From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-07-20 01:03:16 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: ferrets: not eating, one poss, eye infection
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
There is the possibility of canine distemper when ferrets of
unknown medical history begin having eye or nose discharge
or some other symptoms canine distemper must be considered.
Your kit is up to date on vaccinations, right? Kits need a series
of canine distemper vaccinations to be protected.
You can read precautions like leaving shoes outside, washing,
and many more in recent posts in this conversation and I am
sure there must be other important precautions:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/7015
These two ferrets NEED to have vet appointments promptly.
If it is just one eye there may be an injury and that would need
vet care right away just as you'd do if your own eye was injured.
Here is a site with some Canine Distemper symptoms. Individuals
CAN VARY IN PRESENTATION
http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/distemper/index.shtml
which includes:
QUOTED SEGMENTS (most mentioning dogs much much is general so also ferret)
...It spreads rapidly through the lymphatic tissue and infects
all the lymphoid organs within 2 to 5 days. By days six to nine,
the virus spreads to the blood (viremia). It then spreads to the
surface epithelium (lining) of the respiratory, gastrointestinal,
urogenital, and central nervous systems, where it begins
doing the damage that causes the symptoms.
...fever, loss of appetite, and mild eye inflammation
...The fever often goes unnoticed and may peak again a few days later.
...
eye and nose discharge, depression, and loss of appetite (anorexia).
After the fever, symptoms vary considerably, depending on the strain
of the virus and the [animal's] immunity.
Many dogs experience gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms...
Conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye)
Diarrhea
Fever (usually present but unnoticed)
Pneumonia (cough, labored breathing)
Rhinitis (runny nose)
Vomiting
...encephalomyelitis (an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord)
...
Most dogs that die from distemper, die from neurological
complications such as the following:
Ataxia (muscle incoordination)
Depression
Hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli,
such as pain or touch)
Myoclonus (muscle twitching or spasm), which can
become disabling
Paralysis
Paresis (partial or incomplete paralysis)
Progressive deterioration of mental abilities
Progressive deterioration of motor skills
Seizures that can affect any part of the body (One type
of seizure that affects the head, and is unique to distemper,
is sometimes referred to as a "chewing gum fit" because the
dog appears to be chewing gum.)
Many dogs experience symptoms of the eye:
Inflammation of the eye (either keratoconjunctivitis,
inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva, or chorioretinitis,
inflammation of the choroid and retina)
Lesions on the retina (the innermost layer of the eye)
Optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve which leads
to blindness)
Two relatively minor conditions that often become chronic,
even in dogs that recover are:
Enamel hypoplasia (unenameled teeth that erode quickly...
Hyperkeratosis (hardening of the foot pads and nose)
In utero infection of fetuses is rare, but can happen...
END QUOTED SEGMENTS
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Dana" <jrstat2gurl@...> wrote:
>
> This may have been posted already but here goes..I have a baby ferret
> I bought from Petco.
> She wouldnt eat the first week but I tried the baby food trick and now
> she fat and sassy.
> My neighbor is moving and this room mate left 2 male ferrets behind 5
> days ago. One appears to be fine but not eating..his brother looks
> like he has an eye infection and very skinny.neither are eating...
> Any suggestions?
>
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