Drugs Often Used in Ferrets

Aceproject®
PromAce®

Acepromazine
Maleate

- Tranquilizer

- As needed IM or SC

Actigall®

Ursodiol

- Adjunctive therapy for liver disease

Albon®

Sulfadimethoxine

- Respiratory, genitourinary, enteric and
      soft tissue infections
- Coccidiosis

Amoxi-Drop®
Amoxi-Tabs®

Amoxicillin

- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Many strains of gram-negative aerobes
- Heliocobactor, using triple therapy of Metronidazole (Flagyl®),
      Amoxi and Pepto Bismol

- 2~3 times a day PO for 2~3 weeks
- Once reconstituted must be refrigerated
      and used within 14 days

Amphicol®
Duricol ®
Viceton®

Chloramphenicol

- Synthetic broad spectrum antibiotic for proliferative colitis
      and/or susceptible anaerobic bacterial infections

- Proliferative Colitis: q8h PO for 2 weeks or
      q12h PO for days
- Infections: Twice a day PO, SC or IM

Atroject®
Atropine SA®

Atropine
Sulfate

- Used as a premed

- As needed

Baytril®

Enrofloxacin

- Fluroquinolone effect against variety of bacterial pathogens

- 2 times a day PO, IM or SC

Benadryl®

Diphenhydramine
HCL

- Antihistamine for allergic reactions
- Reduce allergic vaccine reactions when adminstered prior to

- IM or IV 10-20 miutes prior to vaccine
- PO using children's variety

- Susceptible bacterial infections
- Anti-ulcer

Carafate®

Sucralfate

- Treatment and protection of oral, esophagael,
      gastric and duodenal ulcers
- Forms paste like layer which binds around ulcer site(s),
      forming barrier protecting ulcer from further damage

- q4-6h PO
- Give 10-20 minutes priot to feeding

Cardizem®

Diltiazem HCL

- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

- Twice daily PO; may result in heart block

Cardoxin®

Digoxin

- Adjunctive therapy for heart failure

- Dilated cardiomyopathy: Once to twice daily PO
- Maintenance therapy: once to twice daily PO
      with elixir with blood level monitoring

Cefa-Drops®
Cefa-Tabs®
Duricef®

Cefadroxil

- Susceptible bacterial infections of skin and soft-tissue

- 2 times a day PO
- Once reconstituted must be refrigerated and
      used within 14 days

Cipro®

Ciprofloxacin

  - Gram -/+ bacertial infections

- 2 times a day PO

Clavamox Tablets®
Clavamox Drops®

Amoxicillin/
Clavulanate
Potassium

- Susceptible bacterial infections

- 2~3 times a day PO

Cystorelin®

Gonadorelin

- To bring an intact jill out of heat

- Given IM, and repeat in one week if necessary
- Most effective 14 days after estrus onset

Depo-Medrol®

Methylprednisolone

- Anti-inflammatory
- Insulinoma
- Adrenal Insufficiency

- Given IM or SC as needed

Dexamethasone®
Azium®

Dexamethasone

- Insulinoma
- Quick acting and stronger then prednisone

- Daily or as needed IM or IV

Enacard®

Enalapril Maleate

- Adjunctive therapy for heart failure
- Dilative cardiomyopathy

- Heart failure: Q48h PO, can be increased to
      daily if tolerated
- Cardiomyopathy: once to every other day PO

Epinephrine®

Epinephrine

- Anaphylatic reations and cardiac resuscitation
- Relaxes smooth muscle in bronchi and iris, reversing effects
      of histamine, raises BG

- Rapid IM or SC for direct stimulation to heart
      and increase systolic BP
- Monitor: cardiac rhythm, respiration and BP

Epogen®
Procrit®

Epoetin Alfa

- Anemia associated with chronic renal failure

- 3 times a week IM, which can be decreased
      if RBC improves

Flagyl®

Metronidazole

- Heliocobactor
- IBD
- Susceptible infections

- Heliocobactor and IBD: Three times a day PO
      for 3~4 weeks
- Suscepticle infections: 1~2 times a day PO
- Very biter tasting, mask taste

Florinef®

Fludrocortisone
Acetate

- Adrenal insufficiency after bilateral surgery
- Addison's disease
- Acts on kidneys to conserve sodium and excrete potassium

- Once a day PO
- Monitoring: electrolytes, BUN and creatinine
      every 1~2 weeks, then 3~4 long-term

Gentocin®

Gentamicin
Sulfate

- Ear mites

- 2~3 drops per ear q12h

Heartgard®
Ivomec®

Ivermectin

- Heartworm "prevention"

- Monthly PO

Heparin

Heparin Sodium

- Anti-coagulant

- Given SC or IV

Inderal®
Inderal®
Propranlol®

Propranolol HCL

- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

- Once to twice a day PO or SC

Kao-Pec®
Kao-pect®
Kaopectolin®

Kaolin-Pectin

- Diarrhea
- GI toxins (efficacy questionablem large amounts often needed)

- 3 ~ 4 times a day PO

Keflex®
Biocef®

Cephalexin

- Semi-synthetic cephalosporin anitbiotic for
      susceptible bacterial infections

