From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-21 21:51:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Summary of flea treatments
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., AFERRETVET@c... wrote:
> 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.
Absolutely wonderful review, Jerry! I knew there was a reason I
asked you to sign on, and not just because we think alike on
anesthesia!
I'm still betting the lower cat dose of Revoluation would work - I
see no reason why you have to bump the dosage on a ferret (because
its small and it runs around really fast?)
Thanks,
Bruce