From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2002-01-13 12:42:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 554
In a message dated 01/13/02 8:05:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
How dangerous is it to take blood from the jugular of a very
squirmy ferret?
My vet says she is confident that she can get the blood with her
awake, but
Kiwi doesn't have a lot of loose skin on her scruff, and often
wiggles out
of a scruff hold. In fact, during her exam, neither the vet nor I
were
completely successful holding her still for more than a few
seconds. Of
course I would worry about gassing her down to get the blood too,
and
don't want to subject her to more than we have to.
Drawing blood is not dangerous, even if anesthesia is needed. Quite
honestly, I usually have one of my techs hold a bottle of ferretone
near the ferret's nose, while scruffing, and usually before the
ferret knows it, I have the sample. If that doesn't work, don't
hesitate to use a little bit of anesthetic to get the blood sample.
But, I suspect that your girl is just dreaming. Several of mine
have periods where they seem to dream a lot, then they go back to
normal.
Dr. Ruth
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