From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2002-02-11 17:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 603
In a message dated 02/11/02 9:27:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
From what I have read, ADV has no treatment and no cure. If my
ferrets do
not come in contact with other ferrets, why would I spend the time
and money
to have them tested? (and then retested?) If the test results
are
positive, what have I accomplished other than to find another
thing to worry
over?
Do you come in contact with other ferrets or ferret owners? Do you
play with baby ferrets at the petstore? Do you go to the
veterinarian? Can you say for certain that the clerk bagging your
groceries does not have a ferret that may be positive?
Testing is for two reasons - if your ferrets are negative (and I
hope that they are), you know to take precautions to avoid potential
exposure. You need to keep testing at least annually in order to be
sure those precautions have been effective. If your ferrets are
positive, then you know to watch them for signs of illness - the
illness cannot be cured, but it can be treated in many cases to keep
the ferret comfortable. You know to warn your veterinarian that
your ferrets have the disease so that he or she can take extra
precautions to avoid exposing other ferrets. You know *not* to play
with those oh-so-cute ferret kits, so that they are not exposed.
There are other reasons, but for me, that is plenty.
Dr. Ruth
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Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.