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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A need help urgently…CHEYLETIELLOSIS

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    • Bahar
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         my bun Hami (3 years) has been experiencing fur loss and a dandruff kind of thing on those bald spots for quite a long time…  i have consulted the vet and have given Hami oral ivermectin as prescribed by the vet but it didn’t work. the bald spot has increased a lot and the skin in the bald spots is thicker than the rest of his skin.i finally got to know that Hami’s condition is called CHEYLETIELLOSIS. i searched a lot on the internet but got no cure for Hami’s condition other than ivermectin injection. i talked to the vet and after many requests he finally came to my home to see Hami today (i couldn’t take Hami to him as i myself am very sick). so he said that the dandruff was nothing to worry about and he insisted to get rid of my bunnies and get a dog instead. i was pissed but still insisted him to take a look at Hami. he said that Hami needs ivermectine injection. while injecting the vet couldn’t find the correct spot to inject and took atleast 3 attempts ( he inserted the syringe and took it out saying this is not the corect spot or the skin is too thick here… blah blah) while Hami was jumping in pain and fear. when finally he started pushing the medicine through the syringe, Hami escaped while having the syringe inside of him,he was terrified and was thumping. i started crying and the vet was saing not to worry as he was there.

        the vet has told me that Hami has to get two more shots of ivermectine( 1\2 ml ) after an interval of one week each ,and also i have to give hami oral ivermectine (2.5 mg) every 3 day for a month or so… i have learned that ivermectine should not be given frequently.what should i do…??

        also i think Hami is too traumatized and it makes me horrified and upset. the way the vet gave the injection… will that harm my baby??plz suggest what should i do.and also i dont want the idiot vet to give the shots anymore… can i inject him??? i know i sound silly but i just want to protect my bun…   


      • Muchelle
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          Are you sure that vet is an expert in exotic pets? Giving subcutaneous injections to rabbits is relatively easy, it sound suspicious that a trained professional couldn’t do it… Since you have doubts PLEASE look for another vet to give you a second opinion as soon as possible.

          (Also that comment about getting rid of him to get a dog would make me automatically look for another veterinary, to be honest)


        • Bahar
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            i want to beat the hell out of him to be honest for saying those horrible things,but where i live ( india) there is no other good vet… and exotic vet is out of the question here… what do i do…


          • Muchelle
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              I am obviously not a vet, so I don’t really know. I have found this thread online: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/507559/ivermectin-for-rabbits

              Anyways, I would advice you to search better. I am sure there is someone that can give another opinion (I mean, you do eat rabbit in india, right? Someone must be breeding them and having veterinary care, right?)

              About the injections, if you decide to inject him yourself, you need a new syringe for every injection because the skin is thick and it will wear down the needle instantly.
              The spot is the loose skin between the shoulder blades, pinch it gently, aim the needle parallel to the rabbit’s back and stab the skin with some force (or the needle will bounce back). When the needle is in, pull backwards the injector. If it fills with air you’re in the right spot. Inject and massage lightly. If you do it right, the rabbit won’t feel a thing, it will be more startled than anything. I prefer to use insulin syringes because they’re small and quick to handle in case the rabbit is not willing to cohoperate.


            • Bahar
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                no we dont eat rabbit here atleast i haven’t met anyone who eats rabbits here.i have been searching for a good vet…but found none… i am really scared about giving the injection myself but also i dnt wnt my Hami to suffer again….
                here in india specially where i live we have good vets for cats , dogs cows goats but not for rabbits or aquatic animals…


              • Muchelle
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                  since it is mites, you might try to use a flea comb to help take out the eggs and adults still on Hami’s fur. Do it somewhere enclosed (so that those bugs don’t go around your home). Be careful in case the mites can attach to humans, that would be a bad experience… Also make sure to desenfect throughly his cage and everywhere he might go in case he’s allowed to roam around the house, especially fabrics (rugs, blankets, etc etc). There should be sprays for sale that are for killing fleas and mites while cleaning…

                  To protect my bun from mites and fleas I use Advantage for kittens (imidacloprid) once a month from spring to the end of summer, but I wouldn’t know if that is useful also when the mites already are on the animal.


                • Bahar
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                    these things are different Muchelle. i am not sur though… i can not ee any mite… its just dandruff.. its a skin condition ( i have known this from reading loads of articles on he internet) can i still use the flea comb? and can i buy advantage from Amazone?? very limited stuffs are available in india actually


                  • Muchelle
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                      if it is cheyetiellosis, it’s caused by mites… again, not an expert, I went through wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheyletiella

                      You can buy it from amazon, but I have no idea how it may interact with the medicine Hami is already taking


                    • Bam
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                        Dear Bahar!
                        I’m sorry about your vet. Cheytelliosis is NOT very worrisome. It is cured very effectively with Ivermectin. (Do NOT under any circumstance use Fipronil, it kills rabbits).
                        My bunny Bam had cheyletielliosis when I found him. It is VERY common in bunnies. Buns often get the mites from their mum and then they live on the bunny and can start to multiply if the bun gets sick or stressed out.
                        So, now I’ll read your thread more carefully, just want to write this now so you hopefully can feel less worried.


