From:
"Lisa Oestereich"
Date: 2006-07-27 19:08:59 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Fungal Lung Infections
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Three of my eight ferrets recently developed a fungal lung infection and
as I searched the FHL and Internet for information and/or advice, I
found very little regarding this subject. So I thought I'd post what I
know, so far, in case it helps someone else.
=
History: A basement leak from the recent torrential rain storms in
Maryland caused a corner of the wall to wall carpet in the basement (the
ferret room) to become wet. I contracted for the carpet to be ripped
out and replaced with a tile floor, but had to wait to be fit into the
schedule. By the time the carpet was removed, it had completely dried.
As it was being removed, mold spores were released into the air (of
course I didn't know it at the time). =
=
First of three ferrets developed a horrendous "cough" (it was more like
a really bad wheeze, that sounded as if the ferret was gasping for air
and EXTREMELY phlegmy) two days before the carpet got ripped out. I
noticed, a few days before that, this ferret really sniffing the carpet
(in that particular spot) deeply a few times and scratching at it to.
Went to vet the next day. Didn't do chest xrays, but put ferret on
Baytril and gave Batril injection (and one other injection that I cannot
recall right now). At that point, I hadn't made the carpet connection.
Baytril did not help at all. That night, the carpeting was removed and
new floor laid. Two days later, took ferret to another vet (not my
regular vet, but a very knowledgeable ferret vet) who took xrays which
showed an obvious problem in the lungs. He thought the problem was
something that had been developing for a long time and had just begun to
show outward signs. He said they see this in dogs and cats, but he'd
never seen it in a ferret. I mentioned the carpet but he didn't think
that had anything to do with it. I was already becoming very suspect of
the carpet. He said continue the Baytril. That very night, two other
ferrets start with the wheezing and then I knew it HAD to be the carpet.
No way could three of eight ferrets develop the same thing and there not
be a common denominator. All three went back to the vet the next day.
Chest xrays on the two newly infected ferrets were done and showed the
same thing. I discussed the carpet/mold issue with my vet who agreed
that we should treat with anti-fungal drugs as well as antibiotics (they
also received more injections at the vet, but again, I don't remember
exactly what they were given and I wouldn't want to speculate). =
=
Ferrets were put on Fluconazole and Zithromax (liquid, cherry flavored,
from CVS) two days ago. Improvements were dramatic. The ferret who
became sick first, has now almost totally stopped the wheezing and is
bouncing off the walls again. The other two continue to improve and
seem to be a couple of days behind the first one. I've been told that
the Fluconazole is a relatively new product and is less harmful to the
liver than other anti-fungal drugs. Just as a side note, the ferrets
HATE the Fluconazole but LOVE the Zithromax - they actually want more
after I've given it (which, for those of you who have given Flagyl, is a
nice change). =
=
And don't discount your intuition. Had I not talked with my vet about
wet (now dry but obviously had mold underneath) carpet, we would have
not used anti-fungals and who knows how sick the ferrets would have been
before a correct diagnosis could have bee made.
=
Lisa
=
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