[Gpdd] health: Ivermectin

[Amy Lovekin]

For whatever reason, Ivermectin treatments for guinea pigs do tend to 
be expensive unless your particular vet is wiling to work with you. 
I, too, had to fork over $50 per visit per pig for three visits when 
I was getting mine treated.  I don't know why that is when it is 
available in large quantities for horses, but maybe it has to do with 
the time and "labor" costs, or whatever.  Sometimes the vet will 
administer the initial dose and then send you home with the 
subsequent doses, but I've found this to be the case only after they 
have worked with you before and are confident of your ability to 
carry out the instructions.  So don't think your vet is overcharging 
you, because in spite of how expensive it is, that's fairly standard 
pricing, from what I've heard.

Alternatively, there is a highly stinky treatment that you can apply 
called a sulpher dip.  I got mine from the vet, but I'll wager you 
can find it elsewhere.  Fortunately I haven't had to use it yet, but 
apparently it's pretty effective.  VERY smelly, from what I've heard, 
and stains everything it comes into contact with (including the pigs 
for a couple of weeks), but effective nonetheless.  Maybe not an 
appealing idea if you have a large herd, but if it's a lot less 
expensive it might be worth a try.

Whatever you decide on, it's worth the effort of treating everybody 
so that you don't risk re-infestation.

Good luck!

Amy