From:
Michelle D.
Date: 2001-10-17 05:56:00 UTC
Subject: Itchy ferrets, possibly NOT related to adrenal
Hi every one. This will be long, but please read, as I would appreciate some
advice. I know my kids troubles are not as serious as most on the list, but
I am worried about them. Thanks!
I posted a couple weeks ago about Salem and Boris's visit to the vet on
10/1. The main reason I took them is that they both have been itchy for
several months and getting worse, plus Salem has been coughing on occasion.
Other than those things, they are acting normally. In between making the
appointment and the day of, Salem developed what looks like rat tail. At the
appointment my vet said Salem had bronchitis (viewed through x-ray). She was
put on Clavamox and Benedryl. I was also told that it didn't look like rat
tail as she didn't seem too oily and that it could be the precursor for
adrenal. She told me to keep an eye on her for other symptoms (swollen
vulva, more hair loss - neither have happened). She had a re-check 10/15.
The vet kept her on benedryl for the itching and coughing. Everything else
appears to be fine. She was going to do a skin scraping, but decided it
wasn't necessary. I pointed out that her fur is a little orange in areas.
The vet thinks it is due to oily skin. I also had her take a closer look at
Salem's tail. It has blackheads. My vet still isn't certain if it is rat
tail or not. I think it is, but that could just be wishful thinking.
As for Mr.. Boris. He had a tumor removed from the "bridge" of his nose and
the results of the biopsy are fine. He is still violently itchy though. It
wakes him out of a dead sleep (and boy, does he sleep like the dead!). When
I was in for Salem's check-up Monday she told me to put Boris on the
benedryl as well. Now, she did do a scraping on him and it came out fine,
though was concerned that the pads of his feet were a little red. He has a
check-up tonight to have the stitches removed (fell out already though) and
a general look over.
I now have both ferrets on .2ml benedryl twice a day. I am not very
comfortable medicating them without knowing what the actual cause is.
Nothing has changed in their environment. I'm at a loss. I have decided I am
going to switch their bedding from Yesterdays News (both have always used
it) to the cardboard stuff. I highly doubt they both became allergic to
Y.N., but it is the only thing I can think of. I even tried switching their
food (were on Totally, now on Zupreen - seems to be better content wise, and
it's cheaper anyway).
You should know that my vet is very caring and ferret knowledgeable, but not
an expert. Salem & Boris are 2 of I think 5 they see at the clinic.
If anyone has had theses problems with their squeezels or if any of the vets
have an explanation I would love to hear it. Perhaps I should make an
appointment with a ferret specialist? For some reason yahoogroups won't let
me log on, so I can't view the vet listing.
Help! :)
Thank you SO much!
Michelle
W/Psycho Salem &
Mommas Boy Boris
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