From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-01-30 17:06:22 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Allergies
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1412255.1107104782838.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> I also have an "allergic" ferret. Two years ago, his left hind foot lost
> all the hair up to the top of the hock and was totally bare. Vet treated it
> with pred for 2 weeks and it went away. This past October, he again lost
You will find some things to look into in the archives and in the files and photos in
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
and
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
While contact allergies can affect just one location (more importantly just one side) what is the chance that the ferret is touching something with only that one same foot over and over? Systemic reactions aren't unilateral; they may show up first with something like a hive on one side but the other side catches up fast without treatment.
Here are two things to check into. I think that you should read up on the first especially.
Cutaneous Lymphoma:
Does it look like these:
http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/Old%20YahooGroup%20Pics/skin_lsa_1.jpg
http://www.smartgroups.com/pictures/openalbum.cfm?GID=1423922&AlbumID=4938777
Read these and look for more in the archives:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG12573
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG11125
Sarcoptic or demodex skin mites (But I'd expect it to be bilateral and not so consistent in which foot; thought you or someone else with swollen ferret feet in the family might be interested, though.)
sarcoptic or demodex skin mites
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG9210
I do NOT off-hand know which of the options can be knocked down temporarily by Pred though I would not be surprised if inflammation from any source would be, or if cutaneous lymphoma could be.
These are my best guesses from having read of others' encounters.