Forgot to mention: Pyrethrins and pyrethroids are extremely toxic to
fish and other aquatic animals.  And for humans with allergies/asthma,
pyrethrins would probably be worse than synthetic pyrethroids since
they're made from crysanthemums.
 
A good website to check out is www.pesticideinfo.org or go to the
manufacturers label.  The labels for Suspend and Demon both say to remove
people and pets when spraying and do not let pets out until the chemical
is dry.  Demon contains cypermethrin, a more toxic pyrethroid than
deltamethrin (thus the name!!!), and it is used for roaches and termites.
Deltamethrin is used for a wide variety of insects, including but not
limited to bedbugs, fleas, roaches, ants [but not termites].  Delta dust
can also be used for these insects.  The only way to know what your
exterminator is using is to ask; whether or not he is using it properly,
you'll never know, that's why it's better to be extra cautious with
ferrets.
 
Luckily, I saved the Research survey on ferret toxicology that Sukie
referred to because my printer was in the shop, or I would've printed
it.  The most relevant details are below:
 
The mustelid exposures identified in the NAPCC database that were
confirmed to have resulted in death are summarised in Table 1.  Most of
these fatal exposures were to pet ferrets, with the balance involving
ranch mink.  More than 50% of the fatal mustelid exposures identified
in the clinical veterinary toxicology databases involved pyrethrin or
pyrethroid insecticides applied dermally to pet ferrets or to the
animals.  environment, for controlling fleas or other insect pests.
Although doses could not be determined, in most cases the use of the
agent was appropriate, indicating that ferrets may be highly sensitive to
this class of insecticides.  Clinical signs included diarrhoea, weakness,
neurological signs ranging from ataxia and mild tremors to seizures,
renal failure, and death.
 
  Insecticide       Ferrets       Application        Adverse Effects
 
 
Note: I don't know anything about tetramethrin, resmethrin or phenothrin,
but it was in the middle of the ones I did research.
 
To the person who asked about spraying for roaches: I would skip it and
just use those Combat disks (unless you have a really major infestation).
Stick them up in places the ferrets can't get to.  I don't think they
could harm them but they might play with them.  When I saw a few roaches
a couple of years ago, I put some up behind my bathtub and eventually a
couple fell down but Rocky didn't bother with them.  He might have if
he were a kit, though, and who knows what other ferrets would do.  I'm
referring to the small disks.  I didn't have to use the big ones because
Rocky eats the occasional big guys that come out of the drain pipe;
nothing wakes him up faster.  Yummm... crunchy!
 
Believe me, I wouldn't have sprayed for bedbugs if there were some other
method or they weren't driving me crazy.  The only good things about them
is unlike mosquitos, they don't spread disease; unlike fleas, they won't
bother your ferrets as long as you're around; and unlike roaches, they're
very slow, especially after a big meal LOL.  I have quite a few in my
specimen jar, caught alive.
 
To people who live in the South: A friend told me they use a gel there;
I'd be even more afraid of that with ferrets than sprays, which do dry.
But I have no information on that.  I think Demon comes in a gel form.
 
My last word of advice is to take care of a pest problem as soon as you
see even one or two.  If you don't know what it is, go to an entomology
website or www.doityourselfpestcontrol.com to identify the insect and
decide whether you need to get rid of it.  [I personally don't kill any
living creature unless it is harmful.] If it is harmful, don't wait:
The more you have, the more pesticide, worry, hassle and expense you
will have.
 
Sharon "The world's most overprotective ferret mother"
 & Rocky "The world's most spoiled ferret"
[Posted in FML issue 5247]