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From:
Sukie Crandall <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 3 Feb 2004 13:02:48 -0500
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When keeping your ferrets' meds check first to see what conditions they
should be kept in.  Some should be refrigerated, some may be either
refrigerated or not, some should never be refrigerated.  A number need
protection from light.  Ditto moisture.  If a tablet or caplet is
serrated then the medicine is reasonably evenly dispersed and the med
may be cut for smaller doses.  If it is not then the tablet or caplet
must be crushed and the powder well-blended, then measured into doses.
 
Always read the precautions, cautions, counterindications, side effects,
etc.  information -- including for natural products even if it means
finding a text which actually has that info and reading -- and learn from
the treating vet what ones apply to ferrets.  NEVER assume that any med
which a vet has not told you to use is safe for ferrets or for your
individual in particular (but do know that there are lists in multiple
resources of vet okayed products, but if a ferret is sick enough to need
many types of meds then the ferret is sick enough to warrant a vet
visit).  All you have to do is to look back in past FMLs or FHLs or both
to find cases of poisoning or worsened conditions, stressing for hated
meds like Pepto worsening ulcers when better options exist , even death
from over the counter meds like Tylenol and others, herbal meds, and
herbal flea preparations, or prescription meds which the vet never meant
to be used on the ferret who received them.
 
There are excellent past posts from vets and pharmacists on this topic in
the archives of the FML and the archives of the FHL.
 
If you haven't seen it, yet, there is a wonderful article on ulcers in
ferrets by Dr. Bruce Williams in the March-April issue of "Ferrets"
magazine.  It's a fine read, very informative.
 
Many breeds of horses, dogs, and cats have had their life spans shortened
and their health impaired due to people breeding without knowing what
they are doing.  For a long time that didn't happen much in ferrets, but
then fancies came into demand, and the damage done in the 10 to 15 years
since then has done miserable things to much of the ferret population.
That is only one reason why breeding should never be done without people
learning extensively first.  (I highly recommend the list Ferret-Genetics
for this so read the back posts there extensively and there also is some
(but less) info in the FHL Archives and the FML Archives.)
 
Besides the medical needs (which can be very extensive) of breeding,
pregnancy, neonates, and nursing there are also the medical and care
concerns particular to whole ferrets; just take a look at large rescue
histories and read about testicular tumors, ovarian tumors, etc.  (BTW,
I didn't get a chance to carry it over but if you look in the last few
days FHLs at the website you'll notice that Dr. Ruth Heller has removed
bilateral adrenal tumors from a whole ferret.)
 
There is the over-population issue.
 
There's more, too.
 
It's never something to consider lightly.
[Posted in FML issue 4412]

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