From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2010-12-31 17:52:53 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] avoiding poisoning and accidents
To: fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
This is part of a post that I sent to a
different list, and maybe the info here
will save some ferrets. The original was
a humorous post elsewhere but the fear
is that some people might not know how
to sort the things put in there for laughs
(but which pose great dangers) from items
that don't present hazards for ferrets.
I don't have a lot of time so forgive me for
missed things; people can
use resources themselves, too, to learn more.
There are both prescription and over the
counter human meds which
have killed members of carnivora. Always
check with the treating
veterinarian and with
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/
or with
<http://support.mspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=poisoncontrolhotline_pagewrapperlanding
>
A number of toothpastes these days
contain Xylitol which is fatal for
them:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx
and that is also true for a number
of other things including some sweet
lip glosses and some food items. Some
other ingredients that can be in
human foods which can kill ferrets by
poisoning them include currants,
raisins, grapes, macadamia nuts,
dark chocolate, avocado, caffeine and
more. Again, read:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx
Some items can cause perforations
or cut through the GI tract. Bones
can pose perforation problems
especially to the esophagus (and also
lower down if they pass through the
stomach too fast or to the stomach
itself if it is compromised as with an ulcer)
and especially if the meat and bones have
been dry cooked which makes them more brittle.
Bbecause of how the intestines wind and how
intestinal peristalsis(motion) works string, floss,
and tree tinsel can cut through the intestines -- like
cutting a cheese cake with dental floss.
Other items can cause blockages and that list
includes anything with rubber or latex, hard food
items, erasers, foil, anything that can't
digest really fast in a member of carnivora with
skinny intestines.
Just a little more info to help save ferrets:
A number of cosmetics are poisonous, not just
those with xylitol. Nail polish and remover have
killed ferrets. The gloves used with home hair
coloring and permanent products harden
when exposed to stomach acid and
form scrolls of hard plastic which block
and also tear (something I did not know till
someone here had that happen). Anti-aging
creams and HRTcreams with estrogen can cause
what appears to be heat or adrenal disease in
ferrets but is actually the effect of the creams (and
those also pose risks to human children). I am sure
there are other hazards.
A number of plants are also poisonous and when
they are toxic to dogs or to cats, or to both just
assume that ferrets are at risk:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/
See the cold weather hazards (and keep the
lists of other hazards, too)
in http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/a-poison-safe-home.aspx
There are also lesser hazards. Among them:
An Australian vet himself had a terrible time
clearing up an infection in a ferret of his who
ate potting soil, for example. That discussion
is in the FHL Archives. Not a common problem
but a possibility and hard to treat. The address
of the FHL Archives is in my signature lines.
Getting lucky does not mean that the next time won't
be fatal and accidents are best avoided.
Again:
This is part of a post that I sent to a different list,
and maybe the info here will save some ferrets.
The original was a humorous post elsewhere but
the fear is that some people might not know how
to sort the things put in there for laughs (which
pose great dangers) from items that don't present
hazards for ferrets.
BTW, ferret groups with newsletters could use
those links and with a little searching come up
with an excellent newsletter article.
Let's all start 2011 with reduced risk of ferrets dying
from accidents and make it a happier year.
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.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
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