Have someone else keep your ferrets for at least a few days to be safe. If they are planning on using artificial pyrethrins those were actually researched as a way to kill feral polecats and ferrets. <http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/Science- for-Conservation/PDF/Sfc127E.pdf> Shoot, it has been removed. It is/was: Literature Search for Mustelid-Specific Toxins Definitely a paper to find and keep, so ask a reference librarian to see if you can find a hard copy somehow! The work was done by Wickstrom and Easton, New Zealand and Canadian experts On page 61 of that paper note in relation to just skin exposure from pyretrins by ferrets or polecats: disorientation, depression, weakness, anorexia, vomiting, melena, icterus, etc. straight through to coma in symptoms. It is hard on my eyes but when I increase the size it is annoying to click back and forth between the windows so I did not note all. I do not have time to see how similar <http://www.doc.govt.nz/Publications/004~Science-and-Research/Science- for-Conservation/PDF/sfc237.pdf> may be in content but it looks worth checking See also: http://www.aspca.org/site/DocServer/vettech__0204.pdf?docID=2083 DEFINITELY GET THE NAME OF THE SPECIFIC POISON BEING USED AND CALL ONE OF THE ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTERS. having had to help someone get marrow transplant info for a ferret who used a Hartz flea product (info in the FHL archives) I can say, "Better safe than sorry." Here is some GENERAL poisoning prevention info of several types: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_poisonsafe Also use the menu on your left there. For example: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_dyk http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_common http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_nontoxicplants This is also a useful site: http://www.avonvets.co.uk/2ndyr_hands/Poisons.html Angell Memorial has begun putting up helpful articles now, too: http://www.mspca.org/site/pp.asp?c=gtIUK4OSG&b=264356 If you ever need help recognizing a plant here is some aid for you: http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/poison/index.html ***** Here are the two U.S. animal poison control numbers. I do not ***** know ones elsewhere and can not recall them being posted here. ***** ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's emergency hotline at ***** (888) 426-4435 ***** Angell Memorial Animal Medical Center Pet Poison Hotline ***** 1-877-2ANGELL (1-877-226-4355) The fee is per case so keep the case ID number. -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5246]
