Message Number: SG13039 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Linda Iroff
Date: 2005-03-09 00:40:03 UTC
Subject: Ferret Symposium vet day schedule
To: Ferret Health List <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-id: <3482740aaddf14592b77d970d6952b33@oberlin.edu>

The International Ferret Congress presents
2005 International Ferret Symposium (R)
Hilton St. Louis Airport, St. Louis, MO
April 29 - May 1, 2005
Vets' Day Friday, RACE credits pending
For more info, call 1-440-774-3633 or visit =

http://www.ferretcongress.org
Registration deadline: April 1, 2005

Friday April 29

7:30 Registration Opens

8 - 9 Continental Breakfast

8:45 Welcome
The Moderator will say a few words about the purpose of the meeting, =

and will cover important items like emergency exit locations.

9 - 10 Dr. Karen Purcell
This discussion will cover the complete physical examination of the =

ferret, Mustela furo.=A0 This will include appropriate details =

regarding=A0vaccination protocols and laboratory information in relation =

to the age of the ferret at the time of examination.=A0 Restraint =

techniques will also be discussed as part of the examination, with =

information specifically=A0tailored for the use of support staff.

10-10:45 break

10:45 -11:45 Dr. Tom Kawasaki
Little has been published on ocular conditions that can affect ferrets, =

partly because it is assumed that ferrets have poor vision. But proper =

care of a ferret=92s eyesight is important to the animal=92s general well =

being. Dr. Kawasaki will present a 20 minute slide presentation =

illustrating ferret ocular diseases, and will provide information on =

treatment of these diseases when it is available.
For the remaining 40 minutes Dr. Kawasaki will discuss cardiac diseases =

that can affect ferrets. Diagnosing cardiac problems in ferrets can be =

more difficult then with cats and dogs, and the talk will include =

symptoms that might indicate a cardiac problem, the proper tests to =

perform, and the various treatment options.

12 - 1 Lunch

1 - 2 Dr. Bruce Williams
Dr. Williams will discuss gastrointestinal diseases in ferrets. GI =

disease, second only to endocrine disease, is an extremely common =

problem in pet ferrets.=A0 The majority of ferrets will be evaluated for =

GI disease at some point in their life, most often in late middle age.=A0 =

The ferret GI tract is an organ system afflicted with a number of =

complex inflammatory conditions incited by bacteria, viruses, and =

likely a number of other unidentified triggers, and the resulting =

clinical distress is magnified by the passing of time.=A0 This lecture =

will review the diseases of the ferret GI tract from oral cavity to =

anus and discuss their clinical impact, etiology, and modes for =

treatment.

2 - 2:30 break

2:30 - 3:30 Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald
Many common household items, like cleansers and some house plants, are =

poisonous to pets. Because of a ferret=92s small size and rapid =

metabolism, it is especially important that the possibility that a =

poison has been ingested be recognized and treated immediately. This =

talk will cover what common household items are poisonous, and the =

symptoms they produce. Further, the talk will discuss the proper =

immediate emergency care that the owner can provide while seeking =

veterinary care for the ferret, as well as the correct follow-up care =

that the veterinary professional should provide.

3:30 - 4:25 Q&A with all vets
During this time attendees will have to opportunity to ask the 4 =

speakers questions about information discussed in their talks, as well =

as other medical concerns applying to ferrets.