Most people seem to think that it is a natural phenomenon for cats and dogs to have fleas! BEWARE 'ferret lovers' it can be fatal for a ferret to have fleas!

A recent example should be a stimulus to get rid of these pesky little critters once and for all. We were called by a young lady who had five ferrets. Three had already died from flea-induced anemia and two were in a veterinary hospital in life support. She needed help!?

Advice was given to de-flea her home professionally, as by now the fleas were knee deep. Of course, the ferrets should be boarded out until the problem was solved. One of the ferrets almost lost his life but happily with good veterinary care he survived, and so did his companion. IT COULD HAVE BEEN FIVE OUT OF FIVE!!!

STEPS TO DE-FLEA
Perhaps the most important aspects of de-fleaing is the environment. If you have indoor/outdoor pets they may be transporting fleas into the home. On the other hand, if you walk your ferret outdoors where other animals with fleas have been, the ferret may be the culprit. Regardless, everything must be de-flead at the same time. The ferret, inside the house, outside the house, cages and bedding and, if need be, all other animals cohabiting with the family.

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
Many pet owners wonder which flea products to use. One good rule of thumb is to ask your veterinarian, as fleas become immune to certain pesticides -- what may have been successful last year, will not always work this year. There are many companies that promote flea products containing no pesticides and claim these to be harmless to humans and animals. Check into any product you buy with your veterinarian first. If the problem is severe, call in a professional. It is important to tell them you have a ferret and try to vacate the house along with your ferret for at least 4 hours.

THE FERRET - do not use a flea collar! There are good shampoos for kittens useable on ferrets and will work if directions are followed. Remember to comb out all the fleas left on the ferret when rinsing. CHECK YOUR FERRET DAILY FOR FLEAS. Do not use the flea shampoo daily as they can be harsh on the skin. A change in shampoos is recommended and is often successful in dealing with the problem. Also, search out natural products available on the market and interchange them with those containing harsher chemicals.

A natural dip recommended for use when fleas are still a problem in the environment is as follows:

CAGES
Wash the cage thoroughly and let dry. Use a spray that is designed to be sprayed on puppies and/or kittens, obtained at your veterinarian. Soak cage and allow to dry before returning the ferret to its cage. Do not spray directly onto the ferret as it will burn its tender skin (and you may receive a nip of thanks!).

BEDDING
wash all bedding and toys - repeat this every day if fleas are still present. Using old t-shirts makes an easy and effortless change of bedding. Also, wash dishes and water bottles. Repeat all of these steps every ten (10) days as new flea eggs will hatch. Normally the problem will be solved after three or four times if everything is deflead at the same time.

PREVENTION
As a preventative against fleas, ADVANTAGE has been used very effectively on ferrets living in homes with multiple pets. With any product you plan to use on your ferret, ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR VETERINARIAN FIRST!