**The advice dispensed by myself in reference to FML postings is not meant
to supplant the advice of veterinarians who are in charge of the patient.
If the patient is not currently under the care of a veterinarian, the client
is recommended to take their ferret to one.**
 
>From:    Sherry L Christman <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Question on pregnancy
>Hello all!!  Kind of a stupid question I guess, but I just found out that I
>am about 3-4 weeks pregnant.  I've heard soooo much about not scopping
 
Yes, ferrets can carry toxoplasmosis.  It would be best if someone else
scooped the litter box.
 
>From:    Dani Lucking <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: No more lurking after today & help needed for sick? furry
 
If she is spayed consider hyper adrenal disease a possibility for the vulvar
swelling.  Something in her belly can be anything such as an enlarged
spleen.  You might want to re-visit your vet with your concerns.
 
>From:    "Karen E. Marsh-Lovvorn" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Vet Question
>One of the shelter ferrets(male, age unknown, but I'm guessing 3-4 years
>old) has had a rather sudden-onset of hind-end weakness, tiredness...
 
Acute rear limb weakness can be due to trauma, heart disease or low blood
sugar.  If the vet does not find anything conclusive on the physical
examination, consider getting a blood sugar and perhaps an x-ray (include
the heart).
 
>From:    "Courtney J. Scholl" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Vaccination ?s
>Just a few questions: If one's ferrets didn't recieve their vaccines (i.e
>rabies/distemper) as kits, what should one do?  A friend of mine has 2
 
1.  Vaccinate for Rabies with IMRAB3 - good for one year.  Vaccinate for
canine distemper now and in one month - then good for a year.
2.  No other specific testing.  The FIV and FeLV test are unneccesary based
on current knowledge.
3.  If a veterinarian did not give the vaccines, it will be impossible to
get a veterinarian vaccination certificate.  If you are at MSU (Go Spartans!
MSU Class of 86) studying to be a vet, you will find once you graduate and
start work, this becomes a client communication problem (the client says
they did it and doesn t understand why you cannot sign the appropriate
paperwork to prove it).  In the end, unless you do it, don t sign for it.
 
>From:    Troy Lynn Eckart <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Milwaukee Zoo, antifreeze treatment
 
The treatment given for antifreeze poisoning is standard therapy.  Remember
the sooner the better.  Antifreeze is pretty much instantly absorbed.  If
you are more than 10 - 30 minutes after the fact, inducing vomiting and the
activated charcoal are probably not changing the course of the disease.  The
higher the concentration of alcohol, the better.  Most of the damage is done
within 4 hours.  Fluids are important.
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH
[Posted in FML issue 1671]