From:
demilia1@attbi.com
Date: 2002-08-20 23:48:33 UTC
Subject: heartworm antibodies found- advice please
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1684470.1029887313895.JavaMail.root@scandium>
I have an approximately 4 year old ferret that I brought to the vet today b=
ecause she had a mild cough. I am not sure if it's just when she's eating =
or all the time. It didn't concern me except that it has been going on for=
a month. My vet did an x-ray which didn't show anything except a bit of g=
as. They also did 2 heartworm tests- 1 for dogs which tests for antigens(=
maker of test Harem or Harlem maybe?) which came back negative, and one for=
felines which tests for antibodies (maker Hesca) which came back positive.=
My vet told me to watch her and find out if she only coughs when eating o=
r if it is all the time. If it is all the time he will start her on heartw=
orm treatment. I was wondering if anyone knows if this test is definite or=
just means that she possibly has/has had a heartworm, can it signal some o=
ther problem maybe? She has no noticeable symptoms other than a cough, she=
does not go outside, and I live in Connecticut where there is a low incide=
nce of heartworms. If it is definite that the test is correct than I would=
like some advice on what to do for her. =
Thank you,
Michelle
She also has a slightly enlarged spleen and she has always kind of been a g=
runty, snuffly type of ferret.
=