Leonard: Richard w.  Woerpel, MS, DVM & Walter J.  Rosskopf, Jr, DVM of
Avian and Exotic Animal Hospitals of Los Angeles and Orange Counties
have published a book "Avian- Exotic Animal Care" through American
Veterinary Publications, Inc.  In the section called "ferret facts" they
state "If a ferret does not engage in copulation, she will remain in
heat for up to 160 days...Sustained sexual heat is dangerous and
life-threatening because it usually results in bone marrow suppression.
This results in severe anemia and decreases in the number of circulating
white blood cells.  BECAUSE OF THIS LIKELIHOOD, ANY FEMALE FERRET NOT
INTENDED FOR BREEDING SHOULD BE STERILIZED (SPAYED OR
OVARIOHYSTERECTOMIZED) AT 6-8 MONTHS OF AGE.  If you need something more
scientific (ie studies ...) I can run medline/agricola searches and see
if anything turns up.  I haven't checked sources like Fowler's zoo
animal medicine text either, but if you need this done, let me know.
 
Inez: Re: Tresaderm.  While the bottle and the package insert state
store in refrigerator, we dispense it and tell clients to store at room
temperature.  We don't have any problems.  Technical service for MSD
can't recommend that you store it other than as labeled, but when I
called, if a client had left Tresaderm out (at room temperature) for 4
weeks it would be fine to use.  (They ship it to us unrefrigerated).  If
you decide you need to keep it in the refrigerator, do let it come to
room temperature before instilling.  DO NOT HEAT in HOT water, because
heating like freezing may alter the chemicals and make them less
effective.  Sorry to be so long winded, its the pharmacist in me!
 
[We've gone through a course of tresaderm, and didn't have any particular
problems with it being in the fridge.  Nicia didn't seem to mind it
being cold.
 
Vicki, we'd prefer normal ragged right text (yours was right justified).
But if the choice is between justified and no line breaks, we'll take the
right justified ;-)  Thanks.]
 
                                     Vicki
 
[Posted in FML issue 0519]