From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-04-10 13:37:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list]Flea products and heartworms.
It seems that someone in Seattle is still confused about fleas,
flea products, tapeworms, and heartworms. Sevin dust applied to a
towel then
rubbed onto the ferret's fur by the ferret is still NOT safer than
Frontline
or Advantage. Both Frontline and Advantage stay on the skin/oil
layer.
Neither Frontline or Advantage is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The flea actually dies within 2 hours of getting on the treated
animal.
This is BEFORE the flea has enough time to bite the animal! That is
why
these 2 products work so well with pets that are allergic to flea
bites.
Sentinel is a monthly tablet that has both a heartworm medication
and
a flea egg inhibitor. The flea part is the same product that is in
Program.
Yes,
the flea has to bite the pet to get this product from the
bloodstream.
Plus it does not kill the adult flea. Remember I did not recommend
Program (or Sentinel) for these 2 reasons. However it is totally
safe for
mammals since we do not have chitin layers. Remember Program
at a higher dose can be safely used to treat ringworm infections.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes NOT by fleas. Dogs, cats,
ferrets, sea lions, etc., get heartworms from mosquito bites not
from fleas!
Animals can get tapeworms if they actually eat the flea. Bubonic
plague
is only possible if your ferret is getting rat fleas from prairie
dogs or rats
in the New Mexico or Colorado area. This is not the common cat flea
that pets normally get.
Sevin dust is NOT a safer option. It has hazards to both humans and
pets.
Humans-harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Avoid
breathing dust. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Wash
thoroughly
after using and before eating or smoking.
Animals- Sevin is a cholinesterase inhibitor. Do not use this
product on
animals simultaneously or within a few days before or after
treatment with
or exposure to other cholinesterase inhibiting drugs, pesticides, or
chemicals.
Consult a veterinarian at the first sign of any adverse reaction.
Atropine is
antidotal.
Yes, the animal absorbs this product through the skin, and it goes
into the
animals bloodstream. Yes, it can be toxic at high doses (especially
10%
Sevin dust). Thus sevin dust is the example of poisoning your pet in
order to poison the flea!
I still recommend Frontline and Advantage because they are both SAFE
and
effective. Sure sevin dust is cheaper, but it is not safer.
Hope that clears up the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM