I think Bummy might have pin worms...

[Runestonez]

Today as I was cleaning out the hutch (Bummy left a huge poop for me) as I picked it up I noticed something whitish, about 1/2 inch long thin. It looks sort of like the pics of pin worms I looked up.

I have booked a vet appointment for all the bunns on Thursday morning. Has anyone had this problem with their bunns?? How did you go about sanitizingthe bunnshouses and treating them? I am assuming from what I read today that if one bunn has it they all probably have it right? Do I also have to treat all the cats too??:?

 

[pamnock]

Pinworms are very common in rabbits and can be rather difficult to eradicate. The rabbit pinworm, Passalurus ambiguus,is species specific and cannot be spread to humans or other pets.

The vet can place a piece of tape on the rabbit's rectum to pick up some eggs for accurate diagnosis or take the worm itself in.

See here for more info:

http://netvet.wustl.edu/species/rabbits/rabparas.txt

http://www.radil.missouri.edu/info/dora/RABBPAGE/par.htm





Pam

 

[Runestonez]

Thanks Pam...I checked out the pics and it is def a pin worm. Well crap! OK so off we go to start treatments! At least they aren't transmittable to cats or humans!

Can they be erradicated totally?? I've seen sites that say yes and others that say you can never get rid of them??

 

[allison]

How do rabbits get pin worms? Do they get them from outside? Dusty loves romping in the backyard. Could he get pin worms from it?



I hope your bunny is back to normal soon.

 

[pamnock]

Many rabbits contract the pinworms at birth and generally don't show any signs of infestation.

Pam

 

[pamnock]

Runestonez wrote:

Can they be erradicated totally?? I've seen sites that say yes and others that say you can never get rid of them??

There is no worming medication that kills all the life stages of the pinworm. It will take perseverance and a regular worming program to completely eradicate the pinworms.

Pam

 

[missyscove]

Just a reminder, be sure to bring in a poo sample with you, with the worms in it, they'll want to see that to confirm.

 

[Runestonez]

I have poop but only 1 worm was visible. I will drag it with though! I hate when they look at you and ask if you're sure it was a worm.:? Uhm...yuppers!I also have all the info I can find on treatments etc...our vet likes to hear new things in rabbit treatment! I am now a walking encyclopaedia!

 

[HoneyPot]

My Charlie has had pinworms for months now. My vet gave him and Misty Ivermectic, one dose every 10 days for 3 treatments. I didn't see anything for weeks, and then 3 days after the last dose of the Ivermectin - worm again! This time worse than ever - crawling out his poor bum (I know that's gross, but I have been dealing with it for so long I am no longer phased).

So he is back on Ivermectic - another 3 treatments.

I've been cleaning his litter daily, sweeping up stray poops as best as I can. I use lysol wipes on his litter box and cage floor almost every day. I try to completely clean and disinfect his play area(my entire house!) with each treatment.

I would say this works - except I am still battling. It sucks.
Good luck :?

____________
Nadia

 

[pamnock]

Once a rabbit has been diagnosed with pinworms and given an initial treatment of Ivomec once a week for 3 weeks- I recommend continuing to dose once a month thereafter.

It is common to note pinworms in the droppings 3 days after dosing if the rabbit is heavily infected.

Pam

 

[HoneyPot]

pamnock wrote:

Once a rabbit has been diagnosed with pinworms and given an initial treatment of Ivomec once a week for 3 weeks- I recommend continuing to dose once a month thereafter.

It is common to note pinworms in the droppings 3 days after dosing if the rabbit is heavily infected.

Pam

Pam -

Once a month forever - or for some time frame?

The pinworms were still wiggly at the 3 days mark. I waited 2 weeks, and I was still seeing them, so I took back in a fecal sample - and lo and behold, he's still infected.

___________
Nadia

 

[pamnock]

I'd treat for a year and have him tested again at his regular check-up. Some rabbits are more susceptible than other and have a tendency to continue getting re-infected.

Pam

 

[Runestonez]

Well it's official...def pin worms.

So we decided to do Invermectin injections for all the bunns every 2weeks. Darn it are they expensive too! Todays visitwas $140...followed by another on Sept 7th for anotherdose!:shock: Ouch!

 

[HoneyPot]

It's no so bad - but the cost doesadd up yes. Is the injectable way more expensive than theoral??

I paid $18 for 3 doses of oral for Charlie and 3 doses for Misty.

Good luck - feel free to pm meif you have any questions oranything. I've been dealing with it for a while now.

________
Nadia

 

[pamnock]

Injectable Ivomec is $30 (enough to last a lifetime LOL) -- I've also given it orally.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=244dd067-521d-4fdb-8cec-8f4d16d5d636

Zimecterin (Ivermectin) paste is generally under $10 a tube.Enough to worm a 1200 pound horse, so it'll last a while. Igive a small smear for small rabbits. up to a pea-size amountfor larger rabbits.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2e87bed9-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5

Disclaimer: Some rabbits may exhibit a serious reaction to Ivermectrin.



Pam

 

[Runestonez]

I don't think our vet would trust me to doinjections on my own...I wish. They charge $17.50 per SQinjection per rabbit to be repeated every 2 weeks. So I'mnot sure how many more visits we'll have to do. There was a$50 exam fee included as well...but now that the bunns have all beenseen by the vet it should be cheaper next time($90) since a tech can dothe injections!

I was really happy with the weight of our bunns too! We havebeen trying to add weight to some and drop it on others.Their weights are: Skittles- 4 pounds, 15.5 ounces.Peppy- 4 pounds, 1.5 ounces. Solembum- 4pounds, 6.5 ounces. Dandelion- 4 pounds, 9.5ounces. Socks- 3 pounds, 4.5 ounces. Yay!

Can Invomec be purchased someplace other than the vet?? Itwould be cheaper. I would proabably do another round ofinjectables, but if we needed to do more I would switch to another lessexpensive form!

 

[pamnock]

Runestonez wrote:

Can Invomec be purchased someplace other than thevet?? It would be cheaper. I would proabably doanother round of injectables, but if we needed to do more I wouldswitch to another less expensive form!

Ivermectin is available OTC

I get most of my stuff from valleyvet.com (I posted links for you abovefor both the injectable and oral Ivermectin). You can givethe injectable orally.

Piperazine wormer is also commonly used for treating rabbits for pinworm

http://www.barnworld.com/sa/p/16oz_Piperazine_Wormer.htm

Pam

 

[Runestonez]

Duh!:headsmack Sorry Pam! Iposted before I checked the links! I have written to themto see if they ship to Canada! Thanx!

 

[Haley]

How are all the buns doing???? Any luck getting rid of those nasty worms??

I've been thinking about them and was wondering how they all are

 

[Snuggys Mom]

Runestonez wrote:

Can Invomec be purchased someplace other than thevet?? It would be cheaper. I would proabably doanother round of injectables, but if we needed to do more I wouldswitch to another less expensive form!

You can get it in the form of horse paste at TSC and some feedstores. I've used it to successfully treat pinworms in my dogand fur mites on two of my rabbits, but only after they'd been treatedwith it by the vet first.

As Pam said, reactions can be severe. I was told never to useon an animal with blue eyes or white feet (?), but I didn't get theexplanation behind it.