I don't know if ADV testing can be done from a frozen sample, but I
would certainly recommend testing your other fuzzies. The ADV tests can
be done without the expense of going to the vet, and they are quite
easy to do. Scales and Tails tests every animal before we allow it into
the shelter. We have the owner bring the animal to us, and we draw the
sample, then they take the animal home to wait for the results. We send
the sample to Dr Blau at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital, in Burley ID,
and he calls us back with the results. It only takes 4 or 5 days to
get the results. We ask the owner to bear the cost of the test and
shipping. In the case of emergency surrenders or dumps, we will take
the animal into a separate quarantine area and house it until we get
the results.
The test is very easy to do, and does not harm the ferret. It is best
done with two people, one to scruff the ferret, and the other to cut
one of the nails just a bit too short, so that it will bleed a tiny
amount. The ferret will squawk briefly, but will not be in major pain.
You touch the end of the tube to the nail, it will magically draw the
blood right in. It only takes a couple of drops per tube. When the
first tube is done, stick one end into the clay (only close one end,
not both), and fill the second one. You need to move fairly quickly as
the bleeding will stop on its own. Fill the second tube, seal one end,
and you are done. Be sure to have some styptic powder ready and dip the
nail in the powder. We usually give the ferret a bit of Ferretone, and
all is forgiven for the great indignity. Keep your eye on the toe for a
short while to make sure it does not start to bleed again. Dr Blau's
instructions describe how to tear down cardboard to protect the tubes
in shipping. Instead of doing that, we tape the tubes in plastic CD
cases. I picked up a giant stack of them at Staples for a few bucks -
if you recycle your computer printer's ink cartridges at Staples, you
can use the Staples Rewards dollars to buy the cases.
The tests cost $10 per ferret (two tubes of blood), plus the cost of
shipping. We use the good ol' US Post Office for shipping. You can use
Express Mail (which I believe is $17.50) for overnight. Unfortunately,
Dr Blau is in Burley ID, and "overnight" is actually two days to get
him. You can also use Priority Mail, which will take 3 to 4 days, and
only costs $4.90. We try to do most of our tests on Sunday evening,
store the sample in the refrigerator, then send it out on Monday
morning. That way it will get to him without sitting over the weekend
somewhere.
Dr Blau's instructions:
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/resources/bluecross_ceptest.pdf
I think you can probably get the "heparinized capillary tubes" at a
medical supply house, or maybe even a large drug store. If not, a quick
Google search found them (along with the clay to seal them) here:
https://www.pulmolab.com/-c-21_31_54_101.html
Note: the tubes are item #51608 and the clay is item #51601
Be sure to have styptic powder ready (get it at the pet store, or drug
store). We bought a small plastic tool box as our "ADV Test Kit". We
keep the nail clippers, styptic powder, tubes, clay, CD cases,
Ferretone, tape and a Sharpie all together, kept far away from all
other shelter materials. Write the ferret's name with the Sharpie on
the clear cover of the case, over their sample. You can fit quite a
few samples into a single CD case.
Finally, be sure to clean up completely! Use Parvocide, or some similar
antiseptic thoroughly, then change clothes and be sure they are kept
away from any free-roaming ferrets you might have.
We have not had a positive result in over three years, and I want to
keep it that way. One of my biggest fears, is that a positive will show
up. Our last ADV positive shelter closed over a year ago. I don't know
what we will do if we get a positive result. That's one of those nasty
thoughts that keeps me awake in the middle of the night.
It is about time for us to do a random test of a number of our current
residents, just to be sure that we haven't somehow slipped up. We also
request that people that already have ferrets that want to adopt from
us, bring their ferrets for testing. We don't require it, but if the
adoption doesn't work out, we won't bring our ferret back without
testing all of their ferrets first. Most people see this as a good
idea, and relatively cheap way to get their own peace of mind.
The biggest objection I get from people about doing the tests this way,
is that the nail clip hurts. I agree that it does, and I hate doing it.
However, it is very quick, and the ferrets' reaction goes away almost
immediately. I don't know how I could live with myself if we stopped
testing, and then found out that we had potentially spread this awful
disease. We will keep testing until the experts all say that they have
not seen any cases, anywhere, for a long time. I sure hope that day
comes.
If anyone wants any specific help or coaching to do this, you can
contact me off list [log in to unmask]
Larry Anderson
Scales and Tails Rescue
[Posted in FML 6781]
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