Okay, now i had more root canal work today, so decided to trust books
rather than memory and this time I'm near the texts  (Yet, i might wwell
miss something so others with texts are invited to quote as well).
Anyway, in relation to Helicobacter mustelae the Hillyer and Quesenberry
vet text says that "Bismuth compounds have action against pepsin ...
believed to be an important factor in the development of peptic ulcers",
and that "Bismuth interferes with the colonization of H. pylori in humans
and suppresses colonization of H.  mustelae in ferrets".
 
I believe that was the information you were seeking.
 
Some vets prefer to skip the most hated meds when there is ulceration to
avoid stress-related worsening.  Then they usually look at "bandages" such
as Carafate.  How a ferret reacts to Carafate is more individual than
Pepto.  A few ferrets don't really mind Pepto, but a larger number don't
really mind Carafate too much.
 
The combo that involves Pepto typically also has Amoxi and Flagyl.
[Posted in FML issue 3661]