Ferrets can get fleas just like any other animals like dogs and cats and it is a must to get rid of them if you don’t want your ferret to face physical sickness and disease in the future.
Even though fleas are incredibly small they still have lasting effects as they are hard to get rid of especially when they have already laid many eggs and are infesting your pet more with time.
Fleas are small parasites that often attach themselves to furry pets especially if you let your pet outdoors every once in a while. Fleas often travel through humans as well or by linking themselves to a bag or an item of clothing that you bring outside.
Your ferret is most likely to catch them through, however, cat flea, also known as ‘Ctenophalidesfelis’ in the scientific language, are also quite common. Their common target is a cat but a ferret’s body isn’t a strange territory to them either.
Can Fleas Be Transmitted To Humans?
Although we commonly find fleas in a house with pets, they mainly reside on the pet or on its belongings. This includes their chew toy, their beddings, carpets, etc. For that reason, a flea bite on a human will occur mostly on the ankles and legs. Only in the worst cases will you find them on other body parts, a telltale sign that your house suffers from a serious infestation of fleas.
A cat flea doesn’t usually reside in a human but if you happen to get a flea bite then it can be further developed into a disease like fever, allergy, plague, and typhus, etc.
How To Know If Your Ferret Has Fleas?
Ferrets are naturally itchy animals and fleas are really tiny so it will be hard to detect them.
But of course, the owner will notice if their pets are acting a little bit weird.
When you see your ferret being extra itchy, biting, and scratching itself a lot then take a look at their body, chances are you will come across a flea or flea dirt.
For those of you who don’t know, flea dirt refers to dung left by resident fleas in your ferret’s body. It looks like a couple of small black dots, or as if someone sprayed black pepper in that body part. If you use flea combs on your ferret then you will also find traces of it on the comb.
This is why it is also better to use a flea comb at least once a week. If your ferret has a flea attack you will be able to notice it early and treat it before it gets worse.
Fleas also leave bite marks on your ferret which look like small red spots.
They feed on blood; a heavy amount of fleas means more blood loss. So, if your ferret is still of small age then the odds are that they will soon become anemic due to flea attacks.
Anemic condition is only one of the many bad conditions that a flea will cause unless you get it treated as soon as possible to save your ferret from the uneasiness.
What Happens If You Don’t Treat Your Ferret Immediately?
Unfortunately, a lot of fleas can result in several diseases.
These diseases may not be life-threatening, but they are not comfortable to live with either. You need to get them treated promptly and the longer you delay, the worse it gets. A lot of scratching and biting will make your ferret stressed and eventually lead to fur loss. The ferret will most likely lose his sleep also and won’t be able to eat properly because of the stress. He will be irritated around other pets will often be found sitting in the corner away from everyone.
Fleas are nasty creatures that carry diseases like any other dirty parasites. If their numbers are heavy then they may even lead to stomach problems for your ferret. And as we have mentioned before, since the fleas feed on blood, your ferret is likely to be anemic due to blood loss.
Treat your ferrets as soon as possible to help them return to a normal, happy life.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid of A Flea Attack?
If you don’t catch the fleas in your ferrets in the early stages, it will be a long and stressful process to get rid of them. As they are small and hard to deal with, you can’t just use a flea comb as a treatment.
A flea comb will definitely help but it is not enough to prevent them fully.
If your ferret is already entirely infested by fleas, it will take about 3-4 months for the whole treatment. In case you wonder why it takes this long, it is because by that time the fleas have expectedly already spread to the beddings, carpets, couches, and other places. Your pet stays connected with them, and the fleas keep on attacking them.
Top-notch veterinarians advise that you should use flea control on your furry pets before summer and warmer months; the furry pets include cats, dogs, and of course ferrets.
Best Ways To Get Rid of Fleas At Home
The best and most effective way to rid your ferrets of their fleas is to wash all your ferret-related belongings.
Let’s say you have checked in with the veterinarian and gotten the recommended medication for your ferret. The next step you will need to do is keep your ferret away from the usual environment for a while, until you completely discard the fleas at home.
- Use a vacuum for the first few days constantly on your couch, bed, and carpets.
- Clean the ferret’s cage thoroughly.
- Wash the beddings, hammocks, and any other place your ferret mostly uses.
- Use flea repellent sprays to kill fleas on the spot.
Before using any product, it is good to consult a professional veterinarian. He can suggest a better product after assessing your ferret’s overall health and sensitivity.
Feel free to share other tips you may have with dealing with this problem. We know it’s tough – but you just have to suck it up and get to it as soon as you notice the warning signs! Don’t make it a whole house project by allowing the infestation to get worse.