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Post by ave678ave on Feb 15, 2012 5:44:04 GMT -5
Does anyone have any thoughts on the best way to lower a ferret's fever?
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Post by Sherry on Feb 15, 2012 9:09:07 GMT -5
If a ferret has a temperature for any reason, they need to be seen by a vet ASAP!
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Post by miamiferret2 on Feb 15, 2012 9:16:48 GMT -5
Vet!! Do not give any human fever medications. They can be deadly to dogs cats & ferrets! I know someone whose VET told her to give her ferret ibuprofen. Of course her ferret died of renal failure. The vet was a complete idiot and knew nothing about ferrets. I wish she had asked other ferret owners first!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 9:32:49 GMT -5
Please, please, please take your baby to a vet. If you don't, she might die. If you take her and it turns out to be nothing serious then you have only lost the consultation fee, which should be nothing in comparison to the life of your ferret.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 9:39:23 GMT -5
I would say though, that until you can get your fur kid to the vet, one of the most important things is to make sure he/she is eating and drinking. A dehydrated ferret with a fever is in serious danger. If nescessary you may have to bottle/syringe feed water and maybe some duck soup (see the switching threads for the recipe, DO NOT feed your ferret duck soup from a can that was intended for people- it contains too much salt/sugar/undigestables/poisons)
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2012 9:51:02 GMT -5
Keep your ferret well-hydrated.
Unless a fever is high, a fever can be a good thing - the immune system is fighting - heat is one of the ways the body makes the "environment" less ideal for viruses/bacteria, etc. If your ferret is feeling pretty crummy (rather than just a little "off" with a "not-as-cold-as-usual" nose, he may get better on his own. If your ferret is feeling crummy (dehydrated, not eating much, etc.), your vet should be able to determine the best treatment.
-jennifer
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Post by Heather on Feb 15, 2012 11:30:36 GMT -5
Just a note on top of this...do not....DO NOT....give over the counter, tylenol, children's flu medication...nothing. Any one of these items will kill your ferret. If not outright, it will cause them to go into organ failure. If your ferret has a fever of note (Jennifer is correct a fever has it's purpose) and it is dehydrated, refusing food and or lethargic please take them to the vet. If the fever has been going on for a couple of days, again I would suggest a visit to the vet. If they are sharing space with other ferrets (though things are probably too late to do anything about) you may want to consider isolating them away from the rest of the business.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2012 21:16:30 GMT -5
What about putting a cold gel pack in the carrier with them on the way to the vet, just to lower the temp?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2012 21:24:57 GMT -5
Unless it's hot outside and//or the ferret is "burning up", I'd be more inclined to focus on keeping the ferret well-hydrated. I'm not sure it's good to "mask symptoms" before going to the vet.
-jennifer
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