Regarding the ferret with a bald tail and mites:
 
Over the years my ferrets have had recurring bald tails.  The jills
seem to suffer this especially when they are in season.  The cure
is simply to bathe the tail (i.e. dip it) in TCP.  If you don't
recognise the name TCP, it's an anti-septic solution which people
use on small grazes, cuts, bee-stings etc.  If necessary, I'll
try to identify its makeup.  Anyway, four or five days treatment
is all that's required before new hair appears.
 
[You're right, females quite frequently lose a lot of fur during
the heat cycle.  Nicia's tail was completely bald when we got her.
People should be reminded though, that females really should be
spayed unless you intend to breed them.  (Female ferrets will 
usually not come out of heat unless bred or given special hormone shots -
this prolonged condition can lead to aplastic anemia, and is OFTEN
fatal.)]
 
Has anyone had problems with abcesses, particularly round the
mouth/neck/head?  I've had this problem with two jills (separeted
by about 5 years).  It seems that once they are prone to it then
the kindest answer is euthanasia - expensive & prolonged surgery
just provides a temporary respite.  So what's the cause?
 
[Don't know what the cause is, but Mocha had such an abcess once
just above her eye.  It was a clear fluid.  We drained it a couple
of times, but it kept coming back until the vet excised it.  No
recurrances.  I suspect a stopped-up gland of some sort.  It certainly
sounded as if the excision was simple and quick.]
 
Sender : Jonathan M Spencer
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[Posted in FML 0112]