Hello all I was talking with a friend of mine who is a medical doctor.  I
was telling him I had ferrets and the next thing he told me was to watch
out for mites in my ferrets.  I know ferrets can get fleas but mites aka
scabies?  How would one know their ferrets even had them since ferrets are
sort of always scratching themselves?  I am not talking about ear mites
because I do know ferrets can get them.  I did have a guines pig years ago
that came down with mites but he received two injections a few weeks apart
and they were gone.  His symptoms were intense scratching and hair loss.
He had a skin biopsy to diagnose the mites.
 
I never would have thought you can *catch* mites from a ferret.  I never
caught them from my guinea pig..  If Dr. Williams or anyone else knows if
ferrets can have mites and humans can catch them please email me.  I did
not know the facts so did not argue the point with my friend though he did
raise my curiosity.
 
Hugs and prayers to all of the ill ferrets and those who have crossed the
bridge.
 
Michele
[Posted in FML issue 3314]