The melatonin in Melatek implants is synthetic.
So, there isn't even a theoretical risk from the implants.
Here is the info on that directly from the person who knows best, Tim
Cairns, President/CEO, Melatek, LLC:
BEGIN QUOTE
Absolutely no chance of mad cow disease in the implants that Melatek
sells.
Simply due to the fact that we use a synthetic produced melatonin not
an animal based natural product.
Remember this exact formula has been used for over 20 years and was
approved by the FDA in 1989, we also have certificates to sell in
many foreign countries that require a TSE (Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathy) certification of chemical analysis that is updated.
Here is the substance identification:
Substance:
N-(2(5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl)acetamide
Melatonic N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine
Molecular Formula C13-H16-N2-O2 Weigh 232.28
Lastly there has been sold over 25 million of these implants over the
past 20 plus years and have NEVER had an issue with Mad Cow Disease or
any other natural disease.
All this information is available thru the web site and I am willing
to give out more if needed.
END QUOTE
There! Feel better? The implant is typically better for the ferrets,
anyway, and easier for the humans.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/http://ferrethealth.org/archive/http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.htmlhttp://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/http://www.ferretcongress.org/http://www.trifl.org/index.shtmlhttp://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 6220]