Kirsten asked
>Anyone know if Boric Acid powder is safe for the ferret immune system?
 
Julie replied
>Borate is a non-toxic salt that is able to migrate to moist areas where
>insects or fungi are active.
 
And Bill (I think) added
>I understand that boric acid can indeed be moderately harmful to
>mammals.
 
Boric acid is a borate, but there are a lot of other ones as well.  A
borate is anything with the element Boron in it (OK, that's a slight
oversimplification).
 
Boric acid inpowder form is NOT recommended for areas where animals will
track through it or could eat it.  It is classified as an irritant.  As a
liquid solution wash it's fine, and it occurs naturally in seawater and
in most drinking water.
 
"Borax" is a trade name that has been used generically for so long that I
think it's lost copyright protection.  Borax might be boric acid, or it
might be some other borate.
 
There are borates that are safe to use directly on animals (for fleas,
for example).
 
This has more info:
http://www.pestproducts.com/borate.htm
 
Hope this helps.
 
Claire
(Sam, Frankie, Missy, and houseguests Louie and Lilo)
[Posted in FML issue 4261]