**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:    "Karen E. Marsh-Lovvorn" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Symptoms
>(1) I'm worried about 3 of my guys, & hope someone has some advice!
>(2) Yesterday I got a call from an owner whose ferret has had
 
(1) The symptoms you describe are pretty vague so I do not have a lot of
    information for you.
(2) Most bacterial and yeast skin infections are not contagious per se.  If
more than 1 ferret is showing symptoms I would strongly suspect some type of
mange.  A skin scraping by your vet could be very helpful.  S/he could also
stain it to look for evidence of bacteria and/or yeast.  A metabolic disease
such as adrenal disease is not contagious (but you could just have two
ferrets with metabolic problems).
 
>From:    Jennifer Hoh <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: sick fuzzies? Long post...
>OK.  I'm at my wits end here.  I've got 2 sick, 1 maybe sick fuzzie.
>They've been down with allergy/cold type symptoms for several weeks now.
 
It could be an allergy but most inhalation type allergies (to pollens,
dusts, molds, the other ferret) are very, very steroid responsive and they
should have cleared up easily on the prednisolone.
 
The other possibility is a chronic upper respiratory infection (URI).
Antibiotics would be indicated for that.
 
>From:    Judith White <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Stomach Ulcers
>I have read several references to ferrets with ulcers lately, and I was
>wondering if any vets have used antibiotics to treat them?
 
The standard treatment for ulcers is antibiotics (usually amoxicillin),
sucralfate (binds to ulcerated stoach tissue), peptobismol (works better
than kao-pectate), and perhaps a H2 blocker (such as Pepcid.).  I rarely use
a H2 blocker since a high acidic stomach environment does not seem to be a
significant finding in ferrets.
 
>From:    Catherine Williamson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Flaky in between the toes?
 
I would suspect a mild yeast (perhaps bacterial) infection. Cleaning and pat
drying the area should help. If persists, have your vet check it out.
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH.
[Posted in FML issue 1601]