>If your ferret licks herself, I suggest that you do not use lotion with
>perfume in it.  Does anybody have suggestions?  Since Vaseline is a
>laxative, would using a vegetable oil like linseed or almond oil help
>soften her skin?
 
I make a very simple salve to apply to my ferrets when they have itchy skin
patches.  It consists simply of food grade cocoa butter, wheatgerm oil,
emu oil (sometimes) and a bit of powdered organic calendula.  (Calendula
is a flower that has good anti-itching properties .. it's used a lot in
baby lotions and the like.  Some people also drink it as a tea).
 
You could get even simpler than that, and just apply olive oil to the skin
if it's dry, or put some corn starch on it if it's itchy.  Both of them are
completely non-toxic.  Corn starch is used a lot in baby powder, and you
also can add it to a warm bath to cut down on itching for a child with
chicken pox, etc. :->
 
- Ela
 
Ela Heyn
Harborside Mail Stop 3024
201-860-3336
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[Posted in FML issue 2887]