Not getting better on Revolution

[SarahH]

I took Sprinkles to the vet for a wellness checkup 9 days ago, and also because I suspected mites. She was given Revolution, but then 3 days later we were back because she suddenly popped an eye infection, along with some awful sores all around her eye and ear. Both times her skin scrape was negative for mites, but we are continuing with the Revolution regardless. She is now also on a course of antibiotics (Baytril), plus eye drops, probiotics, and ointment for the sores.

My question is: she seems to be getting worse for the mites, has anyone else had them get worse during treatment with Revolution? Her eye infection has cleared up, the diarrhea she had when we brought her home (not quite 3 weeks ago now) is finally gone, but she is itching like crazy and the sores are spreading, and now she's losing quills and hair. The vet mentioned that she'd seen this before, and said she usually felt the next step was Ivermectin, even though she's aware of the risks (but qualified that by saying she's used it successfully for years, and never had a hedgie have a bad reaction; she tries Revolution first because it's safer). She moved up the dosing schedule from every 10 days to 7, to see if that would help.

Is there a second treatment option available besides Ivermectin? Because I don't want to use it at all! Will more than one course of Revolution do the trick if we give it more time?

Oh, and Sprinkles was kept in aspen bedding at the pet store, but I've since switched her over to fleece liners and a fleece sleep sack, which I'm washing daily. There is no wood in her cage

[Melanie G.]

Did they test her for anything else? I had a hedgehog with similar symptoms (sores and losing quills) and it was actually ringworm. If she hasn't been tested for other infections I would recommend having that done.
Poor Sprinkles. If they tested her for mites and it came back negative, I might hold back on treating her with more Revolution.

[Draenog]

Let them test her for other skin issues, it could be something like fungus, ringworm, etc. Not only mites cause quill loss so it could be something else.

[SarahH]

Originally Posted by Melanie G.

Did they test her for anything else? I had a hedgehog with similar symptoms (sores and losing quills) and it was actually ringworm. If she hasn't been tested for other infections I would recommend having that done.
Poor Sprinkles. If they tested her for mites and it came back negative, I might hold back on treating her with more Revolution.

Oh dear. Ringworm, huh? That won't be fun, if that's what it is... Because I know that is transmissible to people, having had a cat with it once.

Thanks for the advice, I'll get her back in to the vet and tested for other skin conditions!

[Melanie G.]

Keep us updated!