Toxins & Your Ferret

What is a toxic substance and how do they work?

A toxic substance is a substance that can be poisonous or cause health effects. Toxins could be in products that we use daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics. Any chemical can actually be toxic or harmful under certain conditions. Essential oils (EO’s) are known to be toxic to ferrets and that makes them a major concern for us ferrents. Some chemicals can be toxic because they can harm us or our ferrets when they enter or come into contact with the body. Long term exposure to certain toxic substances can affect not only your health, but your beloved ferret’s health as well so it is crucial that you read about toxins in general to have a better understanding of them in order to avoid them from causing any harm. To determine the risk of harmful health effects from a substance, you must first know how toxic the substance is; how much, and by what means, your ferret is exposed; and how sensitive your ferret is to a particular substance. Each toxin works in different ways, and the severity of how it works on your ferret may also depend on your ferret as an individual. Also keep in mind that some substances may be more toxic than others and some will have different effects on your ferrets body. Essential oils for example may depend on which oil has been used on or around a particular ferret. Ferret A, may show signs within minutes like throwing up or having seizures, then Ferret B may not show signs for a couple of months, even possibly years because this particular toxin can build up in the vital organs over time. Thats where the whole ‘ferret as an individual’ comes into play. Potency: Potency (strength) is a measure of a chemical's toxicity. The more potent a chemical is, the more toxic it will be. The potency and, therefore, the toxicity of a chemical can be affected by its breakdown within the human or ferret body. When a substance is absorbed into the body, its chemical structure may be changed or metabolised to a substance that is more toxic or less toxic.

1. Exposure. A toxin can cause health effects only when it contacts or enters the body. There are 3 main routes of exposure when it comes to toxins and those are inhalation, ingestion or direct contact such as touching the skin.
2. Inhalation (breathing) of gases, vapors, dusts or mists is a common route of exposure. Chemicals can enter and irritate the nose, air passages and lungs. They can become deposited in the airways or be absorbed by the lungs into the bloodstream. The blood can then carry these substances to the rest of the body.
3. Ingestion (swallowing) of food, drink or other substances is another route of exposure and is the most well known cause of toxicity. It can be quite easy for your little ferret to pick up something such as a human medication while out at play so its crucial that you put any possible toxins and poisons away and out of reach. A good example of a toxin that can be ingested by your ferret is Ibuprofen or paracetamol. Both are common over the counter pain relief drugs for us humans but are certainly not a tasty treat for a ferret to find. Ferrets appear to be particularly sensitive to ibuprofen toxicosis. Signs of ibuprofen toxicosis can develop in as little as 4 hours but may take up to 48 hours to develop. (Ferrets develop neurological signs, including ataxia, tremors, seizures, and coma. Neurologic signs developed in almost 95% of ferrets in one study.) More information on Ibuprofen can be found on my thread on HFF. Read more here: http://holisticferret60.proboards.com/...
4. Direct contact (touching) with the skin or eyes is also a route of exposure. Some substances are absorbed through the skin and enter the bloodstream. Broken, cut or cracked skin will allow substances to enter the body more easily.

The route of exposure can determine whether or not the toxic substance has an effect.

. The amount of a substance that enters or comes into contact with a ferret can play a role in toxicity also, this is commonly called a dose. An important consideration in evaluating a dose is body weight. Here’s an example: If a child is exposed to the same amount of chemical as an adult, the child (who weighs less) can be affected more than the adult. Can you imagine how little it would take for a ferret? Back to the thought of Ibuprofen for a second. Dosages of more than 220 mg/kg can be lethal to our little fuzzy carnivores; this can be as little as one 200-mg tablet in a ferret. The greater the amount of a toxic substance a ferret is exposed to, the more likely that health effects will occur. Large amounts of a relatively harmless substance can be toxic. Even what we consider relatively small amounts can be toxic to our ferrets.

Short-term exposure to a toxin is called acute exposure. Long-term exposure is called chronic exposure. Either may cause health effects that are immediate or health effects that may not occur for some time. A ferret could have acute exposure and still show symptoms within minutes, months or years. A ferret may even have chronic exposure, and not show any symptoms of toxicity whatsoever in its lifetime, however that does not mean the damage has not been done on the inside.

1. Acute exposure is a short contact with a toxin. It may last a few seconds or a few hours. For example, it might take a few minutes to clean windows with ammonia, use nail polish remover or spray a can of paint. The fumes someone might inhale during these activities are examples of acute exposures.
2. Chronic exposure is continuous or repeated contact with a toxic substance over a long period of time ( days, months or years). If a chemical is used every day or continuously for example EO’s, the exposure would be chronic. Over time, some chemicals can build up in the body and cause long-term health effects such as organ damage or even death.

Sensitivity

Every ferret is different, so one ferret may be very sensitive to a particular toxin compared to another who is not. They also may not be affected by them in the same way and there are many reasons for this. Just like us, Ferrets bodies vary in their ability to break down or eliminate certain chemicals. They may be allergic to a certain chemical, either before exposure or after. Other factors may play a role in how sensitive a ferret may be to a certain toxin, such as age, or illness, and even medical or nonmedical drug use can also affect a sensitivity to a chemical. Young ferrets, like human children may be more sensitive to chemicals due to their bodies still being in the process of developing and they cannot get rid of some chemicals as well as adults. This would make it more easier for younger animals to absorb more of a certain chemical, this could mean that it may be a bigger risk being exposed.

