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Post by maddiesmom on Jun 22, 2009 17:41:04 GMT -5
 Ingredients list green tea, lime, and citronella. I use this on my dog (in combo with some other things) and it seems to work well. Does it sound safe to use on a fert? I do not bath Izzy often, but when I do occasionally, or if I have a problem with pests (don't go outside often either) I was thinking about using it. It seems very mild. |
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Post by weloveourweasels on Jun 22, 2009 18:19:41 GMT -5
Skip it. Ferrets do not need baths, that will just dry out there skin. Cain and Able make insect repellent spray did you not see that? secure.cainandablecollection.com/BathProducts.asp?ID=1001Make sure to ask a vet if it is OK so use. I am not sure about the lavender one because of the eucalistus oil but the peppermint tea tree scent i think is OK. Some people will say to just skip essential oils all together but they are not all bad and some can be beneficial I have this stuff www.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=-109&catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&langId=-1 but it comes out as oil when you spray it and it makes their fur oily of course not to mention the horrible smell. No wonder it works. However I found 2 good uses for it. I use it like a spot on and spray one squirt in between their shoulder blades and that helps ward off bugs without having to cover ther entire body.. Also I just rescued a domestic rabbit wandering in the road last month and he was covered in ticks. I sprayed this in my hands and rubbed them together and then rubbed him down really good. This killed all the ticks but 2 of them. I sprayed both ticks directly and 5 minutes later i noticed one running for its life which i promptly burned. The other one just vansished. |
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Post by Heather on Jun 23, 2009 0:04:21 GMT -5
Please guys be very careful using EO's (essential oils) on ferrets, like cats they cannot process these things and they build up in their systems. This eventually leads to kidney and liver failure as their systems try to get rid of the toxins. In this area what is good for your dog could very well be fatal for your cat and ferrets.
Please remember, if it will kill a bug it can and will do damage to other creatures, your ferrets in particular. I've seen the damage that can be caused by EO's like tea tree oil, eucalyptus, rosemary and oregano. All of these have antibiotic qualities and can cause severe break down of the immune system when allowed to build up, which is what happens if the animal cannot get rid of it quickly enough. There are no safe levels of EO's for cats, and no research on ferrets...
**(quote)Essential oils are extracted from the flowers, leaves, stems, roots, seeds and bark of many different plants, and while their most obvious property is that they are aromatic, it is these "oils" which act as the plant's immune system- fighting off bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, and other insects.
But there's a big problem here– and that is that cats cannot tolerate or metabolize essential oils. Their use can lead to symptoms of toxicity or even death. Why can cats not tolerate the oils? There are several reasons. The major one is that they cannot metabolize them the way that dogs or humans can. (they also cannot metabolize certain herbs or allopathic meds, either)
This means that they are not efficiently excreted by the body and can build up to toxic levels. Symptoms of toxicity include vomiting, dizziness, clumsiness, lack of appetite and lack of energy.
I have run into several instances where cat owners almost killed their cats even by using just one drop of essential oil on their paws or belly, or diffusing them in the area where the litter box was located. Neither the owners or the vets knew what had happened- they just thought it to be a "mystery poisoning" which could not be detected.
Luckily, their cats spent several days at the vet receiving fluids, and did not suffer any permanent health problems as a result. I am sure that many instances such as this happen every day, as there are many cat products out there which do contain essential oils. Shampoos, coat sprays, ear cleaners, rechargeable flea collars and herbal dips.
Many companies refer to essential oils as "oil" (as in "Clove oil") or "herbal oils". Please read labels carefully and pass on the word about the potential dangers of essential oils for cats- too many people are unaware of the dangers.
What is safe, then? A by-product of essential oil production is "hydrosols" (also called "hydrolats") Hydrosols are what is left after the essential oils are distilled from plant matter. Basically, the plant matter is put in a still, on top of a mesh screen, and there is water below which is heated to steam. The oil phase of the plant matter is taken from the plant with steam, condensed and moved to another container (this is the essential oil). You are then left with the steam itself- which has passed through the plant matter and is now rich with the water soluble parts of the plant's chemistry. This steam condenses, and you are left with the hydrosol.
If you want to use aromatherapy for your cat, hydrosols are your only safe option. Hydrosols are wonderful because cats CAN tolerate them with no problems, no toxicity. They can be spritzed on the cat for deodorizing or flea and tick control, used as ear cleaners or calming agents. They are not concentrated as EO's are and do not require the careful thought and dilution which essential oil use does.
(end of quote)**
I won't ever treat my furbabies with an EO. It's just my opinion of course.
ciao
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Post by maddiesmom on Jun 23, 2009 12:30:38 GMT -5
Excatly why I asked! Learn something new every day  |
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Post by weloveourweasels on Jun 23, 2009 21:59:25 GMT -5
The real question is which is safer and more effective, essential oils for ferrets or chemical bug repellents? ARGGHH will one of you ladies in vet school PLEASE do research on this when you become a vet.  |
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Post by suds on Jun 27, 2009 7:00:00 GMT -5
what is wrong with using apple cyder viniger ? it has no chemical side affect and works well as a bug repellent . a table spoon in the water bowl , you can also mix it 30% APV 70%water and spray or wipe it on there fur. I even been using it on myself instead of deepwoods off when fishing during the evenings with great results .
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 27, 2009 12:09:28 GMT -5
I really like that spray idea, both for my kids and myself! Thanks, Frank  |
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