[Gpdd] Health: Dunya's skin

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

For Ivermectin, 7 to 10 days apart for a course of 2 or 3 times, is the 
recommended frequency for Ivermectin when given for mites, I wouldn't give 
it any closer without a vet recommendation as it is literally a poison and 
stays in the body for awhile.

For a probiotic I recommend the Health Food Store or the Health Food Section 
of the Supermarket, they have a refrigerator case, and keep the best 
probiotic selections in there. Pick one with as many different types of 
bacteria in it as you can get. Yogurt, and I think, Benebac, only have 
acidophilus which is a milk or milk sugar digester so not that useful for 
piggies. Some premium yogurts have several kinds of bacteria listed on the 
side or top. Make sure if you insist on yogurt, that you get a plain or non 
sugar kind as sugar itself promotes the growth of yeast and bad bacteria, 
that's why a good probiotic is so much better. Also use non fat or at least 
low fat as piggies dont eat fat either as suggestions if you still prefer 
yogurt. Make sure the cultures it has in it are listed on the side and that 
the label says "contains live cultures"  not just "made with" which 
indicates that the cultures aren't live, dead ones dont work their magic. 
Lastly with yogurts and probiotics both look for their expiration date and 
note that they decline rapidly once opened. They are best kept  refrigerated 
either opened or not.

If a piggy is taking antibiotics he has to be given probiotics on an 
opposite schedule from his medication, i.e. if antibiotics are given at 6 am 
and 6 pm then probiotics should be given at least at 12 midnight and noon. 
Also give a dose before a force feeding or when any food is given as the 
antibiotics continually renewed themselves, will continuously kill off the 
probiotics and natural gut flora.  Just try to think of it as another food 
so the giving of probiotics doesn't seem oppressive with all the other 
treatments you have to do.
Good luck  and healing wheeks to all you ill piggies. Sandy and Sammy