Message Number: YG10154 | New FHL Archives Search
From: leese10ferts
Date: 2002-01-16 11:42:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Skin problem??

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "collysnz" <collyferret@p...> wrote:
> Hi there ferret lovers,
> I have a ferret that has been under vet care for a while now for a
> skin problem. We have checked him out for alergic reactions to wool
> and I took him off all beef products with no change.He has been on
a
> course of prednisone, all to no availe. He is itchy, has lost a lot
> of fur and has quite sparse fur all over. He has small scaly
patches
> brown in colour. Small as in twice the size of a capital " O ".

Hi Colleen,
I was just wondering if your vet did a skin scraping on these areas?
It sounds like it could be a fungal infection (like ringworm). This
would cause the colored scaley areas, and the loss in fur on those
areas - and it smells bad too (like dirty smelly socks).

Anyway, I'd have him checked for that. If it is ringworm or
something similar, there are treatments that seem to work well - like
one kitten dose of Program accompanied by a meal. My advice is to
have your vet do a skin scraping on the areas to be cultured and see
if anything grows. It might not be allergies - and if he's not
responding to the change in food or the pred, that might be why.
Best of luck to you!
Lisa Shortley