Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2011 19:39:58 GMT -5
Quoting this from an email I got from Ferrets North, a ferret rescue in BC here.
Hi Folks,
This is an update on Real Canadian Ferrets.
Fairview Animal Hospital in Halifax, NS have had their first confirmed case of mycoplasmosis in a year-old Real Canadian Ferret (RCF) who was presenting with an odd gagging cough. The diagnostic for this is Bronchoalveolar lavage. Dr. Suzette Dibblee is the exotics veterinarian at Fairview who looks after ferrets: www.fairviewanimalhospital.com/
They have spoken to Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney in the U.S. who was the vet that alerted everyone that there were serious health problems with RC ferrets. She has said that in addition to mycoplasmosis they are now finding that ferret kits from Real Canadian Ferrets are showing up with higher than average rates of coccidia. RC Ferrets are also coming down with a nasty and very aggressive type of intestinal lymphoma!
So please be aware and let your vets know to watch for these health issues in RCFs and alert others.
At this stage it doesn't appear to be infectious to other ferrets but is a major health concern for the RC ferrets themselves! However, I would be cautious with immuno-compromised ferrets (i.e. on pred, etc.) who may be more vulnerable to acquiring mycoplasmosis from a RC Ferret, that is a carrier.
I've attached a copy of the paper Delaney presented at the professional veterinary conference last year on this topic, plus another paper she published that includes a discussion on mycoplasmosis.
Please feel free to forward this email.
Warmest Regards
Tressie Dutchyn
Chair
The Ferret Lovers Society
of Atlantic Canada
(902) 477-7119
Website: www.flsatlanticcanada.org/
Forum: ferretloversofac.multiply.com/
Message Board: ferretloversofac.proboards.com/index.cgi
This is an update on Real Canadian Ferrets.
Fairview Animal Hospital in Halifax, NS have had their first confirmed case of mycoplasmosis in a year-old Real Canadian Ferret (RCF) who was presenting with an odd gagging cough. The diagnostic for this is Bronchoalveolar lavage. Dr. Suzette Dibblee is the exotics veterinarian at Fairview who looks after ferrets: www.fairviewanimalhospital.com/
They have spoken to Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney in the U.S. who was the vet that alerted everyone that there were serious health problems with RC ferrets. She has said that in addition to mycoplasmosis they are now finding that ferret kits from Real Canadian Ferrets are showing up with higher than average rates of coccidia. RC Ferrets are also coming down with a nasty and very aggressive type of intestinal lymphoma!
So please be aware and let your vets know to watch for these health issues in RCFs and alert others.
At this stage it doesn't appear to be infectious to other ferrets but is a major health concern for the RC ferrets themselves! However, I would be cautious with immuno-compromised ferrets (i.e. on pred, etc.) who may be more vulnerable to acquiring mycoplasmosis from a RC Ferret, that is a carrier.
I've attached a copy of the paper Delaney presented at the professional veterinary conference last year on this topic, plus another paper she published that includes a discussion on mycoplasmosis.
Please feel free to forward this email.
Warmest Regards
Tressie Dutchyn
Chair
The Ferret Lovers Society
of Atlantic Canada
(902) 477-7119
Website: www.flsatlanticcanada.org/
Forum: ferretloversofac.multiply.com/
Message Board: ferretloversofac.proboards.com/index.cgi
Thanks for the info though. And as is always my concern...none of this is contagious to cats correct?
