From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-08-15 17:11:48 UTC
Subject: RE: Suggestions needed.
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2522591.1124125908068.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> I had posted this earlier, but I don't think anyone read it thorougly. This cannot be a heart problem, seeing as the youngest ferret (that didn't have the cough) has it now. Unless heart conditions were contageous and I wasn't aware.
If you are in an area with a high heart worm rate then you could wind up with multiple ferrets with heartworm that mosquitos passed on.
It is also possible, though, that the older ferret of the two has a medical reason for coughing and the younger one is imitating that older one, so you have to take all possibilities into account. Cardiomyopathy usually occurs in old age, but can happen at any age.
> Could this problem be caused by allergies that are common in ferrets? Things that I could be using to clean ie laundry detergent, floor cleaners, litter deodorizor that could be causing this? Please give suggestions!
Are you using drier sheets? Quite a number of people have reported allergic reactions over the years from those, and some ferrets have reacted to perfumes in laundry detergents so using "free and clear" types makes sense. Some deodorizers and plug in deodorizers have been reported often for such allergies. Cedar is a known problem for any, and pine causes problems for some.
If there is currently a lot smog of high levels of pollen that may just be enough to set off both. To check air quality:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=airnow.fcsummary
to check pollen levels:
http://www.pollen.com/Pollen.com.asp
Is anyone smoking around these ferrets? That is a known problem -- and a potentially serious one. BTW, there is a GREAT article on this in the current issue of "Ferrets" magazine; I am very impressed by it's clarity, thoroughness of research, and detail.
(Those are the two I have found to be consistently most accurate for my own uses.)