From:
"joclynatuo"
Date: 2009-03-19 17:37:15 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: heartworms, ticks, fleas, mites: from last year
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
very timely post, sukie, since my kids are due for their doses today! thank you!!
now, i'm confused about doses, though! i've always heard (from other owners and my vet) to give the frontline plus cat/kitten as 1 drop per pound of ferret. i'm talking about the tube treatment; not the spray stuff.
i know it's important to get the stuff right on the skin and to avoid getting in on the fur so that it's properly distributed over the skin. doing it by yourself that can be kind of tricky, lol.
even with taking the ferrets out in the yard regularly, i've never had a serious problem with fleas - just a few here and there and they didn't last long because i always treat from march through october/november and i'll start in february if it's been a warm winter.
anyhoo, that's all beside the point. i took in two rescues in september and one definitely had fleas (never did see any on the other one), so i treated them both and treated all the other animals as well - even though the newbies would be in quarrantined area for a few weeks.
even with treating everyone (and the associated proper cleaning) they all had fleas by end of october! and they're still here all these months later!
i've been giving the cat the full dose and then each ferret 1 drop per pound - their weights range from just 1 pound sopping wet to almost 5 pounds. i know i didn't get the doses on too well on a couple during december & january - was hard to get through the heavy winter coats (and they were thicker than usual this year) with all the squirming.
so, last month, i gave everyone an extra drop (and my hob got two extra). and i made sure to get it on the skin, too, and no! they weren't happy with me afterwards :)
i'm still seeing bites on me, so they still have the fleas (haven't actually managed to see any on them) although, there don't seem to be as many.
now, this article from dr. murray says to use the whole tube on the ferrets. the whole tube on a 1 pound ferret? that seems like too much, to me.
although, she's the one that brought the fleas into the house and even the last dose (2 drops) hasn't completely gotten rid of them, so it seems she DOES need more. i just don't want to over medicate and end up causing harm. i hate having to use this stuff to begin with - it's just a necessity. i do take them outside sometimes and i'm always doing something in my gardens, so, fleas (and ticks) do make their way inside, so i have no choice but to use it.
so, my question is, is the whole tube REALLY the proper dosage? especially for a ferret that's at or under 3 pounds? this is the frontline plus for cats/kittens that i'm talking about.
thanks!
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Sukie Crandall <sukie@...> wrote:
>
> There is always a need for this info starting about now, so here is a
> repeat of last year's very inclusive vet post since some will find
> that one will fill all their needs, and note that the Revolution
> dosing for heartworm prevention IS correct since smaller doses don't
> work for that need:
>
> BEGIN QUOTE
> Date: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 18:36:42 EDT
> To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ferrethealth] Fleas, ticks, and heartworm products
>
> 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
> END QUOTE
>
> Sukie (not a vet)
>
> Recommended ferret health links:
> http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
> http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
> http://www.miamiferret.org/
> http://www.ferretcongress.org/
> http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
> http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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