ferret - Articles
Flea infestation
Introduction
- Cause: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and/or Ctenocephalides canis (dog flea).
- Signs: pruritus, self-trauma, skin lacerations, alopecia, excoriation.
- Diagnosis: visible fleas, dirt tests.
- Treatment: selamectin, moxidectin, imidacloprid, pyrethrins.
- Prognosis: good.
Presenting signs
- Pruritus.
- Self-trauma.
- Skin lacerations.
- Alopecia.
- Excoriation.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Infestation with Ctenocephalides felis
and/or Ctenocephalides canis 
fleas. - Infestation usually signals that other pets in the household have fleas.
- Fleas also will be present in the environment.
- Flea bites cause intense pruritus particularly in those individuals where hypersensitivity to flea saliva exists.
- Flea bite dermatitis and hypersensitivity has been seen in ferrets.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Wenzel U, Heine J, Mengel H et al (2008) Efficacy of imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1% (Advocate (R)/Advantage Multi (TM)) against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) on ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Parasitol Res 103 (1), 231-234 PubMed.