Table 11-2.
Antiparasitic Agents Used in Ferrets.
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Amitraz (Mitaban, Upjohn) | 0.0125% topical solution q7d × 3 treatments, then 0.0375% q7d × 3 treatments52 | Demodecosis secondary to other illness |
| 0.03% topical solution to affected area q7d × 3-6 treatments53 | Demodecosis; use full concentration | |
| Amprolium | 19 mg/kg PO q24h52 | Coccidiosis |
| 100 mg/kg PO in food or water for 7 days25 | Isospora | |
| Carbaryl powder (5%) | Topical q7d × 3-6 treatments52 | Ectoparasites |
| Decoquinate | 0.5 mg/kg PO for at least 2 wk60 | Coccidiosis; larger groups of ferrets |
| Fenbendazole | 20 mg/kg PO q24h × 5 days52 | |
| 50 mg/kg PO q24h × 30 days52 | Mesocestoides infection | |
| Fipronil (Frontline, Merial) | 1 pump of spray or ⅕-½ of cat pipette topical q60d52 | Flea adulticide |
| 0.2-0.4 mL topically q30d52 | ||
| Imidacloprid (Advantage, Bayer) | 10 mg/kg topically36 | Flea treatment; PD |
| 0.1-0.4 mL topically q30d39,52 | Flea adulticide; use small cat/kitten vial | |
| Imidacloprid/moxidectin (Advantage Multi, Bayer) | 1.9-3.3 μg/kg topically q30d60 | Heartworm prevention |
| Ivermectin | 0.02 mg/kg PO, SC q30d69 | Heartworm prevention |
| 0.05 mg/kg PO q30d until negative testing69 | Recommended treatment for heartworms; give prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day) concurrently | |
| 0.05-0.3 mg/kg PO q24h for 1 mo after negative skin scraping6 | Demodecosis | |
| 0.2-0.5 mg/kg SC q14d × 3 treatments52 | Sarcoptic mange | |
| 0.4 mg/kg PO, SC, repeat in 14-28 days52 | Ear mites, ticks | |
| 0.5-1 mg/kg in ears, repeat in 14 days52 | Ear mites; half dose in each ear; treat cats and dogs in house concurrently | |
| Lime sulfur | Dip 1:40 dilution q7d × 6 wk21 | Demodectic mange |
| Lufenuron (Program, Novartis) | 10 mg/kg SC25 | Flea larvicide |
| 30 mg/kg PO in food25 | ||
| 30-45 mg/kg PO q30d52 | ||
| Mebendazole | 50 mg/kg PO q12h × 2 days25 | Nematodes |
| Melarsomine dihydrochloride (Immiticide, Merial) | 2.5 mg/kg IM once, repeat in 30 days with 2 treatments 24 hr apart52 | Heartworm adulticide; less commonly used; use prednisone (1 mg/kg q24h × 4 mo) following treatment |
| Metronidazole | 15-20 mg/kg PO q12h × 14 days52 | Gastrointestinal protozoa |
| Milbemycin oxime (Interceptor, Novartis) | 1.15-2.33 mg/kg PO q30d52 | Heartworm preventive |
| Moxidectin | 0.17 mg SC once60 | Heartworm adulticide |
| Paromomycin | 165 mg/kg PO q12h × 5 days60 | Cryptosporidiosis; possible treatment; use with caution, severe renal disease possible |
| Piperazine citrate | 50-100 mg/kg PO q14d53 | Intestinal nematodes |
| Praziquantel (Droncit, Bayer) | 5-10 mg/kg PO, SC, repeat in 1053-14d52 | Cestodes |
| 25 mg/kg PO × 3 days60 | Trematodes | |
| Pyrantel pamoate | 4.4 mg/kg PO, repeat in 14 days52 | |
| Pyrethrins | Topical q7d prn52 | Fleas; use products safe for puppies and kittens |
| Pyrimethamine | 0.5 mg/kg PO q12h25 | Toxoplasmosis; antiprotozoal |
| Selamectin (Revolution, Zoetis) | 6-18 mg/kg topically51, 52, 53,60 | Ectoparasites (fleas, lice, most mites except Demodex) |
| 15 mg topically q30d14 | Ear mites, fleas; PD | |
| 45 mg/ferret topically50 | Ear mites; although this dose has been reported in a PD study, it appears that lower (safer?) doses (see previous) are also quite effective | |
| Sulfadimethoxine | 20-50 mg/kg PO q24h7 | Coccidia |
| 50 mg/kg PO, then 25 mg/kg q24h × 9 days52 | ||
| 0.5 mL/kg of a 12.5% solution mixed into drinking water56 | For treatment of enteric coccidiosis in a large group of ferrets | |
| Thiabendazole/dex-amethasone/neomycin (Tresaderm, Merial) | 2 drops in each ear q24h × 7 days, off 7 days, on 7 days55 | Ear mites |