Before people start rushing out and putting their ferrets on heartworm
preventatives, here are some additional sites for information.  Heartworm
preventatives are poisons, and should not be given without careful
thought.  Please find out the actual mosquito season for wherever you
live so if you decide to give heartworm preventatives you will only
during that time.  And one thing most vets won't tell you is that you
can give it every 6 weeks and not monthly which would be less poison.
It's just easier for most people to remember once a month then to figure
out every 6 weeks.  I haven't found any statistics directly related to
ferrets, so this info is all based on dog reactions and deaths from
heartworm preventatives.
 
Life cycle of the heartworm and what must transpire for the pet to
contract it:
http://www.bullovedbulldogs.com/gpage.html
 
FDA adverse reactions reports from 1987-2000:
 
Heartgard Chewables (Ivermectin) 134 dogs died; 1033 had some type of
reaction
Filaribits Plus 128 dogs died; 187 reacted
Interceptor (Milbemycin) 67 dogs died; 460 reacted
 
A vets article that may get you thinking:
http://www.homeovet.net/content/lifestyle/section4.html
 
Please weigh all the risks before you make any decision either way.
 
~Amy~
[Posted in FML issue 5220]