>From: Lee McKee <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Toothpaste as biting deterrent >Thanks to a poster on alt.pets.ferrets, I've now tried the toothpaste trick >as a deterrent to getting bitten. Smeared toothpaste (bargain-brand green >paste) all over my hands and arms. Once again I feel the need to warn about using human toothpaste as a biting deterrent for ferrets. Toothpaste can be highly toxic to any mammal under 30 pounds. Most bargain brands of toothpaste and non-bargain brands for that matter contain 15% fluoride, which if ingested can cause an over dose and eventually death. Human toothpaste also contain high quantities of sugar depending on which brand is purchase. Upon giving oral hygiene instructions to parents of toddlers and small children, I never recommend an adult tooth paste for oral care. >So, is it the wintergreen that they don't like? Wonder if my Dr Bronner's >peppermint soap will also do the trick--the toothpaste really feels kinda >yucky. Although I'm not familiar with this type of soap, I have known of a ferret that enjoyed licking soap. The owner was faced one evening with a very lethargic ferret. The little critter had purged the digestive system, as the soap was not digestible. The ferret dehydrated and rushed to the vet with a stool sample. The owner feared ECE because the stool was green slime. However, the ferret just has a case of soap poisoning and was fine after a few injections of fluids and a few days of pedialyte. Why not try bitter apple, bitter lime or distilled vinegar? Lisa Mancilla [Posted in FML issue 2300]