Danger! Flu season.
According to CDC so far this season there have been at least 29 000 000 flu cases. Flu activity is high in the U.S. right now and expected to continue for weeks.
❗️Remember ferrets can catch flu from people.
There is no treatment for flu virus in ferrets. Flu in ferrets can be fatal, particularly the young ones, over 3 years, and those with existing health conditions.
🚫 It is very important NOT to handle your ferrets if you feel like you could be getting sick.
🤧 People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
* Cough
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Muscle or body aches
* Headaches
* Fatigue (tiredness)
* Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea
* Fever or feeling feverish/chills
😷 The influenza (flu) virus is spread through direct contact and a contaminated environment; it is also airborne.
It means that you can infect your ferret’s with flu if you:
* Kiss
* Hold
* Sneeze on
* Or are simply are in the same room with your ferret.
✔️ If you are sick, ask a family member to care for your ferrets. It is best not to be in the same room with them.
✔️ If no one can help you, always wear a surgical mask and rubber gloves when you are around your ferrets.
🚫 If you suspect that your ferret is sick, do not try to make a diagnosis and treat it yourself. It is dangerous for your ferret’s life! Make an urgent appointment with a ferret-experienced exotic vet. Meanwhile keep your ferret hydrated.
🚫 Do NOT use human flu medications. Most of them are toxic and can be deadly for ferrets.
🚫 Don’t rely on flu shots, you can still catch flu even if you have been vaccinated.
The Kiss of Death
The kids all knew not to go near our ferrets if they had anything that resembled a cold but one day in the middle of summer, our eldest daughter, Alexia, had a scratchy throat. No other symptoms, just a scratchy throat, so she didn’t think anything of planting a big sloppy kiss on the nose of Mulder, her favorite ferret.
I remember hearing him sound a little wheezy a few days later but since the weather was warm and no one in the family had colds or anything like that, I didn’t pay much attention to it.
I thought that maybe Mulder developed an upper respiratory problem like Chucky, something that sounded more serious than it actually was.
It was only when his breathing sounded very odd a couple of days later that I whisked him down to our vet to get checked out.
It turned out that Alexia had a strep infection and had passed the germs on to Mulder.
He developed pneumonia and, despite medical treatment and 5 days in the hospital, he died.
It was tragic, and Alexia felt utterly depressed, thinking that she caused his death.
If you are feeling under the weather, stay away from giving your ferret lots of kisses until you improve!
Originally posted on:
https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/influenza-in-ferrets.html
❗️Remember ferrets can catch flu from people.
There is no treatment for flu virus in ferrets. Flu in ferrets can be fatal, particularly the young ones, over 3 years, and those with existing health conditions.
🚫 It is very important NOT to handle your ferrets if you feel like you could be getting sick.
🤧 People who are sick with flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
* Cough
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy nose
* Muscle or body aches
* Headaches
* Fatigue (tiredness)
* Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea
* Fever or feeling feverish/chills
😷 The influenza (flu) virus is spread through direct contact and a contaminated environment; it is also airborne.
It means that you can infect your ferret’s with flu if you:
* Kiss
* Hold
* Sneeze on
* Or are simply are in the same room with your ferret.
✔️ If you are sick, ask a family member to care for your ferrets. It is best not to be in the same room with them.
✔️ If no one can help you, always wear a surgical mask and rubber gloves when you are around your ferrets.
🚫 If you suspect that your ferret is sick, do not try to make a diagnosis and treat it yourself. It is dangerous for your ferret’s life! Make an urgent appointment with a ferret-experienced exotic vet. Meanwhile keep your ferret hydrated.
🚫 Do NOT use human flu medications. Most of them are toxic and can be deadly for ferrets.
🚫 Don’t rely on flu shots, you can still catch flu even if you have been vaccinated.
The Kiss of Death
The kids all knew not to go near our ferrets if they had anything that resembled a cold but one day in the middle of summer, our eldest daughter, Alexia, had a scratchy throat. No other symptoms, just a scratchy throat, so she didn’t think anything of planting a big sloppy kiss on the nose of Mulder, her favorite ferret.
I remember hearing him sound a little wheezy a few days later but since the weather was warm and no one in the family had colds or anything like that, I didn’t pay much attention to it.
I thought that maybe Mulder developed an upper respiratory problem like Chucky, something that sounded more serious than it actually was.
It was only when his breathing sounded very odd a couple of days later that I whisked him down to our vet to get checked out.
It turned out that Alexia had a strep infection and had passed the germs on to Mulder.
He developed pneumonia and, despite medical treatment and 5 days in the hospital, he died.
It was tragic, and Alexia felt utterly depressed, thinking that she caused his death.
If you are feeling under the weather, stay away from giving your ferret lots of kisses until you improve!
Originally posted on:
https://www.all-about-ferrets.com/influenza-in-ferrets.html
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