Message Number: YPG686 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "tpettis82"
Date: 2006-12-30 18:28:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Skin rash, hair loss and urine drinking (EW!)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Hi All,
Well he's already got an appointment for the 2nd but I wanted some
suggestions since our vet isn't terribly ferret savy, although she is
very interested and willing to learn. Over the course of the last
month and a bit Riley has developed a weird rash all over his back.
It started with 2 scabby patches on his rump and has progressed up
his back to the scruff of his neck. The patches are irregular in
shape, they look like they're made of lots of tiny scabs or
blackheads and he has lost all the hair over these patches. It's not
contagious, since Felix his cagemate is unaffected. Because it's
sporadic I'm not thinking it's adrenal, Felix is adrenal and is on
lupron, when he lost his hair it was fairly symmetrical and there was
no rash present. Other than the rash Riley is acting normal,
hyperactive and naughty like usual.
He had a tooth pulled in late November and he developed a cyst from
the subQ fluids he was given, so we took him back in in early
December to get that looked at and that's when we found the rash. He
was put on 14days of Clav which didn't really help, the cyst became
less inflamed but his skin rash has taken off. I thought maybe it
might be black heads so I picked a patch and started washing it with
some acne facewash and a toothbrush (to exfoliate) but it doesn't
seem to be helping. His tail is looking better though, it's all
blackheads since he doesn't clean it properly and he also doesn't
lift his tail fully when going to the bathroom. When I went to
scruff him so I could clean the patch by his shoulder I got a handful
of fur!
Then today while they were out playing I caught him drinking urine!
We've had him for more than 2 years and I've never seen him doing
this before, it just seems a little too convenient for him to develop
this behaviour now when he's got this rash going on. I was thinking
maybe thyroid condition? but I read that this is exceedingly rare in
ferrets. Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Terri




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