From:
WOLFYSLUV@aol.com
Date: 2004-05-05 23:16:44 UTC
Subject: Ah, not ulcer ... bee sting
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1a3.23de8167.2dcacfdc@aol.com>
I had posted to this list asking for help in trying to get a sore in my
ferrets mouth healed. It was on the roof if his mouth, behind the teeth, and
looked like a mouth ulcer. It's taken all the way until now for it to heal up.
I wanted to come on and tell you all that it may not have been an ulcer
after all. What I never connected in my mind was the fact that we have a
possible nest of hornets (not wasps, not yellow jackets, real hornets) in the wall.
We've not been able to locate the entrance (or exit). But every day at
least one bee is found in a weakened condition in the ferret room (even now). Two
days after Laddie had his episode and I wrote this list, I had found one on
the floor ... a ferret was about to pounce on it like a mouse when I grabbed
the ferrets tail just in the nick of time. It was then that it occured to me
that this may have been a bee sting in Laddies mouth all along.
How likely or unlikely could this be? Laddies condition when we found
him initially was life threatening. It was night when no vet was open. He was
thin, slightly dehydrated, a bit nauseous, licking his wound, and extremely
weak. He virtually crashed that night. We said our goodbyes and thought it was
over quite frankly. But I was able to nurse him back through the crash by
morning. He presented no other symptoms whatsoever other than being thin, the
licking and being weak. After three days of soft food and care, he was fine.
He's been fine except for the sore healing ever since.
Now my question is, how venomous are bees' to ferrets? Especially those
in the yellow jacket and hornet family. One would think a bee like that could
wipe a ferret out, especially if stung in the mouth. But then look at how
Meercats can mysteriously handle snake venom that can bring a rhino down (yes I
know not even closeo to the same family, but you get my point).
I hope I can find this nest soon and obliterate it. Meanwhile I have
benedryl on hand and have something to give a vet to go on in the future if need
be.
Wolfy
http://wolfysluv.jacksnet.com