Message Number: YG12754 | New FHL Archives Search
From: C. Vick
Date: 2002-04-25 19:13:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Crusty nails

theferretplace wrote:
>
> I have two 4-year old ferrets. There appears to be some sort of
> crustation around the bases of their nails which bleed easily.

Rascal had the same problem, I wrote about it a couple weeks ago. The vet
thought infection, so we tried Baytril for a week. I also treated him
with Ivermectin when the Baytril didn't do anything. I have done a second
shot of Ivomec 14 days later and still hasn't cleared up. He has lost
three or four claws now because the cuticle has been so eroded. I'm sure
he'll lose a couple more in the next week. They look completely rotted
away. My vet trimmed the claws as close to the quick without hurting him,
that way they won't get too long and catch on something and get torn off
in their weakened state. They bleed a LOT when they fall off, so Stiptik
powder is good to have on hand to dip the toe in to stop the bleeding!
Treat as soon as you can for this because it obviously takes a while to
get rid of and it gets much worse very quickly. Rascal is in a lot of
pain when he climbs and things, but seems to get around pain free as long
as he's not being rambunctious!

Good luck, and any new info on quicker treatment would be great! Funk
still hasn't gotten it. I treated her the first time, but didn't two
weeks later. She's been through enough lately.

Cynthia, Rascal and Funk