From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-03-04 07:11:35 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Help!!!......
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4199545.1109920295768.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
>or he may
> have a cold which they can get from us human
Colds are caused by rhinoviruses and ferrets do not get rhinoviruses. So, even though people may use the word indiscriminantly it makes a difference. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and true colds don't tend to lead to worse infections in humans.
Bacterial infections are a different matter.
They DO get bacterial sinus infections from humans and these can look like a cold and can move lower down the respiratory tract and become serious. Bacterial infections DO respond to antibiotics.
Especially at this time of the year don't discount the possibility that they both could have influenza. Ferrets get Influenza A strains. Luckily, they usually get through influenza fine but some get secondary infections which need vet help.
Allergies also can produce nasal symptoms as can a few other things, but with your husband having bronchitis do take it seriously that the ferret is sharing the infection.
BTW, a ferret with a bacterial respiratory infection or influenza caught from a human can in turn pass it to a human.
That ferrets do not get true colds is verifiable in veterinary texts and also in texts for the research industry. Ferrets are used in some types of medical research so they need to know what ferrets do or don't get to know when to use them. Since ferrets are a very economical model I can't help but think at times how people wind up being disappointed that they don't get rhinoviruses (i.e. don't get colds) so can't be used in those research studies.
It's not usual for a person to confuse a mild influenza with a cold -- or more so to confuse allergies or a bacterial sinus infection with a cold, and the term "cold" winds up being used very loosely at times, just as "flu" does, but doing that with either can create avoidable confusion.
Here is some help from a veterinary pathologist and ferret expert, Dr. Bruce Williams:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG4053
START QUOTE of DR. BRUCE WILLIAMS:
Ferrets do not get colds. Colds are due to rhinoviruses, which are
species specific virus. Ferrets may get influenza, but not colds.
Ferrets with upper respiratory infections should see a vet prior to
starting on any medication. Benedryl, as you say, is an
antihistamine, and generally has little effect on symptoms of upper
respiratory infection - it is really an anti-allergy medication.
Recently on this list, we all witnessed the death of a ferret from
using an over-the-counter cold medication, based on the errant
information that ferrets get colds. Tonight I have seen another post
about a ferret with a cold, incorrect information that continues to
be passed unwittingly, even on this list.
Flus, or mild upper respiratory infections are not life-threatening
in ferrets. As owners, we tend to want to treat these conditions,
because we feel sorry for the animals, but over-the-counter meds are
not formulated for ferrets, and they contain ingredients that are of
no benefit to ferrets, and may even be hazardous. For this reason,
and the recent reinforcement of the tragic death of a ferret
following use of a human cold product, that I know longer recommend
these products for use in a ferret.
As long as your ferret continues to eat and drink sufficiently, no
medication is generally the best approach, and if the signs appear
significant, then a vet visit is generally in order.
End quote.