Canadian Ivermectin?

[Nani]

I'm a bit confused, is Ivermectin the brand,, or the medication itself?
I've searched high and low for ivermectin in Canada and I didn't find it, not even online. However, I visited a bird supply shop and they had IVOMEC. Which the owner said to apply one drop on the back of the neck, and he said it was for internal worms.
I am going to buy it tomorrow, but is IVOMEC the brand/manufacturer and ivermectin the ingredient?

Also, since I have 33 budgies, I'll apply one dose each, but do I need to separate them in individual cages so they don't preen each other? Is it toxic if they ingest from preening? Can I apply it to water instead? I'm a bit nervous about applying it, is there an online video? The guy showed me how, but I just am a tiiiiiiiny bit nervous about using a needle.
Thanks in advance

[Nani]

Oh yeah, he also said to reapply after one month, but I've read that breeders/owners apply every 6 months...that also confuses me.

[stace]

Check to see what the percentage/dilution is on the bottle. 0.1% is the correct dose for small birds. This same type of medication is used for other larger animals as well, from dogs to cattle. The bigger animals use higher concentrations.

[Nani]

it's 0.1%
why would he say to apply after one month? It also says that online ..that "it's effective for 28 days"
so is it the same thing?

[Hezz]

It is the same thing, Nani. 0.1% is the concentration for small birds, Ivomectin/Ivomec - brand names of the same thing. It may also be a locality confusion too. I do know that here in Australia it is called both Ivomec (I think brand name) and Ivomectin (ingredient) but the 0.1% is the important thing to get right.

General rule of thumb is: for active infection, ie scaly face - one drop on the back of the neck (on the skin) once a week for three weeks, with cages and perches etc cleaned and disinfected; or as a preventative - one drop on the back of the neck every 6 months.

Also it isn't only internal parasites, but external as well. So covers scaly face, air-sac mites, feather mites and all the intestinal parasites that your birds may be subjected to.

NO! You cannot dilute it in water! I can't think off-hand what the base ingredient is, but it is something that isn't water-soluble.

Why do you need a needle? Doesn't the bottle come with a dropper? If you have someone to help it would be easier to part the feathers on their neck and another apply the drop - the important thing is for the drop to go onto their skin, not feathers. From what others using it have mentioned, no, just keep track of which birds have been done and they can all go back in together at the end

[Rachael Kellett]

If your budgies have signs of mites then yes you need to dose them again after the first dosage.The Ivermectin I get says one drop between the shoulder blades then repeat a week later then again a week after that. However budgies should be treated as a preventative oncee every six months and I just give them the one dose, I just pick them up one by one, treat, then move onto the next. You don't need to separate them after, I never have, and no it wouldn't be as effective in the water because budgies don't drink a lot of water so you couldn't be sure they were getting enough. Plus I've never heard of it being put in the water so I don't know what would happen anyway.

[Nani]

Jun 23, 2012 9:53:39 GMT Hezz said:

Why do you need a needle? Doesn't the bottle come with a dropper? /quote]

The product itself is not in a bottle, but in an injection needle where the cap is removed when in use. He demonstrated to draw out one drop and to apply that. And he kept it in the fridge. Does it expire?

If it was in a dropper I would feel more at ease. I'll buy this one for now, but I'm going to try and order one from the States with a dropper.

Thanks everyone

[Hezz]

Oh, I see. Can you remove the needle? If the vet said keep in the fridge, I would be doing that. Sounds as though the vet has drawn of some for you from a larger supply they have. I guess you don't have any ingredient list or manufacturer's instructions either? Just what the vet has written up for you?

Even if your next lot doesn't come with a dropper, you can get them cheaply and rinse out after each time. Hope it all goes well, Nani, and this will be the end of your dramas.

