Brad Laraway wrote:
 
>My ferret Mako has a urinary track infection.  He has alot of blood in
>his urine.  He is currently on .25 ml of amoxie(sp) drops.  3 X a day.
 
Mike Dutton answered:
 
>Not to be the adrenal disease pessimist, but in male ferrets benign
>prostatic enlargement is a common symptom of adrenal disease.  The most
>common sign to the owner is an urinary tract infection.  These ferrets
>can become obstructed (can't urinate) and that is a life threatening
>situation.
 
And now I ask, should I suspect adrenal if my *female* ferret is diagnosed
with UTI?  She was rescued from a bad situation, age unknown, is mostly skin
and bones, and ate like a horse for the first week she was here.  However,
she is extremely energetic, no hair loss, no other adrenal signs I have
noticed.  Her vulva is slightly enlarged, but she is also just coming out of
heat -- could be either, I guess.
 
Beanpole is on amoxi for the UTI, .5 ml, 2 x a day.  She's very small,
weighs just 1 lb.  Vet claims no particular expertise with ferrets (but
happily gobbles up any gleanings from the net that I bring him).
 
On another subject, Catherine Shaffer wrote:
 
>Mortimer is very rare!  I have yet to hear of another ferret on the FML
>or elsewhere who sprays recreationally.
 
Count us in.  Khaz definitely poofs while sleeping, definitely without
provocation (not that it doesn't provoke *me*).  Happened before she was
spayed, happens afterwards too.  Love those little stinkers.
 
-- Kim ("Yeah, sure, I just love that smell.")
   Khaz ("Really?  Glad I can help.")
   Beanpole ("Hope I put on some weight soon and outgrow this name.")
   McKenzie ("Hmmmpf.  And just why shouldn't I sleep 24 hrs a day?")
   Sockeye the Cat ("Great!  Some new ferrets to sleep on top of!")
   Yakobi the Dog ("Feh.  It's just more for me to keep track of.")
[Posted in FML issue 1896]