fieldwanderer Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 having trouble with my ferret getting ticks quite a lot lately, I've heard you shouldn't use dog / cat flea collars etc so has anyone got any remedies? was wondering about the likes of cedar balls or similar? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 it isn't licensed for them but you can use frontline for dogs in the spray form. i have used it for years on my ferrets just use enough to wet fur down to the skin 6 - 7 squirts from the bottle is usually enough. keep the ferret indoors until dry to prevent chilling the ferret whilst damp. if memory serves it protects against fleas for 3 months and ticks for 1 month. it is not cheap but very effective. To deal with ticks that are already attached, or if you do not wish to go down the insecticide route. Brush the tick with surgical spirit (available from any chemist for a couple of quid ) in most instances the tick will drop off dead in a few minutes if not you will have to remove it. PLEASE use a purpose desinged tick remover to remove it if you do not remove the tick in its entirety the mouth parts can stay in and develop into a nasty infection, i got the o'tom tick remover from the vets (www.otom.com) cost a couple of quid from the vets and i too removed a tick from one of my ferrets neck last week using the described method The problem with this method is using surgical spirit around the ferrets eyes and ears. BE VERY CAREFUL or just remove the tick without killing it, i have also heard of dabbing the tick with baby oil but have never tried it. theory being that ticks breathe through their body (mouth parts area attached to ferret) and if it is coated in oil they cant breathe perhaps someone else has succesfully used this method?? Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck1 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 I have tried all sorts - petrol, cig ends, butter, vaseline etc. All with little or no effect. Tick tweezers and an anticlockwise motion have been the best so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 I have tried all sorts - petrol, cig ends, butter, vaseline etc. All with little or no effect. Tick tweezers and an anticlockwise motion have been the best so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 paint the body of the tick with nail varnish,they breath through their skin,they fall off in a few hours . petrol,or white sprit should work to mind.i wouldnt try pulling them ,could end up getting bitten or hurt the ferret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fieldwanderer Posted May 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 yeah, I'm doing ok at removing them though I have just learned a couple of new ways Is there anything I can put in his cage to help prevent them / make them want to leave of their own accord? Tried cedar oil this morning on a big ****** but it had no effect so I don't think cedar balls are going to help! God knows where they're coming from, I haven't worked him since december / january but he does have an hour or so roaming the garden each day Thanks for the advise so far anyway paint the body of the tick with nail varnish,they breath through their skin,they fall off in a few hours . petrol,or white sprit should work to mind.i wouldnt try pulling them ,could end up getting bitten or hurt the ferret. yeah, that's starting to sound like the answer to getting them off at least I had one on my arm last year lit the end of a cocktail stick blew it out and the tick soon scarpered as soon as it was anywhere near it, difficult with a fert that won't stay still and has fur though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck1 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Probably changing the bedding type/exercise location would be the only way. Nasty little *******. I have keeper friends who I have seen "twiddle" them off using just an index finger going anticlockwise, for about a minute or so and the tick just dropped out! I am told that this works because a tick bites it's way in in a clockwise manner, so itonly comes out cleanly in the opposite direction. This was on a dog, but it has never worked for me, however it is amazing to watch. Maybe I just haven't the patience. Tuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mannlicher Stu Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 Probably changing the bedding type/exercise location would be the only way. Nasty little *******. I have keeper friends who I have seen "twiddle" them off using just an index finger going anticlockwise, for about a minute or so and the tick just dropped out! I am told that this works because a tick bites it's way in in a clockwise manner, so itonly comes out cleanly in the opposite direction. This was on a dog, but it has never worked for me, however it is amazing to watch. Maybe I just haven't the patience. Tuck Being a Deer Stalker its a constant problem with us getting ticks on us from the deer. Ticks can pass a desease to humans that can be quite long lasting . Its called Lyme Desease which the symptoms are like MS were the muscles dont function. The first sign is a red ring if you get bitten and this shows as a sore ring like a watering Bullseye seek medical attention straight away. I thought I had been bitten on my scrotum once and went to the doctors but it turned out to be lip stick I now use a Deet spray which costs around £5.00 they have it on Ebay Dont know if you can spay it on ferrets though. Kind Regards Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 I always used to use a drop of parrafin painted onto the tick with a small paint brush ( artists type not decorators) Seemed to do the tick ........er I mean trick FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stiv24 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 The only effective way is to use a purpose made tick removing tool available from the vets for less than two quid. The come in a pack of two. One large one small. Insert the fork of the tool under the tick next to the animals skin. Gently pull the tick tool while turning anti clockwise and this action will unscrew the ticks head. Dont paint with nail varnish, dab with a fag end or anything else and definately don't use your wifes tweezers as all you will do is squeeze the tick and that will cause it to spew all its poisonous contents into your animal. And if you think thats bad wait til your misses finds out what you have been doing with here tweezers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted May 30, 2007 Report Share Posted May 30, 2007 clean ya cot out,and spray it with duramitex. http://www.petlifeonline.co.uk/Store/Pigeo...ducts/Duramitex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve266 Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Ive used surgical spirit and vaseline both worked but u do have to repeat severel times good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunnybasher100 Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 ok boys and girls. there are all good idears and work but last year i had a problem with ticks only on 1 fert 2 days after i had been out with here ood day. done the usual thing when i got back feed and watered up put the 3 jills back in there cage. 2 days later there was blood and little black and white sacks all over her. turned out to be ticks and the blood, hers where the other ferts had attaked her because of the smell of blood in the ticks. separated them and stop counting @ about 60 tics ( i should have taken photos) i used dog frontline on a cotton wool bud and coated the little bliters in it 1 week later all gone and fert was back to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Is it safe to use frontline on pregnant frets ? LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonna Shoot a Wabbit Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 just checked the warnings / instructions on my current bottle of frontline and it doesn't mention pregnant or lactating females. Only thing i could find was that pups / kittens can be treated from 2 days old. Frontline has an alcohol carrier that can be absorbed into the skin, as such i wouldn,t personally use it on a pregnant / lactating jill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brock Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 I usually cover the tick with dog flea shampoo using a small artists brush. That soon gets rid. Also bought a Tic o Tom remover the other month a doddle to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted July 12, 2007 Report Share Posted July 12, 2007 Rather than using chemicals, nail polish etc. I checked them from week two and removed any I found. Maybe its best to just do it hands on. I tested the anti-clockwise trick by putting one on my forearm, it works LB EDIT dont try this at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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