Dogs & Ferrets
Well, the babies are reminding me how traumatizing they can be
to dogs and puppies, especially when there's 8!  The babies think
its great fun to nip doggie toes, ankles and tails and the dogs
can't get away because the babies climb on the couch and bed
after them.  The dogs have been raised with ferrets and know not
to bite them, but even the warning growls and nips are having
little results.  Out comes the bitter apple spray!  I spray the dogs
feet and legs and except for some very discontented dogs, it
seems to work, so far.  The kits are scheduled for spay/neuters
next Tuesday and hopefully they will settle down after the
surgeries, at least for a few days!
 
Skin Problem
A couple years ago I was treating feral kittens for ringworm and
my neighbor inadvertently transferred it to some of my ferrets.
Ringworm on the ferrets looked rusty (orange), and speckled, and
its formation was in a circle on some but not on all.  Some of the
ferrets didn't get it and others got a spot here and there.  I treated
the infected ones with a topical solution called Fungisan.  This is
a nonprescription, clear, nonoily, unscented solution that is
applied 2 times a day on the infected area for 7-10 days.  The
bottle reads that it is effective for other fungal infections so if it
isn't ringworm it may still have beneficial effects.  Sebulux is a
gentle anti-fungal shampoo that can be used  sparingly on ferrets,
at least I've used it without any complications and I wash
incoming ferrets with it, just in case.  The problem with ringworm
is that it is spread on hair follicles so bedding, floors, carpets,
furniture, etc. must be washed, vacuumed, swept frequently.  A
1:30 dilution of bleach to water is a very effective disinfectant for
bedding and floors.  Ringworm can be found in some soils, so you
may not know its being transferred.  A simple way to tell if it's
ringworm is to go into a dark room and shine a black light on the
infected area.  If you see florescent green or yellow specks,
you've got it.  Human adults seem to be somewhat immune to it
(I didn't catch it), but children are quite susceptible (I had it when
I was a child too).  It takes about 6 weeks to get rid of it.
 
Hugs to all!  tle
 
[Posted in FML issue 0889]