Equimax safe to use for mange

[BobD]

Hi! I have a few friendly wild squirrels that have mange.. Today I went out and bought EquiMax at

http://www.tscstores.com/EQUIMAX-HORSE-DEWORMER-642G-P17951.aspx

(EQUIMAX HORSE DEWORMER - 6.42G
Equimax is indicated for the treatment of parasitic infections due to:

Large Strongyles, Small Strongyles, Intestinal Threadworms, Pinworms, Ascarids, Hairworms, Large-mouth Stomach Worms, Neck Threadworms, Bots & Tapeworms.)

Has ivermectin 1.87%/praziquantel 14.03%..

Precautions:
Equimax Paste has been formulated specifically for use in horses and ponies ONLY. This product should not be used in other animal species as severe adverse reactions, including fatalities in dogs, may result.

Is this safe to use on food for squirrels ? Everyone mentions Ivermectin but this one has praziquantel also.

I know the amount of paste I put on a pecan is the size of a uncooked grain of rice. Three doses each a week apart.

The ones that need the medication will be the only ones that get the medication.

Thanks for your help.
Bob

[astra]

Hi and welcome,

I have never heard of praziquantel used in squirrels.

Ivermectin is very toxic alone, that's why the dose should be as small as an uncooked rice grain.

praziquantel is at 14.3% which sounds like a lot to begin with.
Again, don't know if this substance even safe for squirrels, but even if it is, I am sure, it should be dosed differently.

Look for Panomec, Bimectin, Ivomec - they all have only ivermectin, and all of them have been used by people, including myself. So, I know they are safe.

If someone knows that this praziquantel is safe for squirrels and what the safe dosage is - that's different.

But if there is no such information - I would not use it, because most likely it will kill a small squirrel. Remember, these pastes are for large horses.

[Jackie in Tampa]

Praziquantel is safe for sqs, I have used it several times.
it's the other ingrediant I would worry about...
ivermectin is seriously dangerous if the slightest misdosing

and if it says that it has bad/adverse reaction when used with a dog, I WOULD NOT use it, but I am a chicken...
hoping someone can help but I am with astra if not..horses only:shakehead

[BobD]

Thank you Astra and Jackie . I will take this back to the store tomorrow and look for another brand with just Ivermectin.

Last thing I want to do is kill them.

Bob.

[astra]

Praziquantel is safe for sqs, I have used it several times.
it's the other ingrediant I would worry about...
ivermectin is seriously dangerous if the slightest misdosing

and if it says that it has bad/adverse reaction when used with a dog, I WOULD NOT use it, but I am a chicken...
hoping someone can help but I am with astra if not..horses only

:thankyou Jackie:grouphug

Thank you Astra and Jackie . I will take this back to the store tomorrow and look for another brand with just Ivermectin.

Last thing I want to do is kill them.

Bob. :thumbsup don't hesitate to post any other questions you may have

[Wonkawillie]

Not sure how anyone has ever come up with the " grain of rice" method of dosing horse ivermectin to a squirrel. I am a squirrel rehabber AND a horse owner. Very familiar with ivermectin paste dewormer. Yes, it will kill mange, but how did we come up with this dose? Ivermectin is a neurotoxin. it rids the body of paracites by making them unable to latch on to the host any longer. It has a very poor safety margin for error. I have seen young foals be overdosed just a little and they become so nuerological, that they wobble and can not stand. I would never gamble with a " grain of rice" for a correct dose on an animal so small.
Most ivermectin paste dewormers treat 1250 pounds of bodyweight. So if we assume a squirrel is about one pound ( which is a HUGE assumption ), then there should be 1250 of those grains of rice in one dewormer. When I dewrom horses, I squirt the tube on the food, so I know exactly how much goop is in one tube of dewormer. It is NOT a lot. Maybe 2 teaspoons? Not sure there would be 1250 grains of rice in 2 teaspoons of paste. maybe 500? So I would think a grain of rice would be 3 times too much for a squirrel.
I use injectable ivermectin, then I know exactly how much to dose. Oh it takes some major calculations, but the amount is so small. My vet dosed my breeder parrots ( Macaws-big) and they each got .01 cc of liquid. barely enough to dampen the end of thier tounge. Be carefull with paste dewormer. I think it is too hard to get a proper dose for a squirrel.

[quagmire]

Not sure how anyone has ever come up with the " grain of rice" method of dosing horse ivermectin to a squirrel. I am a squirrel rehabber AND a horse owner. Very familiar with ivermectin paste dewormer. Yes, it will kill mange, but how did we come up with this dose? Ivermectin is a neurotoxin. it rids the body of paracites by making them unable to latch on to the host any longer. It has a very poor safety margin for error. I have seen young foals be overdosed just a little and they become so nuerological, that they wobble and can not stand. I would never gamble with a " grain of rice" for a correct dose on an animal so small.
Most ivermectin paste dewormers treat 1250 pounds of bodyweight. So if we assume a squirrel is about one pound ( which is a HUGE assumption ), then there should be 1250 of those grains of rice in one dewormer. When I dewrom horses, I squirt the tube on the food, so I know exactly how much goop is in one tube of dewormer. It is NOT a lot. Maybe 2 teaspoons? Not sure there would be 1250 grains of rice in 2 teaspoons of paste. maybe 500? So I would think a grain of rice would be 3 times too much for a squirrel.
I use injectable ivermectin, then I know exactly how much to dose. Oh it takes some major calculations, but the amount is so small. My vet dosed my breeder parrots ( Macaws-big) and they each got .01 cc of liquid. barely enough to dampen the end of thier tounge. Be carefull with paste dewormer. I think it is too hard to get a proper dose for a squirrel.

I've always heard just a very SMALL drop, smaller than even grain of rice size and had luck with 2 wilds that had mange. Put the drop on a piece of apple and repeat that 2 days later, that was it. Both squirrels were cured. So I think the idea is best practice over an actual confirmed dosage amount. I'm sure others (rehabbers) can comment more. I am more of a first-aid rescuer type. I usually get an animal of some type, keep it stable and get it to someone who is better equipped for rehab and release.

[astra]

Not sure how anyone has ever come up with the " grain of rice" method of dosing horse ivermectin to a squirrel.
this 'method' has been around for quite some time.
Several people have used it successfully, and it's been suggested on the board by many people, multiple times, on multiple occasions for the past few years.

This is a solution for those who do not have access to vet care and liquid ivermectin.

If you feel this is wrong, then, a thread discussing this specific issue might be a good idea.