[Nani]

Thanks Hezz.
Aww man o man...I can't use the Ivomec I bought.
I didn't see a vet..I asked the owner of the bird supply store if he had ivermectin. He said he did, he asked me what bird I had and I told him I had budgies.
He gave me 1 clean out of the package syringe and filled 5ml of ivermectin of it. He said to part the feathers on the back of the head and drop one tiny drop onto it.
He said that this week Ivermectin was pretty popular as he had sold 8 of them to bird owners.
He did not give me the bottle itself--that was priced at over $120 for the 250ML bottle. He said that 5ML of Ivomec is more than enough for 30+ budgies as only one drop would be enough...then he gave me instructions etc etc.
When I asked him if it was 0.1% he said yes that it was for birds. Because he didn't sell the box/bottle he didn't give me the box-just a cut out of one part of the box that had the name and basic cautionary information. Once home, I tried finding where it said it was 0.1% and it doesn't say!! In fact, it says it's for "cattle, swine, and sheep" and online it is listed as having 1%. Now 1% and 0.1% are completely different dosages!! I have NOT applied it on any of the budgies and will not unless I receive information stating ONE drop will be fine. I highly doubt it though..I won't risk them like that.
Side note: When I asked for Guardian Angel he didn't even know what that was. I asked about Baytril, he informed me that Baytril in Canada is illegal and provided me with:
1. Ornacyn-Plus: respiratory diseases, diahhrea, and vitamin deficiences
2. Ornabac:food nutrient supplement/probiotic.

I will head down to the states this upcoming weekend and buy IVOMEC-PLUS for BIRDS, but in the meantime should I give Pitufo the Ornacyn-Plus and the probiotic?
He is more active and his poops have gone back to normal, but I really want to supply him with something that will boost him back up, until I get the IVOMEC.
I will search under every rock in the States in order to get my hands on IVOMEC-PLUS for birds..grr. This is almost like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE..geez!
Thoughts? Always welcome!

[stace]

Hi Nani. From what you have said, it sounds like Ivermectin is probably only available in Canada through a vet. This is the same situation as in Australia - prescription only. We can't buy it online either.

In the UK it is an over-the-counter medication. This is likely why you are having trouble getting it, and why the bird guy has given you the sheep/cattle dip (also with the same active ingredient). The dip can probably be bought in bulk at a farm and produce store.

I don't know what the status of ivermectin is in the US.

[Nani]

Ahh over-the-counter-medication!! No wonder I'm going bonkers here trying to find it.
I've seen Ivermectin being sold online in the US. Hopefully I will be able to find it in a bird supply store.
Wish me luck!

So should I administer the other 2 things I bought for Pitufo then?

[Hezz]

A probiotic isn't going to cause him any harm, Nani, and may do him some good, if his little digestive system is wonky.

We have a few US members who may be able to answer that question for you. Someone who usually checks in most days is Budgiefriend. Why don't you send her a PM as to whether ivermectin is available in pet-supply stores? Guardian Angel too.

I would be doing the same thing and erring on the side of caution - if there is any doubt, don't use it. Let us know how you get on, interesting that you are having the same probs as we have. Have you tried ordering them on-line? Just wondering about the likelihood of imports/customs knocking it back.

[Hezz]

How are you getting on with your search, Nani?? Any luck? Let us know what you find, please.

[Nani]

Jun 29, 2012 1:22:56 GMT Hezz said:

How are you getting on with your search, Nani?? Any luck? Let us know what you find, please.

Hi Hezz,

Yes I did, thanks to you and Budgiefriend. Thank you very much for suggesting I contact her, and thanks to her for providing some very useful websites!

I can rest easy now, as the order has been put in and should arrive soon. Pitufo is doing much better with the temporary probiotic I am giving him.

If there is anything I can ever do for you and Budgiefriend, please don't hesitate to let me know.

I will supply more pics of my other budgies soon-I have over 1000 pics and probably won't post them all lol.

Thanks again

[Hezz]

Oh, I think over 1000 pics would be bit much even for us!!!! Maybe let us into the secrets in small doses, lol. ;D

Glad we could be of help - I am sure BF feels the same. Hope Pitufo continues to improve, and the rest stay healthy. Fingers and feathers crossed!