Message Number: YG12334 | New FHL Archives Search
From: ferretkrazi
Date: 2002-04-08 08:02:00 UTC
Subject: Urinary Tract Infections?

How do I know if a ferret has a UTI?

I purchased Khali from a breeder and had her spayed at 7 months of
age. She is now just over a year old. She likes to run around and
POOF when she gets excited, etc. but that's not a problem. However,
around her vulva she gets kind of a residue. It's brownish tan in
color (not poop) and has the real strong poof smell to it. (Yes, I
smelled her bottom! LOL!) The first time I noticed it was about 2
weeks ago. I thought it was perhaps because I hadn't bathed her in a
long time. I gave her a bath and that was that. On Saturday, I
noticed the residue is back. Is this because she poofs so much or
does she have a UTI or something? She doesn't have problems going to
the bathroom, doesn't wimper or strain or anything. Her vulva is not
swollen and she doesn't have diarrhea either.

Should I be concerned? If I take her to my vet for a check up on it,
what tests should I have her perform? (She's my local vet and not
very ferret knowledgeable.) I'm concerned because I've never seen
something like this and I want to get to the bottom of it. (No pun
intended.)

Thanks for any help you can give me! I'm headed to my vet on
Wednesday with another ferret so I'll just take Khali if I need to.

Sincerely,
Erin