Yes, Kathrine's right when she writes: >I would highly recommend NOT using Advantix at all!! Bayer took >Advantage, a safe product, added permethrin to it and ended up with a >toxic product, AdvanTIX. Many vets will not even carry this product >because of its toxicity. This includes ALL animals, not just ferrets. >I learned this when I started having some tick problems with my >doggies. I was quickly warned away from Advantix. I switched >from AdvanTAGE to Frontline Plus. > >There are better, and safer, products out there. Use Advantage, >Frontline Plus, Revolution, etc. ... Also avoid any parasite control products sold in pet stores; even some of the collars have caused bone marrow failure and death for ferrets. from August, 2005 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14966 >Can you give us the ingredients of advantix over there. >The US version of Advantix is NOT safe for ferrets or cats, but >the US version of Advantage (by Bayer) is safe for ferrets. >Please lets us know what is in the European advantix. >Jerry Murray, DVM The European version turned out to have the same problem addition: http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15149 http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL353 "SORT OF" ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH WHEN THERE ARE OPTIONS. >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.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html [Posted in FML 5984]