Flea treatment

[Momar]

First, I have searched through the threads but I'm still confused. Revolution seems to be the brand suggested but this requires a prescription from a vet, Advantage was the next brand but is Advantage ll now, the one for a kitten was suggested 2 to 5 pounds but advantage ll also makes a treatment for ferrets 0 to 2 pounds that I can get on Amazon, I haven't weighed Ricky yet but he is 9 months old and small in size. He is released but comes home twice a day. Thank you in advance.

[CritterMom]

https://www.joespetmeds.com/flea-tick-control/revolution-cats-dogs.htm

Revolution w/o prescription needed, ships from Australia - it may be labeled "Stronghold" as that is the name it is sold under there. Get the "puppies/kittens up to 5 pounds" side. I ordered some yesterday and have bought from them for ages.

[Charley Chuckles]

I've always used ...
JOE'S PET MEDS
No RX. You just use a drop.
Put plastic wrap over the opening before putting the cap back on and it will keep till used up, otherwise it will evaporate 👍

I just saw, CritterMom you put up Joe's web sight, I need coffee 🤣

[Charley Chuckles]

CM I have a question, I've always used Revolution for cats up to 15 pounds, one drop.
I just went to Joe's to place my order and I see the puppy/kitten formula. Do you use one drop with this as well?

[CritterMom]

CM I have a question, I've always used Revolution for cats up to 15 pounds, one drop.
I just went to Joe's to place my order and I see the puppy/kitten formula. Do you use one drop with this as well?

OK... Revolution has been designed so each of the vials is a single dose for the animal/weight category - you dump the entire vial on the animal for one dose. They use the size of the vial to limit the amount of meds the animal gets - not the strength of the meds.

ALL of the cat types plus the small puppy size are at a strength of 60mg/ml. The remaining dog sizes - 5 pounds to 130 pounds at at a strength osf 120mg/ml - twice as concentrated.

In other words, as long as you buy the cat variety you are getting the same strength of meds, just in varying size vials. If you are a rehabber who has need to dose many animals, getting the biggest vial of cat variety is your best bet financially. I buy the smaller puppy kitten variety because it comes in three SEALED vials instead of one larger vial. That way if my opened vial spills, evaporates, or is otherwse spoiled, I have 2 other factory sealed vials.

This: https://www.zoetisus.com/_locale-assets/mcm-portal-assets/products/pdf/revolution-prescribing-information.pdf has the info - look a little more than halfway down the page and you will find a table with all of the varieties, strengths, and amount in each vial.

[Charley Chuckles]

OK... Revolution has been designed so each of the vials is a single dose for the animal/weight category - you dump the entire vial on the animal for one dose. They use the size of the vial to limit the amount of meds the animal gets - not the strength of the meds.

ALL of the cat types plus the small puppy size are at a strength of 60mg/ml. The remaining dog sizes - 5 pounds to 130 pounds at at a strength osf 120mg/ml - twice as concentrated.

In other words, as long as you buy the cat variety you are getting the same strength of meds, just in varying size vials. If you are a rehabber who has need to dose many animals, getting the biggest vial of cat variety is your best bet financially. I buy the smaller puppy kitten variety because it comes in three SEALED vials instead of one larger vial. That way if my opened vial spills, evaporates, or is otherwse spoiled, I have 2 other factory sealed vials.

This: https://www.zoetisus.com/_locale-assets/mcm-portal-assets/products/pdf/revolution-prescribing-information.pdf has the info - look a little more than halfway down the page and you will find a table with all of the varieties, strengths, and amount in each vial.
Thank you! 😘

[FlyerMom]

I have 5 baby flyers, right about 40+ grams now. Doing great, feeding goats milk esbilac. Researched and gave them a drop of flea med to kill the bugs. Used Seargents Prontyl OTC plus for cats over 1.5lbs > 8 weeks. I have revolution for cats but it does heartworm as well. Thought that might be a bad idea. I came home today from work and they all seem to be seizing off and on. They have rat blocks and hampster food with corn and seeds. Plus i give them grapes strawberries and they've tried cherry tomatoes. No one enjoys tbe tomatoes.
Did i poison my babies?

[HRT4SQRLS]

Probably yes. We never use Sargents products. They aren’t even safe for cats. The plain Revolution would have been a better choice. We don’t use the Revolution that has other ingredients.

We need to talk about the diet. Remove the hamster food. It’s possible the diet is calcium deficient and the flea poison kicked them over the edge. Low calcium causes seizures also but with them all seizing the flea med is likely the cause.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Put some syrup or molasses on their gums to raise the blood sugar.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I would hydrate the babies. Pedialyte would be best but I doubt you have any of that so you can make homemade hydration fluid … 1 quart warm water, 1 tsp of salt, 3 tbsp of sugar.

Give them as much as they will take. Be very gentle with them. Any stress with cause seizing.

