In yesterday's FML there were a couple posts referring to herbal and
homeopathic remedies being used to treat ferrets.  Lots of us here use herbs
and herbal mixtures on ferrets, but I would like to caution everyone that
the effects of some of these herbs on ferrets are *completely* unknown and
that the dosages for ferrets are MUCH, much smaller than you would expect.
Herbs like yucca (mentioned in one of the posts), goldenseal, and licorice -
all frequently included in herbal combination tinctures - can have rapid
nasty side effects if used incorrectly.
 
Also, 'homeopathic' refers to a method in which you give a small dose of
something that produces the same symptoms that are present in the illness.
This assists the body in dealing with the illness.  If you give the wrong
remedy, or too much, nothing should happen - these remedies are the sort
that usually come in little vials and are labeled '12c' or '6x,' etc.  If
you're giving herbs to address a medical condition, you're not treating
'homeopathically,' you're using herbs like you'd use a regular prescription
drug.
 
For medicinal herb information, please go to
http://sunsite.unc.edu/herbmed/mediherb.html
 
I strongly urge anyone who is going to use an herb on their ferret to do
more than simply just look up 'sore throat' in a book and then administer
all the herbs found in there.  Please DO YOUR RESEARCH.  Get an herbal
dictionary, get Pitcairn's book on natural healing for dogs and cats, and
look up the potential side effects of the herbs you would be using!  Or go
to a holistic/homeopathic vet in your area - you can look one up through the
Alt Vet Med site at http://www.altvetmed.com.
 
Just as a side note: herbal tinctures usually recommend a dosage for people
of 15-30 drops (usually - not all) 2-4 times per day.  Taking the *maximum*
dose of 30 drops 4x/day for a, say, 180lb human, if you reduce the dose per
pound of weight to an appropriate dose for a ferret who weighs, say, 3 lb,
you get a MAXIMUM dose of 2 drops per day for a ferret.
 
Melissa
 
 ___ Melissa Litwicki __ [log in to unmask] ___
 By the whole newsgroup devoted tennis showing
     it after scarfing fork and laughters
[Posted in FML issue 2031]