From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-02-17 16:29:00 UTC
Subject: Re: mite meds
--
I've had a bit of respiratory problem for a few days so bear with me,
but I think that these past FHL posts will answer some of the
questions that have come up.
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Message 3087
I have some more info on Frontline and Advantage.
Since someone claimed that Frontline was not safe
for ferrets, I will address that first. "Fipronil spray (Frontline)
has been found to be safe and effective for ferrets." That is
from the book Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology
6th edition 2001. The reference for that quote was
Lewington J : Frontline for ferret fleas. University of
Sydney, Postgraduate Foundation Veterinary Science
Control Therapy Series 189:856, 1996.
The second source is Vet Clinics of North America,
Exotic Animal Practice: Therapeutics Jan. 2000. This article
was by Dr Bruce Williams. He list both Frontline and Advantage
for use on ferrets.
As for which one is better- both products work well on fleas!
Frontline will also kill ticks and when put into the ear will also
kill ear mites. Advantage just kills fleas. Which one last longer?
Frontline will last for 30+ days; however, Advantage does not.
In 2 recent studies of Advantage on ferrets by 2 different groups
(University of London's vet school and University of Georgia's
vet school) it was both safe and effective. In the first study (London)
they applied 0.1ml/kg of the cat Advantage to the ferrets. It worked well
for 1 week. In the second study (Georgia) they applied the full 0.4ml tube
of Advantage for small cats to the ferrets. It lasted for 3 weeks. Duration
of activity therefore appears to be dose related. Something to think about
if you are dividing the tube into smaller amounts. In addition baths will
remove some of the Advantage as well. The another thing to consider (since
they both are safe and effective) is cost. Frontline spray is by far the
least cost of the 2 products.
BTW- No I do not work for either company. I do not own stock in
either company, and yes my clinic carries both products.
I hope that clears up some of the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM
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Message 1516
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
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Message 1182
> Carla Christman <sebestianpup@y...>
wrote:
> I like using the revolution. Fleas, heartworms,
> possibly roundworms and hookworms, maybe ticks and
> earmites - WOW!. I usually don't use it for earmites,
> but for fleas and heartworm. I have been using it in
> my own four as well as prescribing it for clients. I
> have not seen a reaction and the one that I did read
> about did not appear to be attributable to the
> revolution. Reacting 10-14 days later? No product in
> the ivermectin family would take that long to cause
> problems.
>
> Just my two cents, but I like it. The only problem
> with it is the cost.
>
> Dr. Carla Christman
> Deerfield, WI
Now that's the kind of post I like - good news. The question is not
the cost, but how does it stack up when you add up ivermectin drops
for ear mites, Heartgard for heartworm, and Advantage or Frontline for
fleas? Seems much more likely to result in owner compliance, than
having to give two or three medications....
Well I'm off to look up the bad report from the FML ( a responsible
journalist must cover both sides of every story...)
Welcome aboard!
Bruce
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Message 1715
It appears that someone is confused about heartworms
that ferrets can get from mosquito bites and tapeworms that
ferrets can get from eating a flea. Heartgard, Interceptor, Revolution,
and diluted Ivomec can all be used to prevent heartworms in ferrets.
Frontline and Advantage are the 2 top selling flea products.
Both products actually stay on the oil layer of the skin and
are NOT absorbed into the bloodstream. The flea actually gets these
products form direct contact with the skin and NOT from biting your
ferret. Revolution and Program are the 2 flea products that go
into the bloodstream and require a flea bite for the flea to be
exposed to it.
Hope that clears up the confusion.
Jerry Murray, DVM