Message Number: YG11755 | New FHL Archives Search
From: craigkrisowen
Date: 2002-03-08 09:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: distemper or flu ...update

Thanks,
I see your point. I will call and make an appointment and so some
pushing. What strange is I have gone to 2 vets so far which neither
one has suggested doing more than wait and see. I would like to know
for sure. The waiting is killing me. I was really afraid this was
just a plateau and from what you said it sounds like that is
possibility. According to the vet I saw, the improvement in him ruled
out Distemper. I will call him today. My guy is doing about the same
this morning. Even though they treated his ears for mites, they are
still crusty. They look like they have little white oval bugs around
the edges of them in the base of the hair follicles but they are not
moving like bugs. They just sit there like dandruff. His skin is
looking better for the most part though. I am trying to find a way to
get some pictures online but I don't have a digital camera. Any
Ideas? I have a family member who does have one but, of course, they
are gone on vacation. I will keep you posted. Thank you for your help.
How can I get a sample for you? Do I need a local vet to collect the
sample or can I do it myself? Kris


--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "dr_bruce_williams"
<bruce.h.williams@h...> wrote:


> I hate to harp on this one note, but I am wondering why your vet
> doesn't biopsy the pads, periocular skin, or chin. The use of
> antibiotics may result in temporary improvement in distemper cases,
> as they support an immunesuppressed animal fight bacterial
infection,
> but as other people have already pointed out, this is an animal
that
> may be shedding virus into the environment. Each time this ferret
> comes into the vet clinic, it is a potential source of infection
for
> other ferrets (especially kits), puppies, etc.