**The advice dispensed by myself in reference to FML postings is not meant
to supplant the advice of veterinarians who are in charge of the patient.
If the patient is not currently under the care of a veterinarian, the client
is recommended to take their ferret to one.**
 
>From:    CJ Enland <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Questions and stuff
>1.  Re: cleaning your babies teeth.  I admit I had never thought of this
>before.  How often should you do this?  My sweeties are 1 1/2 years old .
 
If you are referring to brushing the teeth with an enzymatic toothpaste, do
it twice weekly minimum.  If a dental cleaning by your vet, your vet can
give a better answer (it depends on how fast the tartar builds up).  I'd aim
for 1 to 2 times yearly.
 
>2.  Re: heartworms.  How often should you give this medication?  Where do I
>get it?  Is
 
The recommendation is to use Heartgard by Merck. It comes in a chewable form.
 
The dose is 6 micrograms/kg of body weight once monthly.  Heartgard comes in
a 68 mcg dog chewable and now a 55 mcg cat chewable (I'm still waiting for
my order to arrive so I have not had any experience with palatability of the
cat size with ferrets).  You give 1/3 of a chewable once monthly.
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH, USA
[Posted in FML issue 1876]