Sorry for the long delay again, things have been very busy at the Animal
Hospital.
 
**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:    Kimberly Tabickman <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: sick ferts!
>about a week ago I posted about my boy Wiley who had been diagnosed with
>coccidia.  All three of the ferrets were put on Albon...
 
Albon, or any typical sulfa antibiotic, is effective against the active
shedding of coccidia.  However, coccidia is one of those diseases that the
ferret can become a chronic carrier who does not shed the organism.  During
periods of stress, it can become active and recur.  In the end, your ferrets
will probably have coccidia lifelong and your job is to keep it from being
active (with diarrhea, etc.)
 
>From:    "Linda E. Langve" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Avid microchip and lost ferrets
 
Microchip identification is coming.  The chip is a rice sized passive
transmitter when stimulated with radiowaves from the scanner.  It is
implanted subcutaneously.  The chip has ridges to prevent migration.
 
>From:    Cheryl Cato <[log in to unmask]>
>Seeking advice: Binky is just over 2 years old, and has had a nephretomy at
>about 3 months and a partial adrenalectomy (right adrenal) at just around 2
>years.  In her first bout with adrenal disease - she presented with hair
>loss as her only symptom.  Last week I noticed that her vulva was slightly
 
The same estrogen-like compunds that cause vulvar swelling can predispose a
ferret to vaginitis and perhaps a secondary urinary tract infection. If it
does not clear up on the antibiotics, consider adrenal disease.
 
>From:    Ed Bullard <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Vet question re litter box
>I posted recently about a problem our youngest, Possum is having.  She
>refuses to use the same litter box that Ootz, the oldest, uses....
 
I would think of behavioral problems and consider the separate cage route.
 
>From:    Frank_Bartock <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Adrenal gland disease
>About two months ago I noticed that Scooter (2 year old Marshal Farms
>Albino female) was starting to lose the hair at the tip of her tail...
 
Yes, I have had normal biopsy results and a return to normalacy twice in the
last 3 years.  Probably a hyperfunctional adrenal gland.  Pathologists who
do not have a lot of experience with ferret adrenals sometimes misread the
sample also.
 
>From:    Ela Heyn <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Can ferrets sweat?
 
Ferrets have poorly developed sweat glands and uses respiration as the
method to get rid of excess body heat.
 
>From:    Cheryl J Halley <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: reaction. to injections?
 
Any animal can have a post-injection swelling. It usually clears in 1 to 4
weeks.
 
>From:    Ross and Marie Brady <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Heart Disease
>I have a ferret that has been preliminarly diagnosed to have Cardiomyopathy
 
If your vet made the diagnosis via a x-ray, it probably is cardiomyopathy
and an ultrasound is the next step.
 
>From:    Richard James <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Missouri Bob, the Vets, and others who can help
>Bob, you're first.  I think I remember your writing something on the FML
>about the relationship of Skunks and Ferrets, being not really close but
 
If you have not already done so, try contacting key people in other States
where the Rabies battle has been waged. Dick and Joan Bossart and crew did a
great job and have a lot of info that you can expound on. Dick is at
[log in to unmask]
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH.
[Posted in FML issue 1618]