Procedure for Administration of Metronidazole
 
In the life of every ferret the day the vet prescribes metronidazole
eventually comes.  The ferret owner will immediately notice that the vet
does not give the ferret a dose during the course of the office visit,
instead recommending the dosage being administered at home after the
prescription is filled at the local compounding pharmacy.  There is a good
reason for this.  A truly knowledgeable pharmacist will provide the first
clue of this when he asks you, "What flavor would you like?"  Feel free to
assume he means "what flavor your ferret would like".  When dealing with
metronidazole, the question is rhetorical.
 
The following procedure will greatly simplify the administration of the
medication:
 
Before taking medication out of the sack from the pharmacy, place your
ferret inside his cage.  Padlock the door.  Place the cage in the bathroom.
Close the door.  Block the closed door with a heavy piece of furniture.
 
Dress comfortably.  A washable, long sleeved, heavy cotton shirt is
recommended.  Eye protection is mandatory.  Sunglasses will provide
adequate protection if safety glasses are not available.  Shoes should be
comfortable for running.  Pants should be washable and loose fitting to
provide full range of motion.
 
Turn on your stereo.  Turn up the volume until nearby windows rattle.  Take
the medication out of the sack.  Shake well.  Using the provided syringe,
draw the prescribed amount into the syringe.  Disregard any sounds you
might hear coming from your bathroom.
 
Draw 3ml of Ferretone (Furotone or Linatone etc,) into a large dropper or
syringe.  Have a similarly attired assistant hold the Ferretone dropper.
 
Place a call to your local Animal Control Department and explain the
situation.  An experienced Animal Control Department will send two officers
to the scene immediately.  Inexperienced ACD's will send two officers just
out of curiosity.  When the Animal Control Officers arrive, have them
extract and secure the ferret in the bathroom.  Ignore the screams, these
people are trained and get paid to do this.
 
Once the ferret is secure, you may place the medication dropper against the
clenched teeth of the ferret and express a few drops of the medication.
Step back quickly.  Have your assistant repeat the procedure with the
Ferretone dropper.  Repeat this procedure until all medication has been
administered.
 
The ferret may then be released.
 
A high pressure sprayer attached to your garden hose will expedite cleanup.
 
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home, Carthage, TX
[Posted in FML issue 3002]