To Russ, concerning ear mites:
 
        Russ - the stinging that your ferret probably felt is the esult of a
mildly abraded ear following days of ear cleaning (which is often unavoidable if
you're doing a thorough job, followed by instillation of ear mite drops (which
generally are alcohol based and will sting a bit.
 
        You are cleaning the ear the way it is supposed to be done.  Put a
little of the ear cleaner (which dissolves the wax) in the ear and massage.  Let
it sit for about a minute.  Your ferret will probably shakes it's head, sending
wax all over you and the floor.  Use a Q-tip and gently collect the rest of the
wax from the ear canal.  You won't hit the ear drum, as the ferrets ear canal is
roughly L-shaped - you will just be cleaning the vertical part of the canal.
After you have cleaned the wax, put the ear drops in.  Make sure that the fluids
that you are using are body temperature - put them in your shirt or picket for a
few minutes before using.  No one likes cold water in their ears!!!!
 
        Clean every day for a week to 10 days, stop for a week, and go again for
another week to take care of mites.  If your problem is just dirty ears (some
ferrets have a lot of wax - just use the ear wax remover (also called a
cerumenolytic) once a week.
 
        Re: hairball medication - If you give a lot of this stuff, you will see
loose stools.  Ferrets that get it regularly generally have no problems with it.
 Remember, your ferret may be getting into something else that can cause loose
stools, also.  Try discontinuing the Laxatone for a day or two and see if the
stools firm back up.
 
        P.S.  We use a product called "Nature's Miracle" for cleaning our white
rugs.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 0975]