To Anna Adam Spear:
>I'm trying not to cuddle my sweet Beckboy as much (the others don't cuddle
>anyway) b/c I've had a nagging cough for nearly three WEEKS. I finally went
>to the doctor on Monday and found out I have 'walking pneumonia.' (sp?)
>Anyway, can the kids get that from me?
 
It would be extremely unusual.  Walking pneumonia often begins as a viral
infection, but by the time it is diagnosed, it is more of a raging localized
lung infection due to bacteria.  The chance of transmitting the bacteria to
your ferret is very low for several reasons:
 
1) - you are not coughing up a lot of bacteria - the normal defense
mechanism in the lung which allow you to cough up bacteria are overcome
(that's why you have pneumonia - so you're not coughing up a lot of
infective material
 
2) your ferret's lungs would have to be compromised in order for most
bacteria to take root, as your's were.
 
I wouldn't encourage a lot of hands on cuddling around the face, and don't
cough on them, but I think this is one less thing for you to worry about.
 
But for those of you who get the flu this winter - that's what you need to
keep away from your ferrets!!!
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP
[log in to unmask]  OR
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1410]