WE ARE IN FLU SEASON, FOLKS!
Ferrets share avian influenza from humans, just as they can share
bacterial sinus infections. There is also an influenza this year that
is not on the shot, and from our experience here ferrets do get it.
It is possible to decrease the chance of passing on influenza to your
ferrets with care including a LOT of hand washing, but you or anyone
else can also spread it *before* you feel sick so no precaution is
perfect.
The symptoms of influenza in humans and ferrets are similar, and
usually they get through it fine as long as the symptoms are not
pronounced in about a week, but if they are ill, very old, or very
young, or if the flu takes off really badly in them they will need
veterinary care. IMPORTANT: sometimes it is difficult to know if a
respiratory illness has gotten bad with a ferret. We have been in
that position with Meeteetse whose lungs sounded okay but she had a
slight cough even though she never tended to cough. X-ray showed both
serious pneumonia and serious pleurisy. As with humans the possibility
of a secondary bacterial infection is something to consider.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/http://ferrethealth.org/archive/http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.htmlhttp://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/http://www.ferretcongress.org/http://www.trifl.org/index.shtmlhttp://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 5794]
