From:
grape_apes@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-09-14 01:39:21 UTC
Subject: RE: Possible Fleas or Mites
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <28613141.1031967561123.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Hi-you could certainly have Rogue checked by your vet to be safe, but it sounds to me like exactly what you think it looks like-dry, flaky skin! A bath can actually exacerbate dry skin-their skin may also go into overdrive secreting oils to replace what's been stripped away by the bath. Be sure you're using a ferret-safe shampoo that's not too harsh for their sensitive skin. Make sure you rinse them really well so there's no shampoo/soap left on their skin to dry it out further.
You could try a conditioning spray that's ferret-safe, like Four Paws Ferret Deodorizing and Conditioning Spray. You can try maybe giving her some Ferretone (you can cut this with olive oil to make it last longer and lessen the amount of Vitamin A they get at once if so desired)to get a little extra moisture to her skin that way.
Fleas leave black "flea dirt" behind and are themselves brown and black. Whatever you do, don't use any over-the-counter flea products (shampoos, drops, powders)-many of these contain permethrin, which I wouldn't recommend using w/out vet supervision; these can be very poisonous, causing rashes, fur loss, drooling, vomiting, even death! Pyrethrins can also cause problems, but permethrin can be especially bad. The safest flea treatments are prescriptions thru your vet, such as Advantage, in ferret-specific doses...
All the best,
-April
Author wrote:
...A couple of days ago, I noticed & pulled a few things from Rogue's fur, & they looked like little white pieces of flaky skin. They're very tiny, but I was thinking, could these be fleas or mites? I gave both girls a bath last night & still found another of these things on Rogue again. Lucy doesnt' seem to have any on her fur. Any suggestions...