From: lsuc!uunet!fergvax.unl.edu!kenyon (Paul Kenyon)
 
In Issue number: 109
> Are products safe for cats safe for ferrets?  Can you use dog products
> on ferrets?  Can I just coat the ferret in 20 Mule Team Borax? :-)
 
> Nick Simicich - uunet!bywater!scifi!njs - [log in to unmask] - SSI #AOWI 3958

Response:

No, no, no!  Do not use dog flea products on ferrets!  We had one of our
ferrets have a severe allergic reaction to a dog flea shampoo; we had to
feed him raw egg yolk and milk with an eye dropper to keep him alive!
Our other ferret had no reaction to the same shampoo so I don't think
it will affect all ferrets but I wouldn't take any chances.
 
I don't know whether cat flea products would have the same effect, but
it was recommended to me that if I had another problem with fleas that
I use an organic product called "Dr. Dogkatz's Guaranteed Critter Chaser"
-- seriously!  We haven't tried it yet, so cannot guarantee it works.  I
would, however, hesitate to use any product not tested for use on ferrets.
 
On another note, the mention of use of cedar bedding for ferrets:  I have
heard that cedar chips can cause respiratory problems in ferrets if
used long-term.  I think I remember reading that in one of our ferret
manuals.  Anyway, that's what I recall.
 
[I remembered that too, but accidentally bought a package.
The cedar stuff isn't nearly as absorbant as the other type,
gets tracked around a lot, and is a REAL mess to clean up.]
 
-Diane (and Paul) Kenyon
([log in to unmask])
                                                                          
[Posted in FML 0110]