From:
autumn whispers
Date: 2009-02-25 19:40:23 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Boo Boo update again & another problem
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Thanks to everyone who wrote and posted about Boo Boo's issues. Now we have
a new one to deal with.
I called to make an appointment for Boo Boo again today for his reddish
penis (showed up yesterday). Right after I called the vet called me and
said to bring in ALL 5 of the fuzzies because Boo Boo's poo tested positive
for Giardia (sp?). He's going to take their weights, etc., etc. and put
them on the treatment for this--I believe he said it was a parasite--for 5
days, then in two weeks the same protocol.
My dog tested negative (took her to be tested this morning). But I'm
wondering HOW this happened, and what I can do to prevent it from happening
again.
Each day I clean their litter areas AND cages, including shelves and trays
and ladders. I use clean paper towels and that Green Works cleaner
(supposed to be safe for children and animals and made from natural stuff)
for EACH area cleaned. Now my biggest ferrets flat out refuse to use a
litter pan, so the bottom of their Super Pet (very large) cage is all
litter. This hasn't been an issue until the last few weeks when I noticed
the bigger two have decided to poop right at the bottom of the ladder
leading to that area. They also aren't corner poopers all the time, so they
will go anywhere in that bottom portion of the cage. Except for Pixie,
who's teeny and always goes in the corners. So this poop that they have at
the bottom of the ladder gets tracked on the ladder and on the
shelves...... and I'm assuming anything IN the poop is getting to the upper
levels where their food is. They're out of the cage most of the time,
except when I'm away or asleep (night), so I'm guessing that all it takes is
one contamination and that's it, one track of this into the uppers
levels,etc.
To complicate matters, the larger two are food diggers. So if they step in
poop... well, you get the point.
The other cage, I'm not sure. No one is tracking across or in poop, but
both of those are water dish diggers, in and out of the cage. it's just
what they do. :/
I don't know who will test positive (other than Boo Boo), or who will test
negative. BUT... should they all be treated 'just in case'? Or should this
be one of those situations where only the one(s) testing positive should be
treated? The dog's vet, who isn't the same clinic (Banfield, because they
have pet health insurance) doesn't feel that Julep should be treated since
she tested negative for giardia (sp?).
Our plan: Get treatment for whoever needs it, etc. Clean the cages
meticulously, including doing an alcohol rinse over the cage rungs/bars,
etc... and of course all shelves, ladders, even toys.
Is there anything else I should do, preventative-wise or cleaning-wise?
Also, our vet says this stuff could cause a lot of different issues,
including (but not limited) to diarrhea and cramping. If he doesn't offer,
should I ask for something to aleviate this cramping and discomfort? Could
this also be why Boo Boo is showing irritation/mild iflammation on his
penis?
I have Pepcid, Pepto, and Acidophilus (with other good bacteria in their
too). Should I ask for anything else that might help them with the
discomfort??
Thanks. I have to leave in about 15mins and need to gather everyone up to
go. But I will check my email on my blackberry once at the vet's office.
Ella
--
......................................................
"It was as if she walked in faded sepia of an old photo, wandering a
colorless, depthless snapshot along an empty street." E. Riddle
"It's how we treat the humblest among us that surely determines the fate of
our soul." -D. Koontz
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
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/