                      • Bam
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                          Ok. Advantage won’t kill cheyletiella mites. Ivermectin will but best of all is selamectin. It’s a spot-on preparation. You might be able to get it from Amazon, but I’m not sure. It’s called Revolution or Stronghokd, depending on the country it’s sold in.
                          Ivermectin is the next best thing though. You have gotten excellent instructions on how to do a sub q injection from Muchelle. But you need to carefully calculate the dosage and use clean needles.
                          You can comb out as much of the dandruff as you can, the mites can’t be seen but they are there. As the ivermectin works, the dandruff will come off easier. If Hami’s skin is rough even after treatment you can use a fat cream on his skin, but it is the mites that cause the skin to become thick, and most of that should flake off after treatment. It did with Bam.
                          I have never heard about oral ivermectin being given at the same time as injections, but if the infestation is bad, that might be needed. But I’ll try to check up on that.
                          Your vet seems a bit clumsy but hopefully Hami just got scared. Give him a yummy treat and some extra love and hopefully he’ll be alright.
                          I’m repeating the warning about Fipronil: It kills mites but it also kills the bunny. It’s sold under the names Frontline and Effipro and Sentry and several other. Do NOT use.


                        • Bahar
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                            hami is not eating much and is not using one of his hands at all… he can now even walk properly … plz help… i called the vet and he is saying that he is busy…


                          • vanessa
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                              Try some of Hami’s favorite veggies? Could you describe the limb problem some more? Is Hami walking with a limp, or dragging a leg? Did the vet maybe hurt a leg while mishandling your bunny?


                            • Bahar
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                                i think that the vet mishandled my baby. he is lifting one of his front paws and limping.plz suggest what should i do…


                              • Bam
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                                  If Hami has a pulled muscle or tendon, he will need to rest for a couple of days – a week, and the most important thing is to get him to eat. Could your vet perhaps prescribe Meloxicam (a painkiller) for him? He could perhaps call a prescription in to a local pharmacy?

                                  Ivermectin injections + oral ivermectin can be used for cheytielliosis in bunnies, but the study I read found that injections + oral ivermectin was slightly less effective than ivermectin injections alone. They used a 10 day interval between injections. Here’s the study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235873/


                                • Bahar
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                                    i checked the link Bam. i want him to get rid of cheytielliosis but i dnt know about the injection anymore, Hami was copletely fine with it untill i called the vet and decided to treat him…i am feeling guilty for this…i just got meloxicam ( it was suggested by Avanika) she is really a friend to me in all this. can you please help me with the dosage?


                                  • Bam
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                                      Great that you have Meloxicam! Dosage for rabbits is higher than previously thought, my Yohio was prescribed 0,5 mg per kilo body weight last time he had tummy pain. But a dose up to 1,5 mg/ kilo body weight is safe.
                                      Please say hello to Avantika from me!


                                    • Bahar
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                                        of course..
                                        bam i think the vet has hit some of hami’s nerves and that’s the cause of the limp and pain… do u think he will be fine?? m dying in tension here. hami is under the bed and is not coming out, i crawled under the bed and petted him for quite a long time but i didn’t try to take him outside as he looks comfortable there. plz let me know what do u think…


                                      • Bam
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                                          Hopefully the meloxicam with help. Hopefully this is just an injury to a muscle or a tendon. Such an injury could cause swelling that put pressures on nerves. Meloxicam helps reduce swelling.


                                        • Bahar
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                                            what if its a nerve injury or something??? what do i do then? (sorry for being so impaitent, i am dead scared)


                                          • Bam
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                                              Please don’t be scared. A peripheral nerve injury is likely to heal because nerves can grow back, but it takes 3-6 months as a rule. You don’t do anything exept give meloxicam, because it’s an anti-inflammatory. If the injury were to the spine and spinal cord, you’d most likely see much more serious paralysis, not just pain in one arm.

                                              Again, making him eat is of the greatest importance now. He needs nutrients to heal. You can soak pellets in water and feed by syringe or make a puree of his normal food and some water.

                                              Keep a close eye. Pet his face and ears because they often enjoy that even when they aren’t feeling well.


                                            • Bahar
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                                                ok…


                                              • Bam
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                                                  I’m really sorry this happened. Hopefully this is just a sprain. Feed him and pet him, keep him warm and comfy. Has he pooped yet? I hope he has. The effect of meloxicam lasts for 12-24 hours. You can give it for several days in a row if you need to, but I hope you won’t need to.


