Mystery Virus: Recommended Treatment and Precautions
The green mystery virus that has swept across the eastern
seaboard is breaking out again.While it has never
completely left the New England / Pennsylvania / Maryland
areas, it had died down for a while, at least in
Virginia. Many new cases have been reported in the past
month in places as far away as New York and Wisconsin.
Due to thenumber of sick ferrets, Jodi Schroth has
postponed the Susquehanna Valley Ferret Show until
October 23, and will be sending out a letter in the next
week.
The nature of the virus is still unknown. In a recent
conversation Dr. Susan Erdman of MIT confirmed the fact
that they still have not been able to culture the virus
in the lab.
The symptoms are, dark to bright green stools, well
formed in the mildest cases and liquid in the worst.
Ferrets get lethargic and refuse to eat or drink. The
older ones frequently die of dehydration. This virus
attacks the lining of the intestine and destroys the
mucus membranes preventing the absorption of nutrients.
The only way to combat the disease is to help the ferrets
live through it. 1. They need to be hydrated constantly.
2. They need to be given nutritional supplements - Stat,
Nutrical, and Sustacal have all been used successfully.
3. They need to see the vet immediately and be put on an
antibiotic - the secondary infections are quite often the
killers in the older ferrets. While the antibiotic does
not kill the virus, it does prevent secondary infections.
4. They need to be kept warm and dry- one of the first
things to go in an older sick ferret is its thermal
system. Never leave a sick animal unattended on aheating
pad! Check with your vet or local club on a safe
procedure. 5 If your ferret survives a moderate to severe
form of the virus it is extremely important for them to
have follow up blood work done by your vet including CBC,
Hepatic function (liver) and for protein absorption. The
secondary complications seen in this disease are as
lethal as seen in the primary virus. The course of the
disease may run from one to three weeks.
There are some precautionary measures that you can take
to prevent the further spread of the disease. 1. If you
are infected and are going where there will be ferrets,
shower- put on clean clothes straight from the dryer, and
spray your hands and shoes with Nolvasan after you leave
the house. 2. If you are coming home from a possibly
infected area, take your clothes off in the garage and
spray your hands and shoesthoroughly before entering your
house. Put the clothes in a plastic bag for the wash.
Shower! Ihave used this method suggested by Susan Erdman
successfully throughout the whole epidemic with 100%
success. Remember, you can carry it on you!
There is no way to avoid possible exposure to this
disease in a crowd of ferrets, or ferret people. Until
there is a cure, or at least a culture of this,people
should be advised that when they go to ferret related
events, it is at their own risk.Older ferrets should not
be brought on outings at this time.
Most of the younger animals seem to sail through the
virus with minimal discomfort. So far, young kits who are
nursing, do not get it until they have been weaned for a
week or so. Even then they hardly know they have it.
Once they have had it, they are immune from getting it
again and will in all probability pass it on to their
offspring. We are convinced that simply being exposed to
it but not getting it does not constitute immunity, it
seems that the animal must show some signs of the disease
and survive to be immune.
This "stuff" is dogging the two major show circuits. From
talking to vets across the country, the evidence is
building that it has been around for years. First, in the
southern states and now in the north and eastern states.
If you do decide to go to a ferret event and take your
weasels, do not vaccinate them right before the event.
All vaccines weaken the immune system, which will make
them more vulnerable, so make sure you vaccinate at
least 30 days in advance of the event.
There is no blame on any person or organization for this
disease,or the spread of it. No one, no matter what club
or affiliation they have, would choose to lose a beloved
ferret or would wish that fate on anyone else. This
"stuff" is defying thebest minds in veterinary medicine.
All of the information here is strictly the accumulated
knowledge from breeders and shelters all over, plus bits
and pieces gathered from vets who have seen it. If you
think your ferret has it, please, please, take him to the
vet immediately- one day (even a few hours in worst case
scenarios) delay could make the difference.
Sincerely for The Love of Ferrets,
The League of Independent Ferret Enthusiasts
[Posted in FML issue 0539]
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