How do you get rid of fleas on a ferret?

Answer 1

Ferrets do tend to scratch and itch a lot. Bathing and/or using a product not made for ferrets will dry out their skin, making them itch, also check for fleas. Bathing a ferret is not necessary unless they get into something and needs a bath. Ferrets can also have Allergies that will make them itchy. If you are feeding dry ferret food, give them a tiny bit of olive oil every few days for their coat, it has a lot of good nutrients. Most ferrets like olive oil, you can use it as a treat for them. Also your ferret's ears may need cleaning which also causes them to scratch themselves

Answer 2

First of all, are you absolutely certain that your ferret does in fact have fleas? Ferrets enjoy scratching and do so regularly and vigorously in a manner very similar to the way in which a cat or dog with fleas scratches. Have you seen the fleas? If not, comb the ferret's fur with a fine-toothed comb. If you see no fleas but do find small black specks, place them onto a damp sheet of white tissue - if they produce red stains, they're flea dirt. If not, your ferret almost certainly does not have fleas.

Pyrethrins, the chemicals commonly used in anti-flea products, are safe for use on ferrets but not all commercial products are suitable. However, over the last decade, ferrets have become increasingly popular as pets in the West and many anti-flea products suited to small animals now feature packaging that informs you whether or not it can be used on a ferret. If in doubt, take the ferret to visit a veterinary surgeon - and remember, ferrets are small enough to be at risk of death from anemia if infested with fleas, so don't ignore the problem.

Also, remember that if your ferret has fleas other pets and your home will also have them - cat fleas, which are the commonest flea to be found on ferrets, will live on several other species. You'll need to buy one of the various flea powders suited to use on carpets and furniture to get rid of them for good.

Advice from another contributor:

First, you should bathe your ferret to remove as many fleas as possible. You can use a kitten flea shampoo. Start at the head and neck and lather well. Keep the soap on for 5-10 minutes. This helps suffocate and kill the fleas. Be sure to rinse your ferret carefully and don't get soap in his eyes.

Then comb over your ferret with a flea comb to remove any dead fleas.

Next, you need to treat your ferret. I use kitten Advantage, but kitten Frontline or Revolution can also be used. Use 1 drop per pound of ferret or as directed by your vet.

Lastly, you will need to wash all bedding in your ferret's cage. It's also a good idea to treat the carpets and vacuum daily.

Refer to related question below for using proper flea medications on ferrets

Answer 3

There could be several different causes of a ferret to become red and itchy, from being over bathe or allergies caused by food, cleaning products etc. A veterinarian will have to diagnose the problem if it continues