Renee Jones wrote about her ferret coughing and have 'stuffy head' type
symptoms, even though her vet found no problem.  Renee wondered if she
should trust her vet.
 
I am not a medical person, but let me relate an experience I had several
years ago.
 
In the fall, my 4 yr.  old MF female started coughing.  At the time, we were
just starting to switch from a vet close to our home to a ferret specialist.
Thinking this was not serious, I took Rose to the local vet.  She listened
to Rose's breathing, and pronounced her chest clear.  She suggested that
Rose had an allergy of some sort, and said not to worry.  She prescribed
prednisone and an antibiotic, just to be safe.  After several weeks the
condition did not improve.  We went back, she listened, and said all was
clear and not to worry.  Rose was still eating and playing, so I accepted
her diagnosis.
 
A few more weeks went by, and suddenly Rose stopped eating and playing.  I
immediately took her to the ferret specialist in Woodbridge.  I told him the
history, and he immediately became concerned.  He explained to me that
because ferrets are so small, it is very hard to hear congestion in the
lungs.  He listened, and let me listen, and we could not hear anything.  Dr.
K.  then did an xray of Rose's chest.  When the film was developed, it
showed that her lungs were full of fluid.  She had less then 10% of her lung
capacity.
 
Unfortunately, Rose's story does not have a happy ending.  For the next
month we fought valiantly to save her, with help from Bruce Williams and his
colleagues.  Although for a while Rose rallied back, on Christmas eve that
year we had her put down - she had just gotten to weak to continue fighting.
Afterward, Dr. K.  removed tissue samples, and Bruce Williams did a complete
workup.  Rose had malignant tumors in her lungs that do not respond well to
treatment, in addition to pneumonia.  So, even if we had known from the
beginning, we probably couldn't have saved her.  But, even if she had only
had pneumonia, we would have lost her if I hadn't gone to the second vet.
 
Hopefully, Renee's ferret does not have anything this serious wrong.  But
please, Renee, take your fetter back to the vet and have them do an xray.  I
think that is the only way you can be sure that this isn't more serious.
 
In defense of our first vet, she is very good with dogs and cats, and we
still go to her with our cats.  But ferrets are not cats or dogs, and not
all vets are as familiar with treating ferrets.  If I moved to an area where
there was not a ferret specialist, I would not be afraid to ask a vet to run
extra tests, or consult by phone with a vet that I knew I could trust.
 
Renee, I hope your ferret is ok.  Please let us know how he does.
Danee DeVore
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[Posted in FML issue 1682]