- 2~3 times a day PO  

Lasix®

Furosemide

- Diuretic for congestive cardiomyopathy and/or
      pulmonary edema

- IM or IV initially
- Two to three times a day PO, IM or SC
      for long-term maintenance

Lupron®
Lurpon® Depot

Luprolide

- Adrenal disease
- Inhibits release of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and
      Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) from pituitary gland
- Reduces estrogen and androgen levels
- No effect on the tumor itself unless possibly caught
      at the very early stages of disease

- Varying dosages from 1 month to 6 month depot

Lutalyse®
Amtech Prostamate®
In-Synch®

Dinoprost

- Pyometra

- As needed

Lysodren®

Mitotane

- Second line treatment (after Lupron) for adrenal disease where
      surgery not performed or tumor not fully removed

- 50mg once a day PO for a week,
      then 2~3 times per week PO
- Have compounded into 50mg capsules
      (available only in 500mg) and mask taste
- Monitoring: BUN, CBC/chemostry, liver enzymes,
      BG, electrolytes

Melatonin®

Melatonin

- Alopecia
- Pineal gland hormone

- Available in health food stores In tablet or
      oral formulas
- Long-term use may decrease Luteiniging
      Hormone (LH)

Roxanol®
Morphine Sulfate®
Infumorph®

Morphine

- Acute pain

- As needed

Nemacide®

Diethylcarbamazine
Citrate (DEC)

- Heartworm prevention

- Once a day PO

Novolin®

Insulin

- Diabetes

- 2 times a day IM or SC to start,
      then adjust dosage
- Monitor: Glucose

Otomax®

Gentamicin,
Steroid, and
Clotrimazole

- Acute/chronic ear infections

- 2~3 drops per ear q12h

Oxytocin®

Oxytocin

- Enhance uterine contractions in jills

- Given IM, IV or SC as needed

P.G. 600®

Chorionic
Gonadotropin
(HCG)

- To bring an intact jill out of heat

- Given IM, and repeat in one week if necessary
- Most effective 14 days after estrus onset

Panalog®
Animax®

Nystatin-Neomycin
Sulfate-Thiostrepton-
Triamcinolone Acetonide
Ointment

- Ear inflammation
- Wound Care
- Prolapse rectum

- 2~3 drops per ear q12h for 10 days
- As needed

Panmycin Aquadrops®

Tetracycline HCL

- Chlamydia

- 2~3 times a day PO

Pepcid®
Pepcid AC®

Famotidine

- Reduce GI acid production
- Stress induced ulcers

- One to Two times a day PO

Pepto-Bismol®

Bismuth
Subsalicylate

- Diarrhea treatment
- Heliocobactor, using triple therapy of Metronidazole (Flagyl®),
      Amoxi and Pepto Bismol

- 3 times a day PO for 3-4 weeks

Percortin®

Desoxycorticosterone
Pivalate

- Adrenal insufficiency after bilateral surgery
- Addison's disease
- Acts on kidneys to conserve sodium and excrete potassium

- Every 25 days IM or SC
- Prednisone usually giving daily
- Monitoring: electrolytes, BUN and creatinine
      every 1~2 weeks, then 3~4 long-term

Polyflex®

Ampicillin

- Susceptible bacterial infections

- 2 times a day IM, IV   or SC

Prednisone®
Prednisolone®
Pediapred®

Prednisone,
Presnisolone

- Anti-inflammatory
- Insulinoma
- IBD

- Dosages and frequency vary, PO or IM

Proglycem®

Diazoxide

- Hypoglycemia control for insulinoma
- Usually used in comnination with prednisone
      when pred alone isn't effective

- 2 times a day PO with prednisone
- Monitor: BG, CBC/Chemistry every 3~4 months

Rimadyl®

Carprofen

- Pain and inflammation of joints (arthritis)

- q12h PO

Sandostatin®

Octreotide
Acetate

- Adjunctive treatment insulinoma when other medicines
      cannot be tolerated

- 2~3 times a day SC
- Monitoring: BG, clinical efficacy

Tagament®

Cimetidine

- Reduce GI acid production
- Stress induced ulcers
- Duodenal ulcers, gastritis, gastric reflux

- 2~3 times a day PO, IM, IV or SC

Tenormin®

Atenolol

- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

- Once a day PO, usually 25mg tab quartered

Torbutrol®
Torbugesic®

Butorphanol
Tartrate

- Analgesic/Pain control

- q4h IM or SC

Tresaderm®

Thiabendazole-
Dexamethasone-
Neomycin

- Ear mites
- Ear inflammation

- 2~3 drops per ear q12h for 10 days,
      stop 10 days and repeat for days

Tribrissen®
Bactrim®

Sulfadiazine/
Trimethoprim

- Susceptible bacterial infections

- 2 times a day PO

Tylan®

Tylosin

- Chronic ulcers

- One to two times a day PO

Valium®
Diazepam®

Diazepam

- Pain control
- Sedative

- As needed

Winstrol®

Stanozdlol

- Anemia associated with chronic disease

- 2 times a day PO or SC