http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/1828

Hello everyone,

Since it is spring (at least here in the South) and the beginning of
bug season, I thought I would post about the flea, tick, and heartworm
products that are safe for ferrets.

FLEAS: There are several safe and effective flea products.

1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe and
effective against fleas. One tube of the cat size per ferret once a
month. With the spray version: 1 spray per pound of ferret (ie a 2
pound ferret gets 2 sprays) once a month. Frontline, Frontline Plus,
and Frontline spray also kills ticks.

2) Advantage is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the small
size cat per ferret once a month.

3) Revolution is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the cat
sized per ferret once a month. Revolution is also called Stronghold in
Europe. Revolution will also kill ticks, ear mites, prevent heartworms,
and deworms each month.

TICKS there are several safe and effective tick products.

1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe for tick
control. Again one tube of the cat size once a month. With the spray:
2 sprays per pound of ferret (ie a 2 pound ferret gets 4 sprays)

2) Revolution is safe and effective for ticks. Again one tube of the
cat size per ferret once a month.

3) Advantix is sort of safe for tick control on ferrets. Advantix
contains 2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and permethrin for
ticks.

Permethrin is absorbed thru the skin and into the blood stream.
Permethrin at high doses can cause problems to ferrets (and dogs and
especially cats). Frontline would be a safer option because it does
not get absorbed thru the skin. It stays on the oil layer on the skin.


HEARTWORMS: there are several options for heartworm prevention too.
Yes, ferrets can and do get heartworms, and heartworms are usually
fatal in ferrets.

1) Heartgard for cats, Heartgard Plus for small dogs, and liquid
ivermectin are all safe for heartworm prevention. One chewable tablet
once a month or liquid ivermectin orally once a month.

2) Interceptor (Milbemycin oxime) for small dogs (2-10 lbs). One tablet
once a month. These tablets are small enough to crush up and mix into
ferretone or baby food. They are beef flavored and some ferrets will
eat them. Interceptor should also deworm them each month and should
control ear mites too.

3) Revolution for cats (5-15 lbs). One tube per ferret once a month.
Revolution will prevent heartworms, kill fleas, ticks, ear mites, and
deworm each month.

4) Advantage Multi is the newest heartworm product. Advantage Multi
contains 2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and moxidectin for
heartworm prevention. Advantage Multi will also kill ear mites and
deworm each month. One tube of the kitten size (2-5lbs) once a month
is the recommended dose.

Advantage Multi is called Advantage Advocate in Europe.

Hope that helps clear up the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM
Dallas, Texas
---

Brought to the FML by FHL co-moderator, Sukie (not a vet)
Current FHL address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 5564]