Rabbit & Rodent - Permethrin

Why has my veterinary surgeon prescribed this medicine?

Permethrin is an antiparasitic agent prescribed by your veterinary surgeon for control of fleas, ticks, lice, and blowfly larvae (fly strike) on rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters, chinchillas, and mice.

It is very important to keep your pet's environment dry and clean to prevent parasites. Parasites prefer to live in humid conditions. Flies laying their eggs in wet or sore areas around the animal's anus cause fly strike. Your pet's housing should be kept free of faeces and urine. Your pet should be fed the correct diet. Check your animal regularly to make sure it does not have diarrhoea and faecal soiling or sores around its bottom.

How does this medicine work?

Permethrin exerts its action on the sodium channels of parasite nerve axons, thereby causing initial excitement and then paralysis.

How do I give this medication?

• Apply this medication to your pet as directed by your veterinary surgeon. READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY.
• DO NOT apply more medication than directed and DO NOT apply more often than directed.
• Weigh your pet before applying the medication and give the correct dose for the animal's weight.
• Have a reminder system in place to indicate when the next dose should be applied. Apply every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the degree of risk.
• Wash your hands after applying this medication. Wear latex gloves if you are applying this medication to a lot of animals at one time.
• Do not touch the area of application on the animal until 3 to 6 hours after treatment. Treated animals should not be allowed to sleep with people, especially children.
• In case of accidental ingestion, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or label to the physician.

What if I miss giving a dose?

Apply the dose as soon as possible. Do not apply two doses at once.

How do I store and dispose of this medicine?

Keep this medicine out of reach of children. Store this medicine in a cool, dry place at less than 25°C. Store away from heat, open flame and direct sunlight. Do not store this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink or in damp places. The medicine may break down if exposed to heat or moisture. Wrap empty packaging and dispose of in your household waste.

Potential side effects

• DO NOT use this medication on CATS or FERRETS. Make sure that cats do not lick the application area on a treated animal. If this occurs, contact your veterinary surgeon.
• Although a drug has possible side effects, it does not mean that there is necessarily a high risk of any of these occurring. Tell your veterinary surgeon if you think your pet is pregnant or nursing young. Tell your veterinary surgeon if your pet is less than 16 weeks of age. Observe your pet for 15 to 30 minutes after applying the medication. If you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinary surgeon.
• Occasionally irritation may develop at the site of administration. Wash the area with a mild shampoo in cool water and do not re-apply the medication to animals that react this way.
• Rarely severe skin lesions including redness, sores, and fur loss may occur in some animals, consult your veterinary surgeon for advice.
• Contact your veterinary surgeon if the following symptoms are noted in small rodents: incoordination or tremors.

Possible drug interactions

• Make sure to tell your veterinary surgeon what other medication you are giving to your pet.
• There are no known drug interactions, however, certain medications may interact with insecticides.
• Contact your veterinary surgeon if your pet experiences any unusual reactions when different medications are given together.