advice needed

[diggermad 154]

hi can anyone help with this i have a ferret that has brown stuff coming out of his ear before i take him to the vets does anyone know what it can be cheers DM

[roughcoat 8]

Nothing like that has ever happened to mine somebody will be along with some advice shortly though,if it was mine it would be the vet's first thing

[fcuktheban 140]

The stuff is ear wax the ferret could have ear mites or an ear infection. Try cleaning it's ear and look for mites.

[barry lurcher 27]

is it in the ear or pouring out of it

[barry lurcher 27]

Parasites on ferrets: Symptoms and treatments for fleas, ticks, and mites

 

by Trenna Sue Hiler

 

Ferrets, like many other animals, are prone to get infected with parasites. Probably the most common are ticks, fleas and mites. These are not just minor inconveniences. If left untreated these can put your ferret and even your family at risk. So lets take a look at the symptoms and treatments for our beloved pets.

 

~Ear mites

Ear mites can be transferred between cats, dogs, and ferrets who may sleep in the same areas, but at different time of day. Essentially, if one animal in the house has mites it is a safe assumption that all of them are or will be infected.

 

Ferrets with ear mites tend to dig at their ears and shake their head as if trying to get water out of their ears. There is often a dark brown discharge coming from the ear. If it is a heavy infestation is may look something like coffee grounds in the ear.

 

The only way to be certain of an ear mite infestation is have a professional examine the debris from the ear to determine the mite. The life span of an ear mite typically goes through a 3 week period from egg to a full mature ear mite.

 

Medications of effective in the treatment of mites. However, it is essential that the treatment continue through the entire cycle of mites. Mite eggs are extremely resistant to treatment and are normally handled after they hatch out. So the medication needs to be administered at 1 to 3 week intervals to make sure the problem is taken care of.

 

Bedding must be treated during the full four week period as well.

 

~Fleas

The most common type of fleas that are found in domesticated ferrets are ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea. If ferrets are allowed outside they may catch another variety, but they are all treated the same. Fleas survive by sucking the blood from the skin of animals and people. Since ferrets are already prone to anemia, fleas are a great health risk.

 

Again it is important to think of the flea infestation as life cycle rather than just one flea. The flea goes from eggs, larvae to pupae. Just getting rid of adult fleas does not stop the infestation problem.

 

Many veterinarians suggest that the ferrets are continually on a flea treatment if there are any other pets in the household. They tend to error on the side of caution. There are a myriad of drugs to choose from and a personal veterinarian is best person to make the decision.

 

~Ticks

Tick are arachnids. There are over 850 species of ticks worldwide and many of then harmful to humans. Ticks are known to transmit many diseases and need to dealt with. Ticks that are visible on a ferret should be removed.

 

To remove the tick use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal instruments. Tick removal devices are made to remove the tick without squeezing the body. This is important as the body may be carrying disease which could be passed on through the excretions of a squished tick.

 

Grab the tick by the head or mouth parts where they enter the skin. Pull back in a steady outward motion with no jerking or twisting.

 

Kill the tick by dropping it into a pill bottle of alcohol. Flushing down the toilet will not kill it.

 

Clean the area and treat with hydro-cortisone spray to relieve the itching caused by the saliva of the tick. Home remedies such as petroleum jelly or olive oil in hopes that the tick will back out are not recommended.

 

Any serious concerns about parasites and ferrets should be addressed with a visit to the vet.

 

 

 

hope this helps mate

[diggermad 154]

hi mate only had this ferret 2days noticed it had a dirty ear cleaned it up so when i went to clean the cage early evening it is there again it looks like a treacle colour thanks for the advice up to now cheers DM

[fcuktheban 140]

You might want to seperate them ferrets if they are together just in case it is ear mites.

[barry lurcher 27]

judging by that its a ear infection or mites i gotta mite spray for ferrets and small animals paid about 4 quid for it kills mites and fleas you can get the stuff in any pet shop its not fleas is it feeding around the ear ? hows the little one coming on anyway ?

