From:
Barbara Carlson
Date: 2002-02-20 10:01:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Frontline for ear mites
> We will use Frontline(Topical Spray)(~1-2 drops/ear depending on the size
> of the animal) for animals that have earmites, but we only put it in
> those animals that are already under anesthesia for other
> reasons.Frontline Spray is very alcohol based and it seems that it would
> be very uncomfortable when applying it to the ears while the ferret was
> awake. Is this what you are referring to?
I guess you're referring to my question. It seems that some people put it
*in* the ear while others put it on the back of the neck. I've had ferrets
get ear mites while on Frontline that had been applied to the top of the
shoulders (like it says in the directions). Would the location of
application make that much difference if it's distributed via oil glands?
I'd asked my vet once if it got down into the ears and she seemed to think
it might help prevent ear mites, but wasn't entirely sure. I've never used
the spray, just the Frontline that comes in the plastic packages. I usually
buy the largest available and use a syringe with needle to suck it out of
the container (Through the foil side -- initially I tried to do that
through the plastic side and it broke the needle! I felt silly afterwards
when I realized how easy it was to poke through the foil side). Then I take
the needle off and use the syringe to dispense 2-3 drops per ferret. One
large dog size does at least 20 ferrets. I've stored the extra in the
syringe (I put the needle and needle cap back on to help keep it from
evaporating) and that works pretty well. (does anyone know why I shouldn't
do that?)
I was leery of trying the Frontline spray because I wasn't sure it was the
same thing as in the plastic packages and wasn't sure it would work as
well. In reading descriptions on various webpages it seemed that you had to
spray it all over the animal and that it didn't kill fleas as long (the
blister packs say "up to 3 months" but I seem to recall the spray said just
1 month).
I wouldn't want to hurt my ferrets by applying something that hurt, but
putting alcohol in the ear is a common treatment for humans for swimmers
ear and Tresaderm has to be refrigerated and they seem quite unhappy about
that -- so I'm not sure applying Frontline would be any more unpleasant
than things we already do! (of course, if they'd been scratching a lot and
the skin was broken, it would sting a lot)
I've had trouble with ear mites on and off. My biggest problem is the
treatment you have to put in daily -- I find I forget too often. I seem to
be able to remember their medication, but for some reason the ear stuff is
difficult to remember (especially if it's in the fridge). I can't figure
out where my animals are picking them up. Since I forget the daily stuff,
I've gotten Otomite which only needs to be used once a week (I've been told
for 2 weeks normally or up to 4 weeks for tough cases ... is this right?)
--Barb--