From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-05-30 23:17:00 UTC
Subject: Re: kennel cough?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Jacqueline Snyder <SNYDER@G...> wrote:
> We're taking care of a shelter dog that turns out to have kennel
cough. The
> shelter vet put the dog on doxycycline for kennel cough, but given
the lack
> of a temperature, I imagine his cough is viral. (I've read that
there are a
> handful of organisms that cause kennel cough in dogs--Bordetella
bacteria
> and several viruses.)
>
> We're keeping the dog well away from the ferrets, but I'd like to
know
> whether ferrets are susceptible to kennel cough...??
You are correct in that kennel cough is due to one of a number of
respiratory viruses which pave the way for later infection by
Bordetella by "knocking out" the local immune reaction.
While Bordetella can conceivably (but very rarely) infect other
mammalian species, it is generally pretty well conserved to dogs, and
poses little threat to ferrets. Ferrets are also not sensitive to
the common viral infections that facilitate kennel cough, with the
exception of one of the rarest, canine distemper.
Long story short - nothing to worry about with the current
precautions you are taking.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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