Post by Tressie on Nov 3, 2009 8:24:50 GMT -4
The following are very helpful suggestions from Barb Carlson, Director, Hide-E-Hole Ferret Shelter, Pittsburgh, PA:
(QUOTE)If you get the flu (any variety)
If you get sick do not handle your ferrets.
If you MUST handle your ferrets, wear a mask, and wash your hands thoroughly before touching them.
It would be best if they were in a different room from you. If you have an air sanitizer (ozone for example) use it.
You won't know you have H1N1 until after you are already contagious, so even if you just feel sick or have a stuffy nose, avoid close contact with your ferrets.
If you get a fever over 100 degrees, STAY HOME and don't spread it around. Call your doctor and explain; they may send medicine to the pharmacy. Tamiflu is not supposed to work on H1N1, but they are prescribing it anyway. It works VERY WELL against other flu viruses.
Ferrets can catch ALL VERSIONS OF THE FLU.
If your ferret gets sick
Isolate them. This means a different cage in a different room. Different litter pan, litter scoop, food dishes, water bottles, etc.
Sanitize their stuff (soak in bleach water (10% solution) for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly) before taking into another room.
Wear a mask and wash hands before and after handling them. Consider changing your clothes between rooms.
Use an air sanitizer if you have one (like one that makes ozone, for example).
Call your vet and explain. Consider getting Tamiflu, which was developed using ferrets. It's expensive, but works very well against normal flu. Some indications say it might not work against H1N1, but they haven't said for sure yet. Fever-reducing medication is useful (Metacam, Ketoprofen from the vet; NOT our drugs and never ever Tylenol or anything with acetaminophen in it. Do not use if the ferret is on a steroid like Prednisone or Pediapred.)
Symptoms of flu in ferrets
Lethargy (just lies around doesn't want to play)
Watery eyes
Sneezing fits
Vomiting
Won't eat
Diarrhea
Fever (up to 101 is normal, over that is a fever)
For mild cases
If the ferret does not have a high fever, is eating, is not dehydrated or vomiting excessively, you might be able to nurse them through this.
Hydration (water) They must drink at least 60 ml a day to survive, more is better if they're sick.
Food. If they are not vomiting but won't eat, mix chicken baby food with a little water, warm in microwave and force feed (with syringe if necessary). They need to eat at least a whole jar of chicken or turkey baby food a day to survive. More is better. This is the all-meat baby food, NOT the stuff with vegetables or noodles. Feed 20 ml every 2 hours while you're awake (more if they'll take it). Feed at least 4 times a day. You can count the water you add to the baby food as part of their water for the day. You can also use canned A/D from the vet's office. I use one can A/D and two jars baby food. They seem to like that mix. Do not use baby food fruit, vegetables or noodles. They need high protein and fat not carbs and sugar.
Warmth. If the ferret is shivering, it probably has a fever. Take its temperature (you can use a rectal thermometer ... have a helper, use Vaseline, and be patient. Send me email if you need detailed instructions.) If it seems cold, a sleep sack is usually sufficient. If the ferret is very sick or has a temperature under 99, you should use a Snuggle Safe disk and offer it a warm place. They need to be able to choose where to lie because overheating is bad.
Sneezing/coughing. You can give them 0.5ml Children's Benedryl for sneezing or 0.5ml Children's Robitussin if they are sneezing and coughing. If the ferret is panting for more than a few seconds, take it to the vet asap as it might have pneumonia.
If the ferret does not improve within 2-3 days, take it to the vet as it probably has a secondary upper respiratory infection or lung infection. They can die from those things, so take it seriously. Most ferrets recover almost completely within 2 days if they are not going to have complications. Good nutrition (before as well as during illness) helps them recover. Feed your ferret a high meat-based protein food with at least 38% protein and 18% fat. More is better. Little or no grains (corn, wheat, soy). No raisins, raisin juice, pieces of fruit, colorful bits and pieces! No dried fruit, no banana chips (they can get stuck in their intestines).
Suggestions from other people:
Use a vaporizer to help open little noses so they can smell their food. If they can't smell the food, they won't want to eat it.
Better than chicken or turkey baby food is homemade duck soup (not the Uncle Jim's dry crap ... er ... stuff). I cook chicken legs and thighs in a slow cooker (covered with water) until bones are soft. Blend together with juice for a "animal baby food" that is nutritious and well-liked. (END OF QUOTE)
(QUOTE)If you get the flu (any variety)
If you get sick do not handle your ferrets.