[jack260 8]

sounds like mites and entered the middle ear get to a vet if i was you lost one from this a few years back and get some thornit powder for there ears great stuff

[gnipper 6,509]

Get some thornit powder, vets will probably give you canaural which is nowhere near as good as thornit.

[diggermad 154]

thanks all for your help will get it sorted he's in a hutch on his own and we have sprayed him with frontline thanks to barry lurcher for asking about the litttle one she is doing great got a nice little bite on her now but the missus and myself handle her and the mum does'nt seem to mind cheers DM

[fcuktheban 140]

Did you have the ferret seen to?

[Jamie m 668]

thanks all for your help will get it sorted he's in a hutch on his own and we have sprayed him with frontline thanks to barry lurcher for asking about the litttle one she is doing great got a nice little bite on her now but the missus and myself handle her and the mum does'nt seem to mind cheers DM

 

so your ferretd had fleas in it's ears actually living in it's ears that's a new one , ????

[roughcoat 8]

Parasites on ferrets: Symptoms and treatments for fleas, ticks, and mites

 

by Trenna Sue Hiler

 

Ferrets, like many other animals, are prone to get infected with parasites. Probably the most common are ticks, fleas and mites. These are not just minor inconveniences. If left untreated these can put your ferret and even your family at risk. So lets take a look at the symptoms and treatments for our beloved pets.

 

~Ear mites

Ear mites can be transferred between cats, dogs, and ferrets who may sleep in the same areas, but at different time of day. Essentially, if one animal in the house has mites it is a safe assumption that all of them are or will be infected.

 

Ferrets with ear mites tend to dig at their ears and shake their head as if trying to get water out of their ears. There is often a dark brown discharge coming from the ear. If it is a heavy infestation is may look something like coffee grounds in the ear.

 

The only way to be certain of an ear mite infestation is have a professional examine the debris from the ear to determine the mite. The life span of an ear mite typically goes through a 3 week period from egg to a full mature ear mite.

 

Medications of effective in the treatment of mites. However, it is essential that the treatment continue through the entire cycle of mites. Mite eggs are extremely resistant to treatment and are normally handled after they hatch out. So the medication needs to be administered at 1 to 3 week intervals to make sure the problem is taken care of.

 

Bedding must be treated during the full four week period as well.

 

~Fleas

The most common type of fleas that are found in domesticated ferrets are ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea. If ferrets are allowed outside they may catch another variety, but they are all treated the same. Fleas survive by sucking the blood from the skin of animals and people. Since ferrets are already prone to anemia, fleas are a great health risk.

 

Again it is important to think of the flea infestation as life cycle rather than just one flea. The flea goes from eggs, larvae to pupae. Just getting rid of adult fleas does not stop the infestation problem.

 

Many veterinarians suggest that the ferrets are continually on a flea treatment if there are any other pets in the household. They tend to error on the side of caution. There are a myriad of drugs to choose from and a personal veterinarian is best person to make the decision.

 

~Ticks

Tick are arachnids. There are over 850 species of ticks worldwide and many of then harmful to humans. Ticks are known to transmit many diseases and need to dealt with. Ticks that are visible on a ferret should be removed.

 

To remove the tick use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or tick removal instruments. Tick removal devices are made to remove the tick without squeezing the body. This is important as the body may be carrying disease which could be passed on through the excretions of a squished tick.

 

Grab the tick by the head or mouth parts where they enter the skin. Pull back in a steady outward motion with no jerking or twisting.

 

Kill the tick by dropping it into a pill bottle of alcohol. Flushing down the toilet will not kill it.

 

Clean the area and treat with hydro-cortisone spray to relieve the itching caused by the saliva of the tick. Home remedies such as petroleum jelly or olive oil in hopes that the tick will back out are not recommended.

 

Any serious concerns about parasites and ferrets should be addressed with a visit to the vet.

 

 

 

hope this helps mate

Very informative mate