Marguerite wrote:
>I heard you are not suppose to use Frontline on Ferrets.  Just
>Advantage.
 
Nope.  That is a rumor and right up there with spider eggs in bubble gum.
Frontline is fine for ferrets.  You will find some MARVELOUS vet posts
on this in the Archives of both the FML and FHL.  I know multiple vets
posted about it but off-hand I just recall several from Dr. Jerry Murray
who knows his stuff big-time.  Search with AFERRETVET in the "from" box
for the FHL Archives.
 
FML Archives (addy in the header of every day's FML digest:
http://listserv.cuny.edu/archives/ferret-search.html
FHL Archives:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
 
Angela, extreme lethargy calls for a vet appointment.  If the cause is
hard to find then testing makes sense.  As with coughing we've found that
a chest x-ray often makes sense in case there is cardiomyopathy, though
that usually happens at older ages.  A CBC with Complete Blood Chemistry
might make sense.  Blockages cause extreme lethargy and must be tackled
rapidly.  If the ferret is not eat, not drinking, or not defecating get
an emergency appointment.  Disease of pretty much any type can cause
lethargy.  Yes, we have ones who become more peaceful in Winter but it's
not extreme like you mention.  In 21 and 1/2 years with ferrets extreme
lethargy in a ferret sends us to the vet hospital.  Okay, I notice that
he is eating and drinking: good!  It is so heartbreaking when there have
been blockages and folks haven't jumped fast enough, so I'll leave the
warning in just in case it might help save another FML member's ferret.
 
Salt water embolism:  for anyone who missed reading the vet post which
says that it is not a risk factor (unless your ferret has some nifty
scuba gear):
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG4675
(See Karen's post in the Friday FML because she read it.)
 
All fingers and paws here are crossed hoping that the reading of
carcinoma is wrong.  The slide will be read by at least one more expert.
If carcinoma she doesn't have long, and sadly I do have to say that she
is going downhill far more rapidly than any lympho ferret on Prednisolone
ever has with us in all the time we've had ferrets.  If carcinoma the
only solution is surgery before it spreads, but her symptoms and the
tests indicate problems with multiple organs which also make her a great
surgical risk even if it hasn't spread (but it stands a good chance of
having spread).  We are doing all that we can for her and Steve and I
are also making sure to make a point of emphasizing the good things, so
last night while so happy about our human friend's health news we went
out and bought ourselves some celebratory treats.  When things are hard
it is important to stick together, to emphasize the things that so right
so that the rest doesn't push itself into seeming undefeatable, and to
find ways to deal with the added problems (like learning about Evan's
malignancy which is not as limiting a factor as his lung damage from
over-used nightime cold medications -- a relief found by really hitting
the books), and accepting what can't be changed like Fran and Lou's lack
of capacity and the reality that with the mess they have wrought we can't
do beyond what is already being done without the help of Adult Protective
Services in NY, etc.  Hey, it's life.  We've had a lot of good things
happen (the best for me being Steve and the ferrets) so at there have to
be times when things go wrong, too.
[Posted in FML issue 4340]