From:
FHbytheSea@aol.com
Date: 2003-03-20 12:00:58 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Adoption Scare
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <a9.3be82948.2bab077a@aol.com>
In a message dated 3/19/03 4:20:05 PM Eastern Standard Time,
annamfuller@hotmail.com writes:
<< ok, now that Onion is gone, Wish needs someone to keep him company. i
would love to adopt, but there are so many warnings about diseases that an
adopted ferret could bring into the home. what are the diseases that could
seriously affect Wish (if there are any)? or should i just forget about
adopting and buy from a pet store? >>
My most common contagion that your ferret will be exposed to when going to a
shelter is ear mites. Depending on your area, next would be ECE. I hope that
you would not be exposed to coccidia or giardia by going to a shelter. ADV
- shelters should be testing for that prior to adoption. You as a potential
adopter should test for ADV (especially if you live in/near an area where ADV
is prevalent) prior to contacting a shelter. I can tell you of a friend that
wanted to adopt from me that found her ferret was ADV + when a test before
placement was asked for. I won't place an ADV - ferret in a + home. Ferrets
in a shelter are up to date on distemper vaccinations and rabies (if required
by that state). You won't find that at a pet store.
Buying from a pet store the risks of exposure to coccidia, giardia, CDV, ECE
and ADV are much higher in my opinion because of the large number of animals
with immature immune systems and uncompleted vaccination histories confined
in a smaller area. A pet store can be the worst place to go, depending on the
distributors used to obtain animals for sale and the quality of care and
disinfection/quarantine at the store.
Lisa Leidig, Head Ferret
The Ferret Haven "By-the-Sea"
www.ferrethaven.org