Ivermectin (oral info): Well, I am not a vet, but I can look up the info to let the vets speak for themselves. In Dr. Karen Purcell's vet text, _Essentials of Ferrets, a Guide for Practioners_ you will notice that there *IS* oral dosing provided, and there is no way Karen would do that if she were worried. Plus, she did not add a caution in the comments. See page 27 for: "Ivermectin 0.006 mg/kg q 30 d PO" [heartworm prevention] "0.5 mg/kg PO, SC" [dosing for after destroying adult heart worms] "0.5-1.0 mg/kg PO, SC" [sarcoptic mange, ear mites] On page 439 of _Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents, Clinical Medicine and Surgery_ Doctors Katy Quesenberry and James Carpenter also provide oral dosing for ferrets. You will notice that the concerns for the rabbits and rodents for this med are different, though, so for them there is not oral dosing. if you want that dosing info, too, I will copy it for you. Notice Dr. Ruth Heller using it in http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG14589 Dr. Bruce Williams can be found commenting in http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG8727 and there are more in the archives. Honestly, I would go by what the VETS say, and I think you are inclined in that direction, too, from the way that you worded your request One of the Frontline Golden Oldies: http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG7520 Fostering: I was actually surprised to find that a shelter covered day to day expenses other than just medical. The latter is what I have usually read of happening. -- 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 5274]