Ivermectin Oral Dosing Guidelines
Author's note: Please be sure to read the Guinea Pig Dose Guidelines. This information is not designed to take the place of veterinary care. Using a veterinarian will ensure that this product should be used and is properly administered. Incorrect use can result in fatalities.
The following chart will offer guidelines for determining an appropriate oral dose for your guinea pig to treat mange mites. Follow any precautions on the label, don't smoke or eat when handling product and keep it at room temperature in a dark place. Dilutions using propylene glycol can be used at a later date. Check the expiration date on the container to determine the shelf life of any product you are using. If diluting ivermectin products with water, discard after use. A dilution using vegetable oil is probably best discarded also.
All doses must be repeated in 7 to 10 days at least once. Ivermectin can be administered to pregnant guinea pigs but is best NOT administered to the young until they are at least 340 grams in weight (12 ounces). Ivermectin can probably be safely used on lactating mothers (see discussion).
Remember that it is possible to overdose guinea pigs with ivermectin.
Weigh your pig and convert to grams if using a pound scale.
2.2 pounds = 1 kilo = 1000 grams
For example:
- A twelve ounce pig = 340 grams
- A one pound pig = 454 grams
- A two pound pig = 909 grams
- A three pound pig = 1364 grams
See Weight Conversion Chart if you need assistance.
Ivomec Injection Solution. Ivomec Injection (10 mg/ml) can be diluted with 9 parts propylene glycol or with a vegetable oil like canola.
Thoroughly mix 9 ml propylene glycol or vegetable oil with 1 ml of injectable ivermectin. Guinea pig owners report that propylene glycol mixes better. This mix will treat 50 kilos (110 pounds) of guinea pigs. Once diluted, the concentration is 1 mg/ml. The dose is administered orally (by mouth) using a small 1 cc needleless syringe (pictured below). These small, commonly available syringes are about 3 1/2" (9 cm) long and can usually be obtained from your vet. The dose will be a very small amount, a few drops.( Note: one ml = one cc)
1.0cc Ivomec Injection + 9.0cc propylene glycol YIELDS 1mg/ml Ivermectin Solution
Oral Dosage: 0.2mg ivermectin/kg
0.2 ml of this solution will contain 0.2 mg ivermectin.
ORAL DOSE Using Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 350 gram guinea pig: 0.07 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 400 gram guinea pig: 0.08 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 500 gram guinea pig: 0.10 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 600 gram guinea pig: 0.12 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 700 gram guinea pig: 0.14 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 800 gram guinea pig: 0.16 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 900 gram guinea pig: 0.18 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1000 gram guinea pig: 0.20 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1100 gram guinea pig: 0.22 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1200 gram guinea pig: 0.24 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1300 gram guinea pig: 0.26 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1400 gram guinea pig: 0.28 cc Diluted Ivermectin
- For a 1500 gram guinea pig: 0.30 cc Diluted Ivermectin
PRINTABLE ORAL Treatment Page with Chart
HORSE PASTE
The use of ivermectin horse paste to treat guinea pigs for mites is no longer recommended due to the difficulty of diluting properly and the wide availability of reasonably priced generic pour-on ivermectin. Dosing is much simpler using a pour-on rather than an oral treatment.
Ivermectin products (see photos above) can generally be found at local feed stores or online.
Keep in mind, the above is intended to put ivermectin dosing into perspective. Calculations using the horse paste are not completely accurate and there may be other errors.
WARNING Sufficient information is provided the reader to enable him/her to determine the dose independently.
If you do not understand how the dose is calculated or have any questions, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DOSE YOUR PIG.
It is wise to have someone else check your calculations. You are still advised to SEE A VET.