From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-03-08 21:20:00 UTC
Subject: Re: NEED VETS HELP/MYCOBACTERIUM...
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Trina" <bacardi4me@b...> wrote:
> The other day someone from the vet called and wanted to know the
age of my
> son, and when I acquired each pet in my home. And what was done
with
> Fozzy's Body.
> I asked to speak to the vet but he was not in any of the offices
that day.
> Today another person called and said the vet "thinks" it may be
TB., wanted
> to know if I can exhume Fozzy's body and bring it in for testing.
> Wouldn't it be to late for this? Fozzy passed on Feb. 23rd.
> I asked her If she knew the name of the Mycobacterium found, she
said no,
> just the vet thinks it might be TB.
> So, what do I do now?
Honestly, I'd thank the vet's office for their concern, but unless
the vet can give you a really compelling and true reason to do this,
you'd prefer not to. If the issue is that important, you'd think
that the vet himself would call.
Let me reiterate - M. avium is omnipresent in our environment, and
you have to be immunosuppressed to be at risk. Your dogs won't get
it, your cats won't get it, your ferrets won't get it, and assuming
that you and your son are healthy, you won't get it.
I don't think your vet is all that informed about mycobacterial
infections - they are uncommon in most domestic animals, and M. avium
really poses little threat. There are certainly exceptions to any
case, but the odds are way in your favor.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM
williamsb@c...
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP