Cat Flu

Question
Hello,

I recently took in an abandoned Jill from my local cat and dog sanctuary.
I had six ferrets but last week one of my boys was not eating and I had noticed he was losing weight rapidly.
My usual vet left the practice at the begining of the year and the other vets didn't have much if any experience with "exotic" pets. One of the young vets gave him an examination I felt was a little rough, some fluids, a painkiller and somthing to ease his tummy. He didn't improve when we returned home. I watched him vigilantly for a few hours tempting him with food and ferretone, but after a while, I felt he was getting worse so we set out in the car with him wrapped up to find another vet and get some Help. He died in the car with us. We were absolutly devestated by losing him, he had been the most loving and caring, affectionate baby since we rescued him and his brother from a ferret sanctuary six years ago. They  had come from from an abusive past. His brother was diagnosed with heart problems two years ago and we managed with medication and lost him five months ago and now to lose another so soon after is absolutly tragic.

I have now just learned that the Jill that we have taken in has made all my other ferrets sick, she started sneezing a week after we got her but we assumed it was because of new surroundings and environments but now all five are sneezing and lethargic but still eating and drinking. I rang to speak to the cat and dog sanctuary and they said they have an outbreak of Cat Flu and she probably has it and to keep her warm.

Do you have any tips on how to combat this I really could not take losing anymore. I feel so guilty that bringing this girl home could have made my kids sick. I know it could be somthing more serious. They don't know of any other ferret owners so hinted she may have never been rehomed and would have to be put down. I could not bear the thought so I took her in but now I have lost one of my prized babies and the rest are sick I am seriously worried and aware that no good deed goes unpunished. I don't know of any experienced vets nearby.
Any advice would be really appreciated.

Thankyou

Answer
Hi NiaLL & Kids:

Ferrets CAN catch flu from people. I haven't heard of them catching it from cats before, but suppose it is possible.  I'm so very very sorry for your loss and it breaks my heart because you were obviously doing everything you could possibly do for your little one. I hope you can comfort yourself knowing you did absolutely everything that could have been done to save him. He was six years old; and for a ferret who has had a "rough" beginning in life, that's truly a long life, so please let that comfort you. He died in the arms of someone who loved him dearly. What a beautiful gift you gave him! Please check out http://www.petloss.com and you can write a memorial for him in addition to the Monday Night Candle Lighting Ceremony (read about it on the website) you can participate in to honor him. I hope you find comfort there - I sure did when my kids passed.


In regards to treating flu, you basically do the same as people, but NO aspirin, NO tylenol.  You can use Benadryl Children's cough medicine liquid 5cc every 6 to 8 hours for coughing/sneezing and it will make them sleepy, so don't let that scare you - the rest will help their bodies heal.

It's also important to keep fluids in them. If you have a 'soup' recipe, feed it a little thinner than they are used to. You MUST get fluids in them OR take them to the vet for 100cc injections am and pm to keep their fluids up. I'd rather do it at home with warm "soup" a recipe as simple as Hill's A/D and enough water to make it thin gravy consistency and warmed in the microwave to eat and warm water with Ferretone dribbled on the top of it (the oily consistency will stay on the top where they can smell it and they will keep drinking trying to get the Ferretone). NEVER give more than 1TBSP Ferretone/ferret in a week. You can cut it 1/2 and 1/2 with olive oil and it will work just as well and allows you to give 2TBSPS/week per ferret if necessary - the olive oil is good for them too.

Extra blankies to snuggle into - warm, such as fleece is perfect. Make sure each ferret can completely snuggle under a few layers of fleece so they are extra warm. Also make sure the cage is NOT in the sun, but is in the warmest room in the house. Continue to get them out each day, even if it's just to cuddle them - take them out one at a time, wrapped to stay warm and rock them (rockers are dangerous to other ferrets so be sure to take out only one at a time when the rocker is in the room). This extra love also helps them heal.

So, it comes down to what grandma taught us about colds and flu - KEEP WARM, DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, and GET LOTS OF REST.....it's EXACTLY the same for ferrets.

BTW:  Check each ferret daily for dehydration (am and pm if you are worried) Pinch up the skin on the back of their neck and pull it up; let go and if it stays up, the ferret is dehydrated. If it snaps back down flat on the neck, he is not dehydrated.  Once a ferret gets dehydrated, it's important to get it under control because within a matter of just a few hours organs begin to fail. It's not unusual to get subQ fluids at the vets office am and pm for a week or even more if the ferret is sick....however long it takes to get that ferret so it can hold its own and drink and eat enough to rally and get well.

Hope all that helps. It's basically the whole protocol on colds and flu. You will have your hands full with so many ferrets, but if you get a system and maybe some help, you will be able to do it - hopefully they will all make it and thrive for you.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your little ones. The flu should pass in 4 to 10 days depending on each ferret's ability to recuperate.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers