Responses from Whole/Natural Prey Suppliers
CARPETSHARKING in all the wrong places
Out of the 6 fuzzbutts in the family to date, one girl would enjoy standing on the balcony to watch the outside, the cars and whatnot but that was IT. That was her limit for interacting with the Great Outdoors.
If it suddenly got too much, it was mad-dash-INSIDE～～! RUN! *panicpanicpanic* BREAK FOR COVER!!!
Another, my big brave boss-girl did enjoy the outdoors. Around the yard, the apartment. When she had enough, it was up the sleeve and look out through the cuff. o.0 (Which made it really hard to bend my arm so that never lasted very long - having to walk around with one arm outstretched.)
My current youngest is a HIKER. One hour in the woods is no more that a walk in the park. Try more like one and a half or even two hours for him. o.0
We came back after a happy, leisurely meander Saturday morning and after about 10 minutes I had found and picked off about 15 ticks.
Maybe I had them all, or maybe I didn't because when we went out again on Monday morning I found him covered AGAIN.
I picked off what I could see that day including the larval stage ones which are about the size (or smaller) than a beauty mark.
We didn't go out Tuesday morning because Tuesday morning I found THIRTEEN MORE (larval stage) to remove!
Before you get too petrified and start thinking about shaving your head, be assured that according to the ALDF "Deer ticks cannot jump or fly, and do not drop from above onto a passing animal. Potential hosts (which include all wild birds and mammals, domestic animals, and humans) acquire ticks only by direct contact with them." Good news for you, not so for the wandering fuzz since "the best precaution ... is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation as much as possible."
And from experience I can tell you those are EXACTLY the places they make a beeline for.
First and foremost, a common misconception needs to be addressed.
* Revolution kills fleas, prevents heartworm, and other etc. (** see addendum below)
* Advantage mainly just kills fleas.
Beyond that, knowledge is your best defense.
So before heading out again, arm yourself appropriately.
General need-to-know information and pictures:
* American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF)
They have some pictures here, but the wealth of information is in their signs and symptoms and infected US areas - maps and statistics. (Note: Map uses data current as of 2006. )
* National Geographic
Note the unusual appearance of the adult deer tick. Not what we as humans are used to picking off our clothes.
"Significantly smaller than the more commonly encountered dog tick, adult female deer ticks are about as big as a sesame seed and have reddish hind bodies with black dorsal markings. Males are slightly smaller than females and are solid dark brown."
In regards to the dreaded and debilitating Lyme disease (which had me frantically calling my vet and posting for help on FB), do note that it takes FRONTLINE an unspecified number of hours to kill off all ticks yet the ticks "must remain attached for at least 24 hours for the bacteria to transmit." (National Geographic, Frontline )
A slight inconsistency in transmission-time should be addressed.
According to the ALDF "... studies of infected deer ticks have shown that they begin transmitting Lyme disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment."
Again, even though that seems to give you a window of safety with FRONTLINE killing them off within some unspecified number of hours, the transmission time given by the ALDF is clearly marked as an average. In other words, IF YOU ARE LUCKY, LD is not transmitted before FRONTLINE kills the ticks off.
So don't feel you can rest easy just because you are using FRONTLINE.
If you find a tick, remove it ASAP!!
Then search for more.
And search again.
Because before you know it they are laying pathetically at the door signaling time-to-go! again
Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪
**ADDENDUM
There has been some confusion generated about Revolution.
Pfizer clearly states through their official website that "Revolution controls tick infestations only due to the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), a tick commonly found on dogs. There are other common species of ticks that are not killed or controlled by Revolution."
You as the ferret owner are not concerned about dog ticks.
You are concerned about the other common tick species that are not killed or controlled by Revolution.
Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!
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