To Anna Adam Spear: >I'm trying not to cuddle my sweet Beckboy as much (the others don't cuddle >anyway) b/c I've had a nagging cough for nearly three WEEKS. I finally went >to the doctor on Monday and found out I have 'walking pneumonia.' (sp?) >Anyway, can the kids get that from me? It would be extremely unusual. Walking pneumonia often begins as a viral infection, but by the time it is diagnosed, it is more of a raging localized lung infection due to bacteria. The chance of transmitting the bacteria to your ferret is very low for several reasons: 1) - you are not coughing up a lot of bacteria - the normal defense mechanism in the lung which allow you to cough up bacteria are overcome (that's why you have pneumonia - so you're not coughing up a lot of infective material 2) your ferret's lungs would have to be compromised in order for most bacteria to take root, as your's were. I wouldn't encourage a lot of hands on cuddling around the face, and don't cough on them, but I think this is one less thing for you to worry about. But for those of you who get the flu this winter - that's what you need to keep away from your ferrets!!! Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP [log in to unmask] OR Chief Pathologist, AccuPath [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 1410]