                                                • Bahar
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                                                    OH BAM i am literally dancing… my baby is much better now.. he climbed up to my bed by himself for pets and also ate nd pooped… still i will be giving him another dose of metacam… and about the ivermectine… we have to think about that…anway he is fine now and that’s what atters the most….


                                                  • Muchelle
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                                                      yey!!! So glad he’s better <3 Give him some cuddles from us too!


                                                    • Bahar
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                                                        yes sure…. a big thankyou for helping… Hami is giving you guys nose rubs and kissessss..


                                                      • Bam
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                                                          SO happy to hear it, bahar!!! Give him nose-rubs and kisses from me!


                                                        • jerseygirl
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                                                            So glad he is doing better. Sorry you are having such trouble with this vet!

                                                            Posted By bahar on 7/25/2016 2:05 AM

                                                            i checked the link Bam. i want him to get rid of cheytielliosis but i dnt know about the injection anymore, Hami was copletely fine with it untill i called the vet and decided to treat him…i am feeling guilty for this…i just got meloxicam ( it was suggested by Avanika) she is really a friend to me in all this. can you please help me with the dosage?

                                                            Im really pleased to hear you are in contact with Avantika!! 


                                                          • Bahar
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                                                              thank you so muck jeresygirl… i was wondering if i should continue with the injections… or i should give him oral doses… he is so much happy and healthy now i dont want him to be sick again but i want to cure his skin problem… what should i do?


                                                            • Muchelle
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                                                                If you decided to go for only one kind of cure (injections OR oral dose), I think at this point it all depends on Hami’s personality…

                                                                for example, my rabbit gets very much less stressed with injections and hates oral treatments. I think that’s because it takes me a second to inject him while I have to hold him still and force feed him the medicine for the oral remedies. I also prefer to inject him because it’s less dangerous in my opinion.

                                                                You can only try to give him the oral medicine (or even plain water if you still haven’t bought it) and see how much stressed he gets. When you do, be very careful: the syringe (without needle) must be inserted behind his front teeth and aimed toward the cheek of the opposite direction. For example, if you insert the syringe from the right, aim it to the left cheek. Push the injector slowly to give him time to swallow. All of  this is so that you don’t risk to squeeze the stuff right in his throat: rabbits can’t throw up, so it would be very dangerous if he inhaled the liquid.

                                                                He might be still jumpy about them because of his last encounter with the vet, so if he gets agitated both with oral and injection, don’t worry. Have another person with you to keep him still and concentrate on the task. If you need help on how to keep Hami still, don’t hesitate to ask  

                                                                Whatever you decide to do, don’t be afraid! The more you hesitate, the worse it is for the both of you. Just think that you’re doing it to save him and be strong!


                                                              • Bahar
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                                                                  oh no… giving medicines to Hami orally is very easy for me.. i just mix his medicine with his favourite treat and he snatches the treat and eats it without knowing abiut the medicine…of cource i have to hide and mix the medicine with the treat as Hami runs away as fast as he can the sec he sees the medicine box…


                                                                • Muchelle
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                                                                    Hah, so glad you have it easy with him! My rabbit was *never* fooled by tampered food!


                                                                  • jerseygirl
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                                                                      Posted By bahar on 7/27/2016 11:53 AM

                                                                      thank you so muck jeresygirl… i was wondering if i should continue with the injections… or i should give him oral doses… he is so much happy and healthy now i dont want him to be sick again but i want to cure his skin problem… what should i do?

                                                                      I’m sorry, I missed what injections he is having. Is it Ivermectin? 


                                                                    • Bam
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                                                                        Jersey, it’s Ivermectin for cheyletiella mites. Hami had one injection that the vet made a mess of giving.

                                                                        Protocol is to treat three times with Ivermectin sub Q.

                                                                        Bahar, how does the infestation look? Has it gotten better? The repeat treatment is meant to kill the mites that are in a stage that the Ivermectin can’t reach to kill, ie the mites that hatch after the first injection. But you should see rather a big improvement only days after the first injection.


                                                                      • jerseygirl
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                                                                          Posted By bam on 7/29/2016 1:40 AM

                                                                          Jersey, it’s Ivermectin for cheyletiella mites. Hami had one injection that the vet made a mess of giving.

                                                                          Protocol is to treat three times with Ivermectin sub Q.

                                                                          Bahar, how does the infestation look? Has it gotten better? The repeat treatment is meant to kill the mites that are in a stage that the Ivermectin can’t reach to kill, ie the mites that hatch after the first injection. But you should see rather a big improvement only days after the first injection.

                                                                          Ok, thanks bam. And as you say, 3 doses. I think its 10-14 days apart?  @bahar, the subcutaneous injections will be more effective for treating mites then oral doses. 

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                                                                      Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A need help urgently…CHEYLETIELLOSIS