mites when it saturates the skin.
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thistle
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Re:Problem using spot-on treatment - 2008/03/26 15:39Harriet's quill loss seems to have really improved, so, fingers crossed, it has worked!
I'm taking her to the vets' tomorrow for a check up and I am also going to take Hector so that the vet can treat him. Thanks for letting me know that it doesn't need to go behind their ears, that will make things a heck of alot easier.Barbara with Hector & Harriet Hog Glasgow, Scotland
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dzmeadows
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Re:Problem using spot-on treatment - 2008/03/26 20:13I have been told... and granted, this is a third, fourth, maybe 20th hand account.... but I have been told that you should not use oil on your hedgehog (such as a bit of veg oil in the bath) after you use a topical treatment such as Revolution or whatever. Something about affecting the way that the treatment is absorbed, but I dunno if it speeds up absorption or slows it down. So helpful, huh. :-P Anyway, oil can help as a temporary mite reduction aid if it is going to be a few days before you can get a better treatment, but it doesn't do the best for full blown treatment. I am a huge Revolution fan. It is my FRIEND.
As far as the actual questions being asked..... if you think ANY got onto the skin, then you are probably fine. Revolution doesnt' act overnight, you may not see a lot of difference in quill loss for 2 weeks or so. I would wait until a month from now, and then see if you need to do a second dose. I haven't needed a second dose hardly ever.
Becca
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But he is still learning as he goes along. 
