From:
craigkrisowen
Date: 2002-03-07 08:30:00 UTC
Subject: Re: distemper or flu ...update
No,
I am not going to take him in for the shot. I saw the vet last
Saturday, I was picking up some shampoo and he thought that by
Thursday it would be OK to get the shot but I won't take any chances.
He said since he was not getting worse and since the eye medication
I used helped, he did not think it was Distemper.(he didn't actually
see him at that time though) It does no harm to wait for the shot, I
don't want to take any chances. He is doing better so far. He is not
suffering at all. If it comes to that I would put him down instantly
for his sake. He would not eat his old food when I tried to change it
back to Marshals from Zoopreem. He now is eating like a horse again
since he has his favorite stuff back. We are taking it slow (mixing
the food) and hoping all this wasn't a reaction to his food but I
doubt it. That wouldn't cause the 106 temp. His paw pads are still
crusty but does not appear to be getting any worse. Could that be
from Scabies? His chin is still a little swollen but more pink than
red now. He has rolls around his eye's like a shar-pei dog but they
seem to be getting no worse. The eye itself looks fine, no draining
anymore. His skin is slowly returning to normal color and he is a
little more active but not much yet. He can still shoot up and down
the stairs with no problems. Most importantly...he is not getting
sicker at this time. I hope that doesn't change and this is just a
plateau for him. I am hopeful.
Kristine in AZ
>
> Kristine
>
> I am not a vet...but I have some concerns that I will mention to
you about
> the course of treatment that your ferret is receiving.
>
> If it is distemper, understand that he is shedding the virus. And
you are
> carrying that virus on your clothes and everywhere that you go. You
may be
> inadvertantly spreading the disease. Canine distemper is a fairly
hardy virus
> and can live for some time on surfaces. Canine distemper is almost
100% fatal
> in ferrets - and the few that do survive, suffer from neurological
problems.
> I have seen distemper personally in a shelter ferret and I would
not continue
> his suffering - we had him put to sleep once the disease was
diagnosed.
>
> You should never in my opinion vaccinate a sick animal. The immune
system
> will not properly respond to the vaccination and it could make
things worse.
>
> I'm very sorry that your little one is ill. I hope that it isn't
distemper,
> but if it is, please do the right thing for him.
>
> Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
> The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
> www.ferrethaven.org