With spring comes the arrival of mosquitos, and the therefore the
threat of heartworm, which the mosquitos can transmit to a ferret.
It's a good time to talk to your vet about getting a prescription for
some form of heartworm prevention, because if a ferret does contract
heartworm, it's almost always a death sentence.

I have used Revolution for several years now, once a month, during
mosquito season (usually May 1 -- October 1 around here in CT).
There may be some debate as to just how much selemectin (the active
ingredient in Revolution) is needed to safely guard against heartworms.
Some vets and studies suggest it's 12 mg per kg of body weight monthly,
others 18 mg monthly, or more. I feel it's better to err on the side of
caution, so I make sure mine get at least 18 mg of selemectin monthly
during mosquito season. This translates to 1/2 of a tube of Revolution,
the size for cats from 5-15 lbs. This tube contains 45 mg total, so
half a tube is approximately 22 mg, something I'm comfortable with.

Unfortunately, the cost of Revolution has gone up considerably in just
the last two years, and a 6-pack of the size for cats 5-15 lbs. will
range from around $85 -- $100. But given the cost of other things we
do to keep our little ones healthy, $15 per month to prevent something
like heartworm is really a relatively small price to pay.

I do have a copy of a study that was done with several species of
animals, including ferrets, that recommends 18 mg/kg monthly for
heartworm prevention for ferrets. I can forward that to anyone who's
interested in reading it.

Jeff
In Loving Memory of Neo, Trinity, Morphy, Possum, Pip, Pop, Hunny,
Sabrina, Minnie Mouse, Misty, Frodo, Baggins, and Mr. Parker
Caring for Luna, Baby Girl, and Dozer

[Posted in FML 7042]