One of our ferrets is finishing up with a nasty case of bacterial
dermatitis.  (Pathology done last month on two skin samples, but
exact bacterium is unknown.)
 
I found that it does not pay to try to sniff to learn if it smells
different (though it does) when the lower half of my schnoz suddenly
blew way up in size, turned bright red, was shiny with weeping flesh,
and developed 4 sores.  (It is clearing up very nicely now.)
 
So, lesson learned: Yes, humans can get at least one cause of bacterial
dermatitis in ferrets so keep noses out of it, and wash well.  If a
ferret with bacterial dermatitis is also nose kisser -- which he is --
wash off your nose afterward.
 
BTW, rubbing alcohol is working great on mine, but I caught it
immediately.  His was much worse and had a full month of Amoxi.
Possible underlying causes for his are being investigated, so no worry on
that regard, please.
 
Sent by email, 7/17/06, 3:51 PM EST US.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my
   private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love
them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5307]