To Jon Anne:
 
<i found a wonderful treat for the ferrets.
<you know how they love milk, ...well there is
<a pruduct out called "Cat Sip" that contains
<no lactose.  it is ultrapasteurized 1% real
<milk.  it also contains protein.  Ingrediants:
<grade a lowfat milk, lactose enzyme, and taurine.
<that is all.  protein 3.2%, fat 1%, moisture 88.74%,
<and taurine 1.6 mg/fl.oz.  i have found it quite the
<successful treat.  dr.williams, if you see anything wrong
<with it, please tell me, and i will stop using it.
 
 
        I don't see anything wrong with it at first blush - as long as your
ferret tolerates it without loose stools, it probably won't hurt.  But
everything in moderation....
 
 
<also, on a sadder note, i am having another problem
<with one of my ferrets (Big, a 3.5 yr. sprite).  she
<has developed a cyst on her left arm, right before
<the bend of her paw.  it is about the size of a small pea
<and seems to be filled with liquid.  a friend of mine
<gave the advise to sterily open it up, drain the fluid, then
<clean it out with rubbing alcohol, to stop the infection...
<then repeat as necessary.  i wanted to ask if this was the
<correct procedure, before trying it.  (this was done for
<her cat)  do you think this is a good idea.  the lump is
<filled with liquid, it is not hard or connected to the
<muscle in her paw at all.
 
        Oops.  Bad idea.  We are most likley dealing with two different
problems.  What your friend is talking about is an abscess, which cats commonly
get following a bite wound in a fight, and which are large localized infection.
What Sprite probably has is a cyst - a common finding in ferrets which is best
removed en bloc by your vet.  You can drain the fluid, but it will come back
again.  But never fear, these are invariably benign and won't recur if removed
properly.  Opening it and draining it wo'nt have much effect but may initiate an
infection instead of treating one.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 0986]