There are a number of meds (of any type) that are best avoided in
ferrets.  I was asked about Ibuprofen in ferrets.  Here are several past
posts on this.  Please, check and re-check before giving any meds to
avoid killing or causing permanent damage for a ferret.  Ibuprofen is not
the worst of the lot but it should be AVOIDED.  (BTW, also avoid any med
that is an anti-coagulant after surgery or injury and for a while before
surgery if possible, with certain rare exception like those involving
thromboses, clotting, etc.)
 
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG10768
Well thanks to a shelter mom who wishes to remain nameless I have the
information about Ibuprofen...
Here is the active link for the ASPCA site that has the info:
http://www.aspca.org/apcc/veccs_jan01.pdf
http://ae.inno-vet.com/articles/2000/0800/50.htm
 
It's always good to get info; hope to get the chance to read them fully
tomorrow but two things stuck out on preliminary reading: the comment
that "Ibuprofen is not used therapeutically in ferrets" which is what you
needed for your information-sharing with that vet, and that the cases in
which death occurred involved quite high doses -- more than a full caplet
if the 200 mg ones we have here are typical -- with the lowest dose that
caused death being 220 mg/kg.  1 kg is roughly equal to 2.2 pounds.  Of
course, a number of the non-death things that can happen sure don't sound
like fun (poor ferrets) so it's great that you are sharing that info with
the vet.  If a person thinks that he or she may have dropped a caplet get
those ferrets locked up and search -- or better, yet, swallow any of your
meds AWAY from ferrets -- with a closed door between you, and store them
safely!  There are ones worse than Ibuprofen for ferrets.
 
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG4389
August/September, 2000 - Volume 2.4
Managing Ferret Toxicoses by Jill A. Richardson, DVM, and
Rachel Balabuszko, CVT
http://www.napcc.aspca.org/exotic.htm (Expect to have to search since
their server is so-so.)
Copyright (c)  Exotic DVM, 2001. All rights reserved.
 
January - March, 2001 - Volume 11, Number 1
Ibuprofen Ingestion in Ferrets: 43 Cases, by Jill A.
Richardson, DVM; Rachel Balabuszko, CVT
http://www.napcc.aspca.org/veccs.htm  (Ditto on their server.)
Copyright (c) The Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical
Care, 2001. All rights reserved
 
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG4084
Actually Pheylpropanolamine (PPA) was the nasal
decongestion medication that was taking off the market
by the FDA. Sudafed (AKA pseudoepherine hydrochloride)
is the only one still on the market!
Please be careful if you give over the counter medications to your
ferrets.  A lot of the allergy medications have a nasal decongestion
medication (pseudoephedrine) and/or a head ache medication
(tylenol/actetaminophen or ibuprofen) in them.  Tylenol can be fatal to
ferrets (and cats)!  Please only use plain Benadryl without anything in
it (just plain diphenhydramine).  Chlor-trimeton is another
antihistamine, but again you want the one without anything else (just
plain chlorpheniramine) in it.  Yes, as Katherine pointed out some
ferrets will suffer from seasonal allergies (spring and fall) just like
people with allergies do.
 
Plain Benadryl can be used for ferrets with allergies.  Again make sure
it is just plain Benadryl and not a combination product.  Like wise if
you are giving Benadryl before vaccines, make sure it is the plain
benadryl.
 
Hope that clears up the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3922]