What can happen if my ferret is exposed to a toxin?

Exposure to a particular toxin can produce a health effect directly at the site of contact (local) or elsewhere in the body (systemic), and that effect can be either immediate or delayed.

Chemicals can affect any system in the body, including respiratory (nose, air passages and lungs), digestive (mouth, throat, stomach, etc.), circulatory (heart, blood), nervous (brain, nerve cells) and reproductive (sperm, egg, etc.). Some chemicals, like acids, are nonspecific and cause damage on direct contact. Other chemicals, like gasoline, can be absorbed into the blood, and carried throughout the body. Some chemicals affect only certain target systems or target organs.

When Health Effects Will Occur Immediate health effects happen right away. They can occur directly at the site of contact or elsewhere in the body. For example, inhaled ammonia can irritate the linings of the nose, throat and lungs. Alcohol can cause dizziness. Immediate health effects are sometimes reversible and may disappear soon after the exposure stops. (Remember, Alcohol IS TOXIC to ferrets as well!) However, some immediate health effects do not go away; acute exposure to a corrosive substance, such as battery acid, may cause permanent damage to skin or eyes.

Delayed health effects may take months or years to appear and can result from either acute or chronic exposure to a toxic substance. The delay between the exposure and the appearance of health effects is called the latency period. Delayed health effects can be reversible or permanent. Permanent effects don't go away when the exposure stops. So basically once permanent, the damage is done, theres no reversing it.

Here’s a little snippet on EO’s.

Essential oils consist of hydrocarbons or monofunctional compounds from mono-and sesqui-terpenes, together phenylpropanoids and other volatile aliphatic and aromatic substances. Many terpenoids are rapidly absorbed orally and dermal (through the skin) by the ferret's system and are metabolized in the liver. Due to their volatile nature, inhalation of essential oil components is also possible, and these enter the bloodstream via the lungs, also to be metabolized in the liver. The terpenoids and their metabolites are often conjugated with glucuronic acid (glucuronidation) and glycine depending on the type of terpenoid and animal species involved. The conjugated metabolites are usually more water-soluble and are easily excreted through the kidney and feces. Cats & Ferrets cannot efficiently metabolize substances present in certain essential oils (including Tea Tree oil), which will therefore build up in the their bodies. This means that they are not efficiently excreted by the body and can accumulate in soft tissues and vital organs. Over a period of time, the substances can reach toxic levels which cause death or symptoms of poisoning. An owner could therefore use EO’s in supposedly safe low concentrations for some time with no symptoms, though the cat or ferret is being slowly poisoned as the toxins accumulate. This is similar to they way that heavy metals (e.g. lead, zinc) or poly-chlorinated bi-phenols (PCBs) accumulate in the soft tissues and organs. An added danger is that cheap essential oils may be adulterated with other things for various reasons; the combination of substances could be more toxic than the unadulterated oil.

What processes does the liver undergo to remove toxins?

The liver is the largest gland in the body and is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. The liver is an important organ that performs many functions necessary for survival. The liver breaks nutrients down and builds up body tissue. The liver also acts as a storage site for vitamins and minerals. Red blood cells and Kupffer cells are produced in the liver, the Kupffer cells help to eliminate harmful micro-organisms as they travel through the blood to help fight infection. Glycogen is produced in the liver and is regulated throughout the body. The liver is vital when it comes to metabolic processes and how it affects other organs and the body, including hormonal concentration levels and disposal of toxins. Read about how the liver works here.

Protect Your Ferret!

There may be chemicals in your everyday life, but the best you can do is limit the exposure or prevent the hazard of toxicity when a ferret is around. Ferret proofing isn’t just preventing blockages! It is also to prevent our little critters from being exposed to toxins regardless of if they are exposed through ingestion, inhalation or direct contact etc. :P No matter how toxic a substance may be, if your ferret is NOT exposed to the substance, it cannot affect their health. The important rule to remember is: minimise exposure.

• Before you use a product, read the label carefully and check the ingredients to make sure there are no harmful ingredients to ferrets. When in doubt ask someone and or your vet for their advice and opinion. Remember that you should always seek a professional’s advice before using anything, especially like over the counter flea treatments (which honestly you should avoid). Pay attention to warnings on the label!!
• Use proper ventilation. Ventilation means getting fresh air into your home especially around your ferrets. If you’re going to use any s strong chemicals, its best to move your ferrets well away, even outside of the house. Things like flea bombs should be done over a weekend when your ferrets can be moved to another location temporarily so the house can air out. Avoid smoking or vaping inside the house when there are ferrets around.
• Store chemicals safely and out of the reach of your ferrets.
• If clothes become soiled while handling chemicals, change the clothes as soon as possible and keep them away from your ferrets to reduce exposure to them and yourself. Wash soiled clothes separately; then run the machine through a rinse cycle to clean it before washing more clothes.
• If you must use a toxic substance, buy only the amount needed so there will be less material left for storage or disposal.
• Try to avoid using a toxic substance. If that is not possible, choose products that have less or no toxic ingredients. For example, Most candles are made of paraffin wax, which creates highly toxic benzene and toluene when burned (both are known carcinogens), rather than risk these candles around your ferrets, use a 100% natural beeswax candle and preferably avoid soy. Beeswax candles actually clean the air and reduce indoor pollutants. They may be little more costly, but in all honestly it’s definitely worth every penny.

The more you know about toxic substances, the more you can reduce exposure and keep your ferrets safe.