| Distemper by Lily
Distemper is an airborne virus that is almost always 100% fatal. There is a 10 day incubation period and death usually will follow within 12-30 days. Diagnosis is usually made by distinctive clinical signs and most Vets will recommend euthanasia rather than have the ferret suffer through this disease. The virus can be spread by other pets and visitors, or picked up from outside on grass or trees, or even carried in on shoes or clothing. The virus is shed from the eyes, nasal and oral passageways, urine and feces. Symptoms of distemper may include: foul smelling yellow or green sticky discharge from the eyes, swollen eyelids, loss of appetite, rash spreading from the chin to the groin, nasal and eye discharge that turns into a brown, crusty material that eventually will make the eyes and nose stuck closed, swelling of the lips and chin, lethargy, diarrhea, dehydration, swelling of the anus, pneumonia, ulcers, orange crusting of the skin in the anal area, thickening and hardening of the paw pads, hyperexcitability, excessive salivation, muscular tremors, convulsions, and coma. Most ferrets pass on before many of the above symptoms will occur.
Resource Credits and Thanks to: Ferret Universe, Ferret Health School, Ferret Central, Ferret Health Page at Miami Ferret site.
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