NEVER use OTC parasite products on ferrets since too many of those
destroy marrow.

Instead use your veterinarian. There ARE safe products they have which
tackle most ticks (but note if you are in Australia that Frontline does
NOT tackle the paralytic ticks which cause neurological problems and
which have been increasing their ranges in recent decades; that is
what caused some confusion for some people elsewhere years ago who
mistakenly thought that the product had caused the neurological
problems discussed because they did not read the full articles for
the actual studies).

With author's permission from 2007 so for the formulations then:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL353
>Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:36:42 EDT
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Fleas, ticks, and heartworm products
>
>Hello everyone,
>Since it is spring (at least here in the South) and the beginning
>of bug season, I thought I would post about the flea, tick, and
>heartworm products that are safe for ferrets.
>
>FLEAS: There are several safe and effective flea products.
>
>1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe and
>effective against fleas. One tube of the cat size per ferret once a
>month. With the spray version: 1 spray per pound of ferret (ie a 2
>pound ferret gets 2 sprays) once a month. Frontline, Frontline Plus,
>and Frontline spray also kills ticks.
>2) Advantage is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the
>small size cat per ferret once a month.
>3) Revolution is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the cat
>sized per ferret once a month. Revolution is also called Stronghold
>in Europe. Revolution will also kill ticks, ear mites, prevent
>heartworms, and deworms each month.
>
>TICKS: there are several safe and effective tick products.
>
>1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe for
>tick control. Again one tube of the cat size once a month. With the
>spray: 2 sprays per pound of ferret (ie a 2 pound ferret gets 4
>sprays)
>2) Revolution is safe and effective for ticks. Again one tube of the
>cat size per ferret once a month.
>3) Advantix is sort of safe for tick control on ferrets. Advantix
>contains 2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and permethrin for
>ticks. Permethrin is absorbed thru the skin and into the blood stream.
>Permethrin at high doses can cause problems to ferrets (and dogs and
>especially cats). Frontline would be a safer option because it does
>not get absorbed thru the skin. It stays on the oil layer on the skin.
>
>HEARTWORMS: there are several options for heartworm prevention too.
>Yes, ferrets can and do get heartworms, and heartworms are usually
>fatal in ferrets.
>
>1) Heartgard for cats, Heartgard Plus for small dogs, and liquid
>ivermectin are all safe for heartworm prevention. One chewable tablet
>once a month or liquid ivermectin orally once a month.
>2) Interceptor (Milbemycin oxime) for small dogs (2-10 lbs). One
>tablet once a month. These tablets are small enough to crush up and
>mix into ferretone or baby food. They are beef flavored and some
>ferrets will eat them. Interceptor should also deworm them each month
>and should control ear mites too.
>3) Revolution for cats (5-15 lbs). One tube per ferret once a month.
>Revolution will prevent heartworms, kill fleas, ticks, ear mites, and
>deworm each month.
>4) Advantage Multi is the newest heartworm product. Advantage Multi
>contains 2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and moxidectin for
>heartworm prevention. Advantage Multi will also kill ear mites and
>deworm each month. One tube of the kitten size (2-5lbs) once a month
>is the recommended dose. Advantage Multi is called Advantage Advocate
>in Europe.
>
>Hope that helps clear up the confusion,
>Jerry Murray, DVM
>Dallas, Texas 

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
On change for its own sake: "You can go really fast if you just jump
off the cliff." (2010, Steve Crandall)

[Posted in FML 7298]