As some of you know, we took in an 8 week old kit back in the first part
of January - exhibiting many of the symptoms described as being that of
the mystery virus-seizures/neurological signs, unstable temperature,
lethargy, anorexia, low RC/PCV, high WC.  My vet in fact at the time of
his release (his owners couldn't pay for veterinary care) gave him less
than 10% of survival...we put him on aggressive supportive care (IV
fluids and antibiotics) and while he wasn't getting any worse, he wasn't
getting any better.  Based on some suspicions from both my vet and
suggestions from Dr. Williams, Rocky was placed on chloramphenical on
top of his other medications..and within a day we saw improvement.
 
From a WC high of 29,000 in two days it dropped to 10,000.  His
temperature stabilized and we began to see signs of strength and
improvement.  The worst of his neurological signs have dissipated and
today Rocky Bobble is doing great - he is able to walk on his own and
only has the head tilt/sway/bobbing with some balance difficulty to
indicate he is anything other than a healthy kit.  He is a fairly normal
size and weight now for an 11 week old ferret (740g yesterday).
 
Now comes the interesting part.  Yesterday while taking Rocky in for
another CBC/chemistry, the vet told me that the pet store that sold Rocky
called him.  I had reported the possible meningitis case to them when we
believed that is what he had and also told them the vet who was treating
him.  It turns out that a day or two prior to Rocky's sale, an employee
at the store was diagnosed with meningitis and the pet store was checking
to see if anyone at the vet clinic had come down with it!
 
While handling Rocky at the vet clinic, I took strict precautions to
disinfect myself and keep the ferrets in my house safe.  I have had no
other ferrets come down with any symptoms similar to this.
 
So I wonder - is what we are seeing in these very young kits in fact a
form of meningitis?  It does make sense as the immune system in a ferret
this young is still immature and more susceptible to disease.  I also
understand that meningitis can be spread from people to pets and vice
versa.
 
I wish in Rocky's case we were able to make a definitive diagnosis based
on samples collected, but we were unable to locate anyone who was willing
to do a spinal tap on such a small young ferret.
 
Just something that I felt I should pass on.  Rocky's lab results and
all of his information/medical charts are open for any vets who are
interested and feel that they may help another ferret.
 
Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
Shelter Wench in good standing
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
www.ferrethaven.org
[Posted in FML issue 4407]