From:
gmart91607@aol.com
Date: 2001-04-03 13:47:00 UTC
Subject: Re: A few health questions on my ferret
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., diwilliams310@a... wrote:
> Hello,
>
> First, I would like to thank everyone who responded to my first
post. The information I got was very helpful. I do, however, have a
few more questions. I took Squeeker to the vet this weekend to get
his second Distemper shot and everything went great. No reactions.
The vet did mention that when I bring him in next month, that she
would give him the 3rd Distemper shot and rabies shot at the same
time. Is that correct? I thought they had to be separated?
Hi Dianna--
I am a fairly new ferret mom, so you won't get the benefit of years'
experience with me. But I am very conscientious--as you seem to be--
and I have done my homework.
I have separated my final distemper and rabies by two or three weeks.
Couple reasons--my breeder and vet both recommended it. And secondly,
should a reaction occur, you would not know which shot it was. I
would think, for the people collecting the data on reactions, that
two shots on the same day would mot be good for their statistics.
Would this cause a problem if he does get them at the same time?
Also, unfortunately he does have Coccidia. He is on .5 ml of Albon
for the next ten days. I was told he probably got it from his mother.
Is this a reoccuring problem with ferrets? Is there anything I should
do to make sure it doesn't come back?
My experience with dogs is that coccidia is something that can be re-
caught, and passed from one to another, mainly by stepping in
infected poo-poo. So, if Squeeker is an only child and you do a good
disinfect and clean job when you get thru with the meds, it seems
pretty unlikely that it will recur. Additionally, Dianna, it seems to
me that coccidia is more difficult tenacious treat in young, old, or
debilitated animals. He should be fine. Just watch for the recurring
runny poops.
And finally, I've noticed that whenever he wakes up, he doesn't use
his back legs at first. When I open the cage door for play time, he
kinds of falls out of his hammock. For the first minute or so, he
slithers (can't think !
> of a better word) around. Kinda
> like a snake. Is this normal?
I don't see him, obviously, but it sounds like Skeeter is doing the
same thing as Elvis. Elvis kinda stretches, and pulls himself along
on his front legs for a bit--usually down the door of his cage. Like
a big good-morning tummy-drag stretch. If there were something
neurological going on, I would think you would have noticed alot of
things by now.I don't remember how old Skeeter is exactly (12ish
weeks, probably?), but Elvis is 4 months, and he falls out of his
hammock routinely!
Good luck and have fun. Please feel free to email me directly if you
think I can be of any help!
Gigi, Turlock, Stast, Miss Boo and Elvis