From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-07-03 22:01:39 UTC
Subject: RE: Parasites
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <550575.1120428099522.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Your vet probably checks for some without you even knowing it.
In our own area heartworms are rare for inside animals so those don't get checked for, but it may be that vets in high heartworm areas check for those in ferrets who have not be using preventatives.
Around here the vets just normally look at the areas where ticks are more likely to be found (areas with high circulation), signs of earmites -- even doing a swab and check if there is a lot of glop there, fluffing fur to see if fleas go running, looking at feet for the inflammation of two types of mites, etc. Some run a flea comb through to look for hard to spot stuff. Ticks are a big problem locally here and even more than usual this year. Your vet will be able to give you an an idea of the risk rates of your location.
If you look in the archives there were some great past vet posts on what worms ferrets tend to not get. Here is a great one from Dr. Williams:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG3737
which includes in part:
>Worm are generally fairly species specific, howver there is one
>notable exception - tapeworms. Tapeworms are spread between animals
>by fleas, and if the ferret swallows the flea (it is more than just a
>simple bite), then the eggs can hatch and your ferret will shed the
>rice-like tapeworm segments. The condition is really not serious -
>despite old wives tales to the contrary, tapeworms do little to no
>damage to the host, being very happy to subsist on whateveris passing
>through the gut at that moment. Tapeworms are easily treated.
>Heartworms are another common worm (at least as worms go) in ferrets,
>but that is a common thread on the FHL and aI refer you to the
>archive.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG3071
which includes:
>Ferrets do not share whipworms (Trichuris vulpis) with dogs.
Vets check for a lot of things that we lay people don't even know they are checking for at the time! (And you thought your vet ruffled your critter's fur or blew on it just to mesh emotionally! ;-) )
Author wrote:
> Dear friends,
> One of the FHL members that I've been in communication with said that her
> vet told her that ferrets need to be checked for parasites annually.