From:
"Jeff"
Date: 2007-03-31 22:36:42 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Fleas, ticks, and heartworm products
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
The following was posted by Dr. Murray on March 31, 2007. I saved it and I'm re-posting it here, as it seems to clarify most issues related to treatment of mites, fleas, ticks, and heartworm prevention.
Jeff
In Memory of Neo
Caring for Trinny, Morphy, Baby Girl
**********************
BEGIN QUOTE:
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello everyone,
Since it is spring (at least here in the South) and the
beginning of bug season, I thought I would post about the
flea, tick, and heartworm products that are safe for ferrets.
FLEAS: There are several safe and effective flea products.
1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe
and effective against fleas. One tube of the cat size per ferret
once a month. With the spray version: 1 spray per pound of
ferret (ie a 2 pound ferret gets 2 sprays) once a month.
Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray also kills ticks.
2) Advantage is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the
small size cat per ferret once a month.
3) Revolution is safe and effective against fleas. One tube of the
cat sized per ferret once a month. Revolution is also called
Stronghold in Europe. Revolution will also kill ticks, ear mites,
prevent heartworms, and deworms each month.
TICKS there are several safe and effective tick products.
1) Frontline, Frontline Plus, and Frontline spray are all safe
for tick control. Again one tube of the cat size once a month.
With the spray: 2 sprays per pound of ferret (ie a 2 pound ferret
gets 4 sprays)
2) Revolution is safe and effective for ticks. Again one tube of the cat size
per ferret once a month.
3) Advantix is sort of safe for tick control on ferrets. Advantix contains
2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and permethrin for ticks. Permethrin
is absorbed thru the skin and into the blood stream. Permethrin at high
doses can cause problems to ferrets (and dogs and especially cats).
Frontline would be a safer option because it does not get absorbed thru
the skin. It stays on the oil layer on the skin.
HEARTWORMS: there are several options for heartworm prevention too.
Yes, ferrets can and do get heartworms, and heartworms are usually
fatal in ferrets.
1) Heartgard for cats, Heartgard Plus for small dogs, and liquid ivermectin
are all safe for heartworm prevention. One chewable tablet once a month
or liquid ivermectin orally once a month.
2) Interceptor (Milbemycin oxime) for small dogs (2-10 lbs). One tablet
once a month. These tablets are small enough to crush up and mix into
ferretone or baby food. They are beef flavored and some ferrets will eat
them. Interceptor should also deworm them each month and should
control ear mites too.
3) Revolution for cats (5-15 lbs). One tube per ferret once a month.
Revolution will prevent heartworms, kill fleas, ticks, ear mites, and
deworm each month.
4) Advantage Multi is the newest heartworm product. Advantage Multi
contains 2 ingredients: imidacloprid for fleas and moxidectin for heartworm
prevention. Advantage Multi will also kill ear mites and deworm each month.
One tube of the kitten size (2-5lbs) once a month is the recommended dose.
Advantage Multi is called Advantage Advocate in Europe.
Hope that helps clear up the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM
Dallas, Texas
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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