From:
s.m.owens@rogers.com
Date: 2005-01-22 18:28:58 UTC
Subject: RE: taking a ferret''s temp
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6096696.1106418538109.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I'd suggest discussing this with your vet and see if he/she is willing to d=
o an "experiment" of sorts.
Bring in the thermometer you'd like to use, whether it's the ear or oral (d=
igital), and have the ferret's temp taken using the conventional method (I =
agree - ouch!), and yours. You can then see if there's a slight or major v=
ariance. When using the oral, you'd slip it under the ferret's armpit for =
a minute and you're done. You'll need something to distract him/her with -=
my girls get ferretone or ferretvite until the thermometer has registered =
her temp. I refrigerate the vite so that it takes them longer to consume i=
t, and they don't get too much at a time. I've been using this method for =
about 2 years and have found a variance of .5 to 1 degree. My vet agrees t=
hat it's too minimal a variant to discard this method. I think it might hel=
p your vet to accept this alternative if it was done in his/her presence - =
unless you're fortunate enough to have a vet that will take your word for i=
t. I'm "guessing" that the ear method would be much quicker and possibly j=
ust as (if not more)accurate than the oral one.
Good luck. =
Author wrote:
> What is the best way to take a ferrets temp? Are the ear termometers suf=
ficient? my vet still does it with rectal thermometers but I feel so sorry=
for them when they get poked with the thermometer.
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