Ferret Infested With Tick

[johnharris 177]

A neighbour has just brought a ferret to me that she found in the woods behind where we live. Its a hob that is very thin and infested with ticks

I have never seen one so bad.

What is the best treatment. Its a friendly ferret. I was wondering if ivomec or frontline would kill them off. Any advice would be good. I've just put some flea powder on it as a start

[Rake aboot 4,935]

Frontline bud, use gloves,, soak the glove in frontline (vinyl gloves) and spread it all over the ferret

 

 

Use an Otom to remove as many as you can,, and be very carefull about it,, don`t be temted just to howk them out with tweezers or nail clippers etc..

 

Any more info needed just ask

[northern lad 2,292]

I use Effipro,superb stuff,got it off the vet,think it was about £15,very effective 3 pumps per ferret (oo er )lasts ages ,the one spray has kept 6 ferrets tick free for 2 years worth every penny

[johnharris 177]

If I frontline them or use Effpro will I still need to remove the ticks or will they drop off when they die

[ferret100 47]

They'll drop off when treated as it buggers their nervous system. Defo try to remove as many as poss with tick remover because as they're actively feeding at present some ticks will be near to or fully fed and may drop off before you can get hold of the treatment, then those wee buggers will crawl away and hide until they fancy another meal. Atb.

[ferret100 47]

Also try to get some red meat and fatty meats into the hob gradually or get some Hills a/d preferably to get some calories and nutrients back into the poor wee fella. If it is a severe infestation thats been going on for a while he'll need some tlc to recover from being a 24hr blood donor. Atb.

[northern lad 2,292]

With the Effipro it kills any on the ferrets,and it lasts a month before they need it again ,don't need to remove any they just fall off,not saying its better than frontline but its allways worked for me quick spray ,back in the cage and they disappear

[gary.l 61]

Love to see some pictures and watch him (hopefully) getting nursed back to health, good luck with it anyway:)

[johnharris 177]

I have frontlined him and he is in a cages on his own with clean shaving. Just given him minced chicken and some minced lamb. I will take some pictures tomorrow. I think he has been out a long time he is skin and bone. Poor bugger.

[ferret100 47]

Not sure if its as cold with you as here, but worth chucking in some warm bedding like old jumpers/fleecy blankets as he doesn't seem like he has any fat stores to keep himself warm enough in this weather, by keeping him warm it will help him to gain weight. Atb.

[socks 32,253]

The ferret is going to be anaemic after being sucked dry of blood by the ticks ... It will need plenty of iron which you can get from feeding rabbit and offal ... Also as has been said it will need lots of warmth to aid recovery so make sure the sleeping quarters are full with warm bedding ...........

[johnharris 177]

My ferret shed is heated so its warm in there. Also he has had chicken carcas which has all the giblets minced in. I will see how he is tomorrow. He is eatimg and drinking plenty so hope he will be ok

[ferret100 47]

Lucky ferret, he's certainly landed on his feet under your care. Keep us posted. Atb.

[johnharris 177]

All the ticks are dead and off him. I ended up using frontline and ivomec the following day. He has had a whole rabbit this morning and when I cam home tonight he was bouncing around his hutch. Changed all his bedding tonight and burnt the old stuff. Give him a few weeks then find him a home.

[socks 32,253]

Keep him and give him a try he might be a decent worker .......