From: 
Dr. Bruce Williams 
Date: 2001-03-05 17:52:00 UTC
Subject: Re: DMSO
             Dear Amy:
You are correct, although there are people on the list with far more 
experience with DMSO than I.  DMSO is a super solvent, and has the 
propensity to take drugs with it through the skin into the blood.  It 
was in favor about 15-20 years ago for various swellings, especially 
in horses.  You would wrap a leg with DMSO and some steroid and saran 
wrap, and you would get good penetration.
However, due to its propensity from driving compounds into the 
tissues, it should be used at best with caution.  Remember that a 
rectum is extremely vascular, and using DMSO and having it get 
contaminated with another soluble compoung may be akin to injecting 
the compound directly into the bloodstream!
I think I'd urge caution here.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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Health-list 
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Amy and Jim Robbin" <amyjimr@m...> 
wrote:
> I'm curious about the question of using DMSO on a prolapsed 
rectum.  I've used it in the past on my horse but was told to use 
rubber gloves and wash your hands thoroughly.
> 
> From what I understand of it, that it somehow increases your skin's 
ability to absorb external elements directly into your blood stream, 
example if your hands got dirty any of those germs would quickly 
absorb into your skin and into your blood stream.
> 
> I'd be concerned using it on a bum, especially when they do the 
butt skid after the litter box.
> 
> I'd love to hear vets feedback on this, I may be listening to an 
old wives tale.
> 
> Amy