The ferret club that I belong to has encountered a problem new to us but
maybe not new to some of the other subscribers.  We would appreciate
anything anyone can tell us about this.  Since I am relaying this 3rd hand,
I may be a little hazy on the details.
 
The illness most frequently begins with listlessness, loss of appetite,
diarrhea, rear leg weakness, accompanied by sudden and extreme weight loss.
The other symptom is a fever sore type of blister that forms on the roof of
the ferret's mouth.  It appears very painful and infected and is probably
the reason for loss of appetite and so the weight loss.
 
In a recent case, the ferret was hospitalized for 10 days, and he received
2 antibiotics, daily fluids and other meds. The sore covered wht whole roof
of the mouth and nearly penetrated his palette.  It spread to the corners of
his mouth and then to his nose.  He eventually recovered but 2 ferrets were
lost.  The recovered ferret subsequently developed kidney problems but there
could be any number of explanations for that.
 
We are in New York State but Fuzztek in New Jersey has also seen some of
this.  Its showing up in personal ferrets and shelter ferrets.  So far, no
common bond has been established.
 
SG
[Posted in FML issue 2380]