This is by no means a complete synopsis and it also includes my own
notes. It merely touches upon a few of the things people here will
need to know. The full article is highly recommended. These notes do
not take the place of veterinary care nor of using the ASPCA APCC. We
have used that ourselves when a ferret drank some water with detergent
in it which was in a place they normally can not reach, and we highly
recommend their service.

Also use the resources in:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/

Poison Control and helpful poisoning prevention references:

ASPCA Animal Poison Control:
http://www.napcc.aspca.org

Angell Memorial's ASPCA Poison Control:
<http://www.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=poisoncontrolhotline_pagewrapperlanding>

Poisons to avoid:
http://www.avonvets.co.uk/2ndyr_hands/Poisons.html

Paper:  Toxicology of Ferrets
Author: Eric Dunayer, MS, VMD, DABT, DABVT
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and College of Veterinary Medicine,
U of IL
Publication:  Vet Clin Exotic Anim 11 (2008) 301-314

Ferrets prone to getting into toxic substances: curious, strong jaws
and sharp teeth, small size (My note: also climbing and jumping can
worsen the risk)

(My note: Remember that possible poisons vary widely. Just because an
animal has been able to have low doses of aspirin does not mean that
other over the counter anti-inflammatory meds are safe and in fact at
least two others are terribly poisonous for our critters. We've all
heard of too many lost that way on the various ferret lists. Take the
pill container w you to the vet and having it with the person calling
the APCC. Take a specimen of any plant eaten. Common names are
sometimes applied to more than one type of plant with some safe and
some toxic. Take along any cleanser or inseciticide containers. You
get the idea...)

There are large and wonderfully detailed sections for vets on various
types of treatment and when and how to use approaches like activated
charcoal, emesis (inducing vomiting), dilution (often w water, milk,
or yogurt depending on the toxicant type), etc. For ferrets there are
safer ways to induce vomiting than the Syrup of Ipecac (which is being
taken off the market) because for ferrets that can pose a cardiac risk
if vomiting doesn't happen so best done only if there is not a better
choice. Never use salt to induce vomiting in a ferret because they can
get hypernatremia from that approach.

On the various ferret lists we all have read about too many cases when
ferrets were poisoned by use of the wrong flea products. Heck, that
is why we had to add into the FHL Archives how to do a bone marrow
transplant (my note). In the article it notes that many of the store
bought topical ones are very oily and sticky so it recommends that
Dawn dishwashing liquid may be needed for cleaning if a mild shampoo is
not sufficient. (My note to list members: remember to use the parasite
products your vet supplies which are known to be safe rather than
attempting to shave off a few bucks of cost in a way that can kill a
ferret.)

Eye exposures that require rinsing: rinse for 20 to 30 minutes total.
Saline is best. If not available then distilled of tepid tap water.
Never use human medicated eye drops or disinfecting contact lens
solutions in ferret eyes.

Over a 6 year period ending Sept 2007 the types of poisonings that
accounted for over 50% of the cases at the ASPCA APCC were: assorted
medications (excluding some that were such common causes of poisoning
that they are listed separately in this list), Cleaning Products
(including bleaches), Insecticides, Flea Products, Ibuprofen,
Anticoagulant Rodenticides, Chocolate, Acetaminophen, Venlafaxine
(Effexor), Bromethalin (another type of rodenticide), Toxic Plants
(See the ASPCA APCC site and search for "Toxic Plants" or look in
 http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants ),
paint, soaps and shampoos.

The other causes of poisoning resulted in fewer than 10 cases each
during that period.

The insecticides that have poisoned ferrets include (but are not
limited to) pyrethroids, fipronil, hydramethylnon, and sulfluramid.
Years ago an FML member lost something like a dozen ferrets when a
housemate used pyrethroids in too high amounts in the home (my note).
The article author also notes a further risk factor: some flea products
contain enough alcohol that alcohol poisoning has occurred in ferrets
when the alcohols were absorbed through the skin and were breathed in.

Poisoning signs from Ibuprofen usually happen within 4 hours but can
take as long as 2 days and kidney failure and gastric ulceration are
among the things that can go wrong.

As we all know from the many warnings, Acetaminophen causes liver
damage in ferrets and can easily cause liver failure, but it turns
out that it also can cause kidney failure and more.

Chocolate: now there is a topic which has come up before! The dark
chocolates and cocoa powder have the highest levels of Methylxanthines
such as Theobromine and Caffeine. Total Methyxanthine dosages of 10 to
15 mg/kg result in gastric upset, but dosages of 40 to 50 mg/kg can
induce tachycardia in ferrets, dosages over 60 mg/kg can result in
"CNS [central nervous system] stimulation with tremors and seizures,
and over 100 mg/kg can be acutely fatal.

Obviously, there is a great deal more in the article, most for vets,
and a wonderful bibliography.

Hopefully, reading this will prevent some cases of poisoning through
greater cautions taken, and will help people know when they should
jump.

Here are the two U. S. numbers for when help is needed. When we used it
the cost was $55 PER CASE but that was a few years ago. (You get a case
number and then whatever number of times that specific poisoning case
needs help you get those added types of follow-up covered by the
original fee.)

Hopefully, people will post the Animal Poison Control Numbers in their
countries, too.

(888) 426-4435
1-877-2ANGELL

[Posted in FML 5950]