From:
"s_delaluna"
Date: 2009-10-21 14:39:19 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret with a Cold
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
>From all of my reading, it seems there is no "proof" that ferrets can contract a cold virus. However, what my ferret seems to be exhibiting sure appears similar to the colds my children just had: sneezing, congestion, runny nose, lethargy. Are there any medications that are safe to ease his symptoms? Something like children's tylenol cold? I have kept his cage ultra clean (cleaning the litterbox and bedding every day), added extra blankets for snuggling, offered him Pedialyte and Duck Soup as well as his normal food and water, and I have a humidifier now in the room near the cage. I know that it can take two weeks for him to get better, but he seems to be so uncomfortable and I would love to be able to help him feel better. I'm a "novice" ferret mom and Felix lives alone; I rescued him from our local humane society that was going to euthanize him due to paralysis. He apparently had been thrown or injured in some way and from the x-rays displays two poorly healed spinal
fractures. After many months of massages and water therapy, he is walking, but I have been unsure about adding a friend who is more playful since he is so limited in his mobility. I'd love ideas on this as well. Thank you for any advice and for the wonderful resource this list is!
[Moderator:
Tylenol will KILL them. It destroys their livers.
Ferrets get bacterial sinus infections and
influenza types (some of which humans may
already have some resistance to so the humans
will not be very ill or may not seem ill at all), but
they do NOT get colds:
See these past posts from one of the world's
most knowledgeable ferret veterinary
pathologists:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG10945
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG4053
and there are more. This is why they are not
used for research into colds despite being
used for so many other types of respiratory
research.
Humans often confuse their own sinus infections
and mild influenza with colds.
So, look up the vet posts for what various vets do
for influenza and sinus infections, and call the
treating vet.]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/