Message Number: SG4774 | New FHL Archives Search
From: phie@home.se
Date: 2003-06-01 08:56:25 UTC
Subject: Skin issues
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7363810.1054457785811.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

I have a 3-year old ferret who's very healthy and happy, but there's one thing with him that pops up every now and then. Off and on, he gets skin problems.
Between some of his paw pads, he gets something that can only be descibed as black crust. His skin looks fine everywhere except for underneath his lower jaw and his paws, where I can see his skin having some kind of brownish-blackish hue. It looks like he's got "black heads" if I'm allowed to use human terms.
He itches himself rather violently at times, causing him to break his own skin on the bottom jaw.

I've been to the vet before, and they said that it's probably something that could be cured with Vitamin E. I bought a skin-supplement oil, enriched with Vitamin E, and that helps after a week or so. However, if he doesn't get any for a while, his skin gets worse after a couple of weeks.
My other two ferrets don't have any problems what so ever, so I don't know what to think. Could he be allergic or have a problem with producing Vitamin E? Could it be something else and how do I get rid of it?
He's got a vet-appointment on Friday again, but I would love to hear what you have to say. Maybe I could give my vet something to work on.

Sincerely,

-Sophie