Hi - Please - to the person who wrote that her vet recommended rubbing
alcohol to be used to cool ferrets when, for instance, caught in hot
weather traffic.  This is not a flame, and of course, a vet Did recommend
this......but.....
 
Isopropyl alchol used to be used on humans for rub downs as well as children
and infants and was used extensively to reduce fever.  However, it was
discovered that it had a nasty potential side effect known as Brain Damage
from inhaling the fumes.  The rapid evaporation from the skin, of course,
caused the cooling effect.
 
Today, rubs are given using lotion, or if it is necessary to cool the body
to lower temperature, bathing in cool water is the treatment.
 
My suggestion would be to carry a spritz bottle filled with iced water when
traveling in heat and sprtiz the ferets from time to time in back direction
of fur growth --- will reach the skin and cool the fuzz butt.
 
Isopropyl alcohol is the main ingredient in Bitter Apple and is safe if used
sparingly.  Both Rubbing Alcohol and Bitter Apple can cause skin irritation
and you need to be extremely careful to avoid getting alcohol on or in eyes,
nose, ears, mouth and back end parts :) Bottom line - alcohol is a toxic
substance.  Cheers, Meg
[Posted in FML issue 2377]