**The advice dispensed by myself in reference to FML postings is not meant
to supplant the advice of veterinarians who are in charge of the patient.
If the patient is not currently under the care of a veterinarian, the client
is recommended to take their ferret to one.**
 
[Moderator's note: Two answers removed here since they were already posted
in issue 1838.  BIG]
 
>From:    BUFFY <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: VET FEE
>Hi: I am writing to spout off about vet fee's.  I am a new ferret owner and
>my ferrets have not been to the vets yet. I am afraid because what happened
 
I had a client who came in and said she only had to pay $10 for the dentist,
$5 for her children's doctor's visits and $3 for her prescriptions.  She
couldn't understand why my bills were more than that.  Ain't insurance
wonderful?  :)
 
But seriously, the lack of insurance programs, state and federal subsidies
is a limiting factor in access to veterinary care.  It is not a case of
being high and mighty; it is a case of paying bills for mortgages, staff
salaries, inventory, taxes, continuing education, building insurance,
liability insurance, health insurance for employees, etc.
 
For example (just to throw some number out for review):
In 1996, the average invoice charge was $61 for New Jersey and on average
70% goes to the expenses stated above (Veterinary Economic survey).  The
other 30% goes to the owner's wages and benefits and any capital
improvements that need to be done.  In the same survey that equates to an
average salary of $60,000 per year for working (on average) 50-55 hours per
week with a minimum of 8 years of college and 16 years in practice.  That
works out to about $22.00/hour.  IMHO, that's cheap for any professional
with the responsibility of a veterinarian.  For younger veterinarians, the
situation is worse.  The beginning veterinarian starts at $30,000 per year
after 8 years of college and has student debt of approximately $45,000.
That averages $500-600 per month in loan payments for 10 years.  That works
out to $11.00/hour.
 
People expect (rightly so) we diagnose and solve all their pet's problems.
We have the technology and knowledge to do that for many pets but it does
come at a cost to the owner.  Based on the numbers above, I believe that
most veterinarians are in this profession because of their dedication to
animals, not to make tons of money.  If that was the case, their dedication
could be applied to other fields much more lucrative.
 
>From:    Ferris James <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Tail losing hair
>Recently I noticed our almost 1 yr old male ferret's tail was not as full
>as when we first got him ( in December ).
 
I would consider a seasonal shedding as the primary rule-out.  See what
happens over the next 4-8 weeks.
 
>From:    "D.J. and Liz" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: ferret is sick??  Hagen cages.
>I'm not sure how many of you remember from a few months back ..the baby
>boy ferret I rescued from the pet store where I work after it arrived with
>its.... Well about 2 months ago we suspect he had pneumonia...thanks to
>wonderfull Meg, we battled it by my stealing antibiotics from the animal
>clinic where I work (i was desperate).  We suspect he had fluid in his
>lungs, but I ...
 
>I strongly suggest you take this one to a vet.  I have a couple of ideas of
>what's going on but (I'm sure I'm going to get flamed for this next
>statement) I am not going to say them because I don't agree with you
>stealing medications from your employer to self-treat a pet.  (Maybe I
>should have included employee theft as another business expense in my
>comments above)
 
>From:    "C. Allen Parker" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: FML posting [insulinoma/diabetes]
>Hello to all!  I have a question regarding a posting in the 2/5/97 issue
>of the FML.  Gary Holowicki was talking about Insulinoma and ferrets....
 
Yes they can be diabetic but it is very, very uncommon. Just one of those
ferret things.
 
>From:    Brad Falk <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Small bump on the neck
>We have a 5-month-old male sable/blaze mix, who's been with us since just
 
I would put a vaccine reaction on the top of the list. Just monitor it and
they usually go away in 4-6 weeks.
 
>Date:    Fri, 7 Feb 1997 15:14:23 -0500
>From:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re.: Why not give your own shots?
>I just finally caught up on my reading, was only 10 days behind.  The issue
>of how much vets charge kept coming up...Why not give your own shots?
 
In the case of Rabies vaccination, in most States for it to be legal (a
whole different issue than being effective) it needs to be given by a
licensed veterinarian.  As for the distemper, my big concern would be what
would you do in the case of a vaccine reaction?
 
>From:    Rebecca Katlin Coleman <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Last post for a while/Conflicting vet info
 
The SAFEST anesthetic for small mammals is the anesthetic gas isoflurane.
You need to intubate the ferret which is not hard if you have the right
equipment (laryngoscope and Cole tubes).  As for injectables, many
combinations are safe and have been used in ferrets with no difficulty.
One of those combinations is ketamine/xylazine.  At the right dosage, this
combination produces anesthesia.  If you are doing a proper dental cleaning
you should intubate the ferret even with injectable anesthetics.
 
>She said even if I do use the sedative, I should make sure the vet
>intubates the ferret (to prevent the fluid in the lungs thing) and that it
>shouldn't cost any more to do that.
 
Does this mean you are planning to anesthesize your ferret yourself?
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH, USA
[Posted in FML issue 1841]