From:
"Kim"
Date: 2008-10-20 01:40:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Wet Cough: 2 possibly 3 ferrets
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Lynne,
Yes, thanks for the thoughts! I too am worried about pneumonia. I did
take Bugsy and Crystal in to my other vet on Friday and he didn't
think they were that bad. With no nasal or eye discharge and "clear
lungs" they were also rather alert and curious. Guess he expected to
see two ferrets at death's door - but I'm not about to let them get
that bad! Having suffered with bronchitis all my life I know how
exhausting coughing fits can be and how painful they get too.
Tuesday morning Bugsy weighed in at 1060 grams, Friday he weighed in
at 965 so unless there is a huge difference in the vet's scales -
Bugsy dropped a considerable amount of weight in just a few days, even
though he seems to be eating well! I look at him and can see how he
has dropped a bunch of weight, but the vet commented how big he was.
Yes he heard their rattley cough and at my request Rx'd another bottle
of Clavomox since I let him know I've got 4 more ferrets and the
bottle the first vet issued wouldn't dose both ferrets for ten days,
much less if I end up with more getting this cough too.
He didn't have much to offer by way of what it could be, just said
that ferret's are known to suffer from upper respiratory problems much
like people are.
He suggested I give them some children's Robitussin! He suggested
about 25% of what is dosed for a young child! So I got a bottle of
"fruit flavored" children's Robitussin. They recommend a 5ml
teaspoonful as the smallest dose, so I've been giving each of them a
.75 ml dose. 25% seems like quite a lot - so I settled on .75 ml. They
actually take this better than the Clavomox. Crystal actually wants more!
I must say after starting them on the Robitussin - they have
definitely had fewer coughing fits and when they do cough it is less
intense.
It is so hard to listen to them coughing and know there isn't much you
can do to offer them help.
AT a suggestion from another ferret friend, I've also started a
vaporizer near their cage. Yes, I have put them in a cage to sort of
isolate them from the rest of the crew. But I don't know how much
good it is doing since tonight Fizzle started coughing too!
I'm just a bit baffled where this came from since they are in a
relatively "closed" environment - meaning that they haven't been on
any "public" excursions nor to any ferret play days - their food
supply is raised in house now, except for the meaty items I buy from
the grocery store - which are exactly the same meaty items I eat to
(albeit I cook my vittles).
So whatever they've got is either some sort of "spontaneous"
"cold/flu" or something I've tracked in to the house on my shoes. I
haven't had a cold recently so they didn't catch it directly from me.
Hopefully the Clavomox will kill whatever ails them and the Robitussin
will offer them some much needed relief. Their appetites are still
good. So wish me luck they aren't out of the woods yet and with 4
other ferrets I kind of have a feeling everyone will get it sooner or
later.
Cheers,
Kim
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