From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2004-08-01 17:10:45 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Heartworms, Lyme, and Distemper
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <BAY15-F26QjznKJd3xV00020a98@hotmail.com>
I also mentioned heartworm and the 6 month maybe you did not read the post,
but the test tests for adults, and it take 6 months for adults to develop.
THe Ivermection treats for the larvae which they may have been exposed too
and will kill them so they do not have a chance to develop into adults. So
if the little once was exposed recently, tested negative for adults and
started on prevention then he should be fine since you are killing them off
before they develop. Retest needed if you believe exposure was 4 months or
longer before the test and treatment was started.
I think Sukie has answered most of the other questions. It might not hurt
to rebooster the distemper vacc this time depending on how he handles it. If
he reacts them I would just do the one. All the best.
Dr. Sue
>From: "katharine" <katharine@nettally.com>
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Heartworms, Lyme, and Distemper
>Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2004 06:50:07 -0400
>
>I have recently taken in a little boy, Manny, who was lost outside for 3
>days. He is 5 y.o., blind, and somehow survived in the Florida heat and
>thunderstorms for those 3 days. Some good Samaritans found him and,
>without boring you with the details, his owners turned him over to me. He
>is truly a miracle boy.
>
>Three questions.....
>
>Question #1: He definitely will be tested for HWs. Dr. Murray stated in
>an earlier post that it takes 6 months after exposure for the test to work
>accurately. I have already started him on my monthly HW prevention,
>Ivermectin and Propylene Glycol. Is this enough to kill any HWs that may
>already be there? And then should I test in 6 months? If the test is
>negative, is that the end of it or should I test again later? I do have a
>HW+ boy now and he was treated using ProHeart
>(http://miamiferret.org/fhc/heartworm.htm). He was tested after 3 months
>and was still a strong positive so he had a second ProHeart injection in
>July. He will be re-tested in another 3 months.
>
>Question #2: I have found 2-3 ticks on him and have pulled them off. Is
>there a test for Lyme disease which can be used in ferrets? What symptoms
>should I watch for?
>
>Question #3: He last had his distemper and rabies vacs in the spring of
>2002, so he is a year late. Should I do the 2 distemper vacs or only 1?
>Since he's been outside, and could have possibly been exposed, would that
>make a difference in the answer?
>
>He is going for a vet check this week. He was only legally turned over to
>me on Friday night though I have had him since Wednesday.
>
>Thanks in advance for any assistance/opinions.
>
>Katharine
>http://community.webshots.com/user/katharine524
>
>
>
>--
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>
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