We’re wary of using off the shelf products to treat fleas and ticks in any animal because different species react differently to insecticidal chemicals; there have been numerous reports of cats convulsing after being treated with insecticidal products for dogs, for instance. Consequently, we recommend getting all your insecticidal products from your vet, who will be able to advise on what can safely be used on your ferret.

As well as treating animals when they get fleas or ticks, it’s a good idea to run a flea and tick prevention program. We treat every room in the house with a household flea spray, such as Acclaim, every six months.

If your ferret manages to befriend a tick, DO NOT just pull the tick off because there is a risk that you may leave the mouth parts embedded in your furry friend.

There are a range of tick removing techniques, some of which take longer to act than others. If you’re happy to let the tick drop off in a day or two, you can dab it with surgical spirits, or coat it with Vaseline, which will suffocate it. Alternatively you can use purpose made tick tweezers, but be sure to check the site after a day or two for any signs of possible infection.