From:
"Roger Vaughn"
Date: 2002-08-01 19:00:06 UTC
Subject: Questions about cryptosporidiosis
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <3826.192.168.132.34.1028228406.squirrel@webmail.seaconinc.com>
Last night, our Bear was a bit listless, and this morning he was
downright lethargic, so off to the vet we went. The vet found that his
feces were filled with "unusual large cells", probably oocytes,
probably cryptosporidia. We're now waiting on the lab report to
confirm.
This is not the boy with the mucusy stools I posted about days ago -
this is a different ferret.
Meanwhile, I'm looking through the references (can't get to the FHL
archives for some reason), and all I can find is that cryptosporidiosis
is untreatable. Has this changed? Are there any new treatments for
this parasite? Is there any supportive care we can give? His vet gave
me some tylosin powder for him, but the dosage is mighty inconvenient -
0.015 cc per dose. (Yes, 15 thousandths of a CC.)
I'm uncertain how Bear managed to get this. He is young (12 mo) and
otherwise healthy, and none of the ferrets even go outside. He is not
immunosuppressed, and there have not been any unusual stressors or
triggers in the house lately.
I'm also very surprised by this since the listlessness was the first
symptom. His stools look fairly normal, he's hydrated, and seems
otherwise healthy.
Right now the poor little guy is sleeping. He looks mighty worn out
and depressed, but he is still eating, drinking, and eliminating. It's
tough to see a young guy so suddenly wiped out like this.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Roger & the Fibonacci Ferts