Cat Fleas – Medicine and ACV. PLEASE HELP.

[Avantika]

A few weeks back we brought home an abandoned stray kitten who had a bad case of fleas. We relocated the kitten to a person who is expert at felines. The thing is, while he was with us for two days, he gave some of his fleas to Moshu.

I know that Selamectin, Imidacloprid and Lufenuron are used for cat fleas.. However, Selamectin and Lufernuron are NOT available where I live. My sister stays in Germany and one of her friends is a vet. I have asked her to bring a few tubes of Selamectin with her when she visits us this year. She will come in November. I honestly cant wait.

Before anyone tells me to consult the vet, I spoke to one who is apparently a specialist in small animals internal medicine – She asked to me to go for Ivermectin shots. I have been through countless articles on cat fleas and rabbits – none of them suggest Ivermectin. Should I still go for it ?

Her fleas are under control, infact I barely see any flea dirt. I have been manually taking them out using my hands and a flea comb. 

I need your help in two things :

1) This is the ONLY medicine available here whose components are bunny safe.

Its a 2.5 ml pipette that has :

250 mg imidacloprid

62.5 mg moxidectin.

Clearly, the dosage is too high. Considering Moshu weighs 2 kg, the safe dosages should be

Imidacloprid- 6 mg

Moxidectin – 0.4 mg

—

Should I use a very, very small amount ? A pea sized drop ? I can do that or leave the medicine altogether.

2) ACV Spray :

Any of you use ACV on your bunny’s fur ? Does this help in controlling mites ? I hope it wont hurt their super sensitive skin.

 

[Avantika]

 

This is the medicine I am talking about. 2.5 ml is the only one that is imported here. No other version for puppies/cats/kitten is available here ; no smaller dosages. 

[Roberta]

Ivermectin will fix the little buggers without harm to your bunny. It is basically the iv version of Revolution/selamectin. Advantage topical treatment is also suitable.

[Roberta]

Do not use a dog product unless you know how to measure the dose, the solution strength is very different. Get the ivermectin treatment, your vet is right in suggesting it.

[Avantika]

Yes, the strength is too high. I am not too keen on using it either.

Roberta, are you sure Ivermectin will help it ? I will be more than happy if it works since its the easiest. These are cat fleas, not the rabbit fur/ear mites. I just want to confirm once again.

[Roberta]

I am positive the ivermectin is safe. It is a standard treatment for mites, fleas etc in bunnies. If you vet is bunny savvy it would be the first thing they recommended.

[Roberta]

Cat fleas are bunny fleas. They are the same creature. They do not differ. Chicken fleas can be a little different but ivermectin like selamectin will kill them too.

[Avantika]

I was worrying unnecessarily then 😐 Those who have written those articles should mention Ivermectin too. The only three medicines they say are effective against cat fleas are Lufenuron, Selamectin and Imidacloprid. I know Ivermectin is bunny-safe ; she has taken it before 2-3 times.

I am actually quite relieved I will take her this week itself for her ivermectin shot. Will let you know if it works. Either ways it wont harm her.

Thank you Roberta

[Avantika]

I just hope the flea is not Ctenocephalides felis. That generally is the cat flea. There are mixed opinion on whether or not its effective against them.

[Roberta]

It will get them, believe me.
The reason they don’t mention ivermectin is because it can only be administered by a vet.

[Avantika]

You have the most number of bunnies out of all of us on BinkyBunny ; I would believe you

I will take her soon to the vet.

[Author]

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