How to Solve Ferret Fleas and Ticks Problems

Just like cats and dogs, ferrets can be afflicted with fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and a host of other biting insects and parasites. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to protect your pet.

There is a very common cat flea called Ctenocephalides Felis that regularly bothers the ferret. Since ferrets love to explore, however, they can come in contact with a range of bothersome creatures.

There are certain times of the year when ferrets are more likely to be bothered with fleas and ticks. When it is cold outside, you have less of a problem, but when it’s warm, fleas and mosquitoes both will thrive. These insects start their breeding cycle now and will become more active. Ticks are always around, but they are more prevalent in the summertime.

There are a number of symptoms that you can tell fleas are bothering your ferret. Flea droppings are a good sign. These are tiny, dark specks that can be visible long after the flea is gone. If you comb your finger across the direction of the hair, you will see them on the pet’s skin. Fleas, on the other hand, can be trickier to see, but they will jump off the pet and onto you.

Fleas can jump everywhere. They can get into everything. They will jump from the bedding to the cage, from the cage to the carpet, from the carpet to your bed. Soon, your whole house can be affected with fleas and there can be millions of flea eggs germinating in your carpet, fabrics and more!

What can you do to prevent fleas from taking over? A little prevention now can go a long way in your future. There are flea shampoos that you can give your ferret to make sure they are safe. In addition, these fleas will help them stay clean and help to stop the itching. There are also flea powders that will help once your pet has become infected.

Pyrethrins are considered relatively safe for flea protection. They are flea repellants and will kill the adult fleas. You can get a wipe that will brush over the fur to protect your ferret.

Advantage is another common flea treatment that works with ferrets. They make a ferret version that lets you drop just a single drop between their shoulders and it will keep the fleas and their larvae.

Once the fleas are in your carpet and in your furniture, you can have a big problem on your hands. After all, fleas’ larvae are just as dangerous and they are nearly impossible to see. You can wash your bedding and your ferret’s bedding in hot water with bleach, but you will need to treat your carpet and furniture with flea powder. One inexpensive and effective solution is to put Borax, the laundry detergent, in your carpet because it will kill the larvae and then you can vacuum it back up again.

Fleas will also jump on other pets and people, but the Advantage should take care of their infestation. The house will be much more difficult to clean up.

Ticks are another big problem. Ticks carry a lot of diseases because they feed on the blood and then regurgitate back into the bloodstream a few hours after they eat. They can be deadly for your pet. You will need to immediately remove them with hot tweezers when you find them. Make sure you get all parts of the tick because just leaving one piece like the head or limbs will make that area become infected.

Always seek the help of your vet when you have questions. These insects can carry deadly diseases and cause you and your pet major discomfort. They can help you look for signs of illness and give you solutions to getting rid of them as well.

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