From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-03-20 18:31:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Summary of flea treatments
Hi Hildy,
I'll try to give a summary of the flea, ear mite, and
heartworm products.
FLEAS: Frontline, Advantage, Revolution, Program.
1) Frontline is my favorite flea product. It also does ticks
and in my experience it also does a good job with ear
mites (note: it is not labeled for ear mites here in the USA).
It comes in a spray bottle that is dosed at 1 spray per pound
of body weight. For ear mites I suggest 1 spray into each ear
and 1 spray on the top of the neck. The spray form is the most
cost effective if you have a lot of animals. The cat monthly top
spot
or the cat size of the new Frontline plus can also be used. For ear
mites apply the tube on the neck between the ears. Some people
use just 1/2 of the tube per ferret. This product remains on the
skin
and in the hair follicles for 30 days even with baths.
2) Advantage is another great flea product, but it only does fleas.
The cat size tube can be used. Some use just 1/2 of the tube per
ferret.
This product remains on the skin for 30 days, but some will wash off
if the animal gets a bath.
3) Revolution is the newer flea product. It is a once a month
topical liquid
in a tube also. In addition to fleas, it also kills ticks, ear
mites, and skin
mites. Plus it is also a heartworm preventative. Revolution is
absorbed
into the bloodstream. It also last for 30 days. The 5-15 pound cat
size
is recommended at this time. It is bathproof also.
3) Program was the first big flea product, but it is my least
favorite one
now.
Basically Program kills the flea eggs, so the fleas cannot produce
more fleas. It does not kill the adults fleas. They will die after
2-3 months
from old age. The flea must bite the animal to get this product. It
last
for 30 days also and is bathproof. (This product at a higher dose
can
also be used for ringworm.)
EAR MITES: Revolution, Frontline, Acarexx, Ivomec.
1) Revolution (see above) kills ear mites, fleas, ticks, skin mites,
and is a heartworm preventative. Clean ears out and apply monthly.
2) Frontline (see above) kills fleas, ticks, and ear mites. Clean
ears out and apply monthly. The spray is the most cost effective.
3) Acarexx is diluted ivermectin ear drops. It comes in a package
with 2 tubes (1 for each ear). Repeat treatment after 3 weeks.
I suggest cleaning the ears out then applying Acarexx.
4) Ivomec is ivermectin that can be giving as an injection or
topically into the ear. Again repeat treatment in 3 weeks. Clean
ears out
before each treatment.
HEARTWORMS: Heartgard, Interceptor, Revolution, diluted Ivomec
1) Heartgard the 0-25 pound dog or the 0-5 pound cat can be used
once a month to prevent heartworms.
2)Interceptor 0-10 pound dog size can be used once a month to
prevent
heartworms. (My 2 ferrets will actually eat this tablet on their
own, but they
would not eat the Heartgard for cats.) Interceptor will deworm dogs
for
hooks, rounds, and whipworms, but I do not know if it will also
deworm
ferrets.
3) Revolution 5-15 pound cat size can be used once a month to
prevent
heartworms. It also kills fleas, ticks, ear mites, and skin mites.
In cats
it also deworms them of hooks and rounds, but I do not know if it
will
deworm ferrets.
4) Ivomec can be diluted and giving once a month to prevent
heartworms.
This is the most cost effective if you have a lot of ferrets.
Hope that helps ,
Jerry Murray, DVM