[HRT4SQRLS]

What type of rat block do they eat? Do they actually eat it or do they eat the hamster mix?
Do they eat nuts? These are very important questions as their seizing might be caused by multiple things.

[SquirrelyDan]

I’m glad there’s a source for Revolution without a prescription. It’s silly that it’s prescription-only. Bravecto is my absolute favorite because it lasts 3 months at a time. I use it on every single animal. But, unfortunately it’s still “prescription only” (for money reasons rather than safety reasons…), unless someone on this board knows of an alternative supplier.

[FlyerMom]

Thanks for all the responses!!
They all were able to be fed formula. I gave each as much as he/she wanted. I bought the rat blocks at TSC. Hamster feed has very low calcium. I have fresh broccoli maybe they'd like that. Manna pro rat blocks. 1 to 1.5 calcium. Seems low to me.

I can get whatever is best. They seem to hate water...all they want is formula.
Some get there nose in the water too. Makes me nervous. I've been told im too coddling...
:Love_Icon

[HRT4SQRLS]

I would recommend that you purchase block from Henry’s Healthy Pets. They sell products specifically for squirrels. I would buy the Picky Eater block. That’s the block that my flyers prefer.
https://henryspets.com/picky-blocks-food-for-squirrels-flyers-rats-and-mice/

I would completely ditch the hamster food. It’s usually a mix of seeds and nuts. These are high phosphorus foods that are in direct competition with calcium in the body. The body seeks to achieve a 2:1 (Ca: P) balance of the two minerals. When high phosphorus foods like nuts, seeds and corn are fed, the body will pull calcium from the bones to achieve this balance. That is what causes Metabolic Bone Disease. It is fatal if not treated and the diet changed. Before death, you would see seizing and hind end paralysis. That’s why I was asking the questions about the diet. Seizing could be caused by MBD or by poisoned by the flea med or both.

Which formula are you using?

Babies don’t drink water until they are eating solid foods. If you have a tiny bowl, you must put marbles in it. A baby flyer can drown in a water bowl.

Offer them mushrooms from the store. They need it for Vitamin D. You could also try hard squash like butternut or acorn. When they are off formula they will need a protein source like mealworms or Waxworms. I also buy a dehydrated chicken dog treat at pet retailers. It’s called Pure Bites dehydrated chicken. It is 100% chicken and made in the USA. I don’t buy the jerky treats as most are made in China.

[FlyerMom]

Okay ditched the hamster food.
There's a kit for deficiency issues that comes with the picky blocks, good choice? Want to order now.
Will grab mushrooms after work. Gave them broccoli florets with the am formula. They nibbled happily. I bought goat milk esbilac.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Let me look at the kit. I think it has a lot in it that you don’t need. I thinks it’s expensive also.
Give me a minute to look at it.

[HRT4SQRLS]

I wouldn’t buy the kit. Just buy the pickie eater blocks. If you want to add to the order pure calcium carbonate powder that would be good. You could supplement with that. I don’t think you need the vitamin mix or protein. You won’t be making shakes for these babies because they are taking formula.

Wonderful news about them eating broccoli. :thumbsup

[HRT4SQRLS]

Because your babies are getting older I’m not going to recommend changing the formula. The PetAg formulas are a bit questionable but I wouldn’t change now. Analysis in the past has shown that many of their products don’t meet the label standards so I don’t use them BUT in your case, the babies will probably wean soon. One thing you can do to offset any deficiency in the formula is to add a tiny amount of heavy cream to the formula. It will boost it just a little. Many rehabbers are doing that.

You mentioned your babies are around 40g. I have a mini adult flyer that is 56g. :grin2 He will be 11 in a week. Of course, he is smaller than normal. 70-80g would be a more typical weight for an adult.

Are they still seizing or has that stopped?

[FlyerMom]

It has been a rough several days. Friday i ordered the picky blocks and formula. Paid extra for 2 day delivery, still hasn't arrived. Made the homemade formula and have been supplementing with tums. They really seem to be enjoying all of it. So in the midst of all rhis chaos i lost 2 males. I have 2 females and a male left. My one male and female are together and fine for the most part...as long as they stay calm they're fine. The ofher female has flipped her lid. She was sooo sweet. Now she freaks out if you touch her. Shes had so many bad seizures i think her brain has suffered. I cannot even remember how many times she has bit me. She's in a clear shoe tote. She cannot hurt herself or the others in there. She will eat for me. I think she may be special forever. I really appreciate all of the help and suggestions.

[HRT4SQRLS]

That is so sad. :( It is very possible that her brain could be damaged from repeated seizing. I know you are but try to minimize stress in every way you can. Don’t expose them to loud noises or even light. Keep the light muted. I have a flyer that is sensitive to light. When he was young he seized every time he came out of the cage. I figured out he is sensitive to light. I keep his room light off and indirect light so I can see. He hasn’t seized in years.

[HRT4SQRLS]

Make sure the girl by herself has fleece is something to hide under.
Gently approach her and try to not startle her. I would definitely keep her area dark.