If you MUST handle your ferrets, wear a mask, and wash your hands thoroughly before touching them.
It would be best if they were in a different room from you. If you have an air sanitizer (ozone for example) use it.
You won't know you have H1N1 until after you are already contagious, so even if you just feel sick or have a stuffy nose, avoid close contact with your ferrets.
If you get a fever over 100 degrees, STAY HOME and don't spread it around. Call your doctor and explain; they may send medicine to the pharmacy. Tamiflu is not supposed to work on H1N1, but they are prescribing it anyway. It works VERY WELL against other flu viruses.
Ferrets can catch ALL VERSIONS OF THE FLU.
If your ferret gets sick
Isolate them. This means a different cage in a different room. Different litter pan, litter scoop, food dishes, water bottles, etc.
Sanitize their stuff (soak in bleach water (10% solution) for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly) before taking into another room.
Wear a mask and wash hands before and after handling them. Consider changing your clothes between rooms.
Use an air sanitizer if you have one (like one that makes ozone, for example).
Call your vet and explain. Consider getting Tamiflu, which was developed using ferrets. It's expensive, but works very well against normal flu. Some indications say it might not work against H1N1, but they haven't said for sure yet. Fever-reducing medication is useful (Metacam, Ketoprofen from the vet; NOT our drugs and never ever Tylenol or anything with acetaminophen in it. Do not use if the ferret is on a steroid like Prednisone or Pediapred.)
Symptoms of flu in ferrets
Lethargy (just lies around doesn't want to play)
Watery eyes
Sneezing fits
Vomiting
Won't eat
Diarrhea
Fever (up to 101 is normal, over that is a fever)
For mild cases
If the ferret does not have a high fever, is eating, is not dehydrated or vomiting excessively, you might be able to nurse them through this.
Hydration (water) They must drink at least 60 ml a day to survive, more is better if they're sick.
Food. If they are not vomiting but won't eat, mix chicken baby food with a little water, warm in microwave and force feed (with syringe if necessary). They need to eat at least a whole jar of chicken or turkey baby food a day to survive. More is better. This is the all-meat baby food, NOT the stuff with vegetables or noodles. Feed 20 ml every 2 hours while you're awake (more if they'll take it). Feed at least 4 times a day. You can count the water you add to the baby food as part of their water for the day. You can also use canned A/D from the vet's office. I use one can A/D and two jars baby food. They seem to like that mix. Do not use baby food fruit, vegetables or noodles. They need high protein and fat not carbs and sugar.
Warmth. If the ferret is shivering, it probably has a fever. Take its temperature (you can use a rectal thermometer ... have a helper, use Vaseline, and be patient. Send me email if you need detailed instructions.) If it seems cold, a sleep sack is usually sufficient. If the ferret is very sick or has a temperature under 99, you should use a Snuggle Safe disk and offer it a warm place. They need to be able to choose where to lie because overheating is bad.
Sneezing/coughing. You can give them 0.5ml Children's Benedryl for sneezing or 0.5ml Children's Robitussin if they are sneezing and coughing. If the ferret is panting for more than a few seconds, take it to the vet asap as it might have pneumonia.
If the ferret does not improve within 2-3 days, take it to the vet as it probably has a secondary upper respiratory infection or lung infection. They can die from those things, so take it seriously. Most ferrets recover almost completely within 2 days if they are not going to have complications. Good nutrition (before as well as during illness) helps them recover. Feed your ferret a high meat-based protein food with at least 38% protein and 18% fat. More is better. Little or no grains (corn, wheat, soy). No raisins, raisin juice, pieces of fruit, colorful bits and pieces! No dried fruit, no banana chips (they can get stuck in their intestines).
Suggestions from other people:
Use a vaporizer to help open little noses so they can smell their food. If they can't smell the food, they won't want to eat it.
Better than chicken or turkey baby food is homemade duck soup (not the Uncle Jim's dry crap ... er ... stuff). I cook chicken legs and thighs in a slow cooker (covered with water) until bones are soft. Blend together with juice for a "animal baby food" that is nutritious and well-liked. (END OF QUOTE)
We love you precious babies !
. My kids are I were diagnosed with Swine flu..even though they were vaccinated against it on the 9th, The doctor said it would of had to take 10 days for the vaccine to take effect..well it sucks because I am home and haven't seen the ferrets since I have been here, Its so tempting to go in and see them cuz I miss them so much, My hubby is the one caring for them until I am better and he wears a mask when he is in there in case he has caught it from us. I miss my ferrets so much, what I wouldn't do to be able to go in and see them 
