From:
"kazpat1@juno.com"
Date: 2005-04-26 03:51:39 UTC
Subject: ADV testing
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20050425.205202.22730.498440@webmail18.lax.untd.com>
Great question. Your vet can do the testing, it will cost a bit more because they typically use an outside lab, that then processes it and then send it over to United Vaccines. That costs you the vet visit, the extra lab fee and so on- still for piece of mind and just like having the new cat tested for feline leukemia or the dog blood tested for heartworms, I think worth it.
You can clip the nail short to collect a sample, and mail it into united by overnight mail yourself, costing a lot less. You could even ask the vet to get the sample, and you mail it in. To do yourself, You may just need some help from a friend, the capillary tubes and clay from your vet ( or you can order them through United), some stypic powder, ferretone and you are all set.
Here are some great websites with info, and one has a step by step info on the collection process.
The prices have gone up a little for the test, so before you ship it just call them and confirm.
If you put in "ferret adv testing' or something like that into the search engine, you will find a lot of info. Some really nice website out there dedicated to getting info about ADV and testing out to the public. To list only a few ( first few I saw when I ran the search)
http://www.ferretadv.com/test.html
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/adv.html
http://www.ferrethaven.org/advtest.html
http://www.pooflinger.com/advtest.html ( step by step with pics)
AVecon diagnostics also does adv testing, you will see that info at the above first site.
Patty
-- autumn_whispers2me <autumn_whispers2me@yahoo.com> wrote:
Thanks, Patty. I read that this testing isn't done at the vet's office and that owners
have to get the blood from the ferret themselves and have it shipped. Does this
sound right to you? I know I wouldn't be comfortable trying that... seems too risky
on many respects, mostly compromising the sample to be tested.