Canine Distemper outbrake killing ferrets

[jac 12]

CONFIRMED CASE OF DISTEMPER HAS NOW BEEN BROUGHT TO WOLVERHAMPTON FERRET RESCUE. THIS HAS COME FROM SHERWOOD FOREST WHERE DOGS ARE DYING IN LARGE NUMBERS. THIS CASE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY SWABS & POST MORTEMS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT NOW. COMFIRED CASES ALSO IN CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND YOURKSHIRE PLEASE, PLEASE BE VIGILANT

[skycat 6,174]

They don't actually know what is killing the dogs: the symptoms are more like a Parvo type virus than distemper. In various parts of Britain including Sherwood Forest and Sandringham Estate

 

http://www.sandringhamestate.co.uk/News.asp?S=7&V=1&P=23

[happyferret123 13]

''CANINE DISTEMPER CONFIRMED in a ferret from Yorkshire, post mortem results confirm it. This is a horrific disease dont take these warnings lightly. Symptoms are scabby rash under chin and thickening of bottom lip,a rash all over the body which is reddy brown blotchy yet faint most noticable on the abdomen where hair is thinner,also eyes closed up due to mucous membranes swelling which include anus and outer sheath of penis , a temp of 104 , the symptoms get worse here on in , the foot pads start to harden and the feet and whole body are covered with a reddy brown flakey skin,which drives the ferret mad its so itchy,all this time the ferret hasnt stopped eating or drinking at all. then the ferret starts to act differently as the desease is affecting his brain he gets aggressive and stays in his bed , when he breathes you can here him gurgling as his lungs are badly affected.

All this happens in the space of 14 days upto when i had him put to sleep.

The first week he was on metacam and baytrill- he got worse

second week he had steroid injection - made no difference.

 

2 days later i found the second ferret with symptoms of sticky eyes and scabby chin, i asked my vet to send the body of the first ferret for a post mortem which she did .

I got the PM results in my hand yesterday evening confirming canine distemper.

 

From the time the laboritory rang my vet to say that it was distemper and sent by fax the preliminary pm report to her which was the 17/10/11 to present 22/10/11 we have had to have 47 ferrets put to sleep .

At first checks this morning none of the ferrets we have left had visible symptoms , its the first day ive smiled for a long time .

As you would imagine we are in total shut down for at least another 4wks.

I will try and give you answers to any questions you may have as and when i find time to get on the computer.''

 

 

This was taken from a ferret rescue page, also on the STA ferret rescue facebook page.

 

Have many people given there ferrets jabs against it?

Edited October 22, 2011 by happyferret123

[tegater 789]

Excuse my ignorance, but how is this disease transmitted, I have no experience of it, although I have read about it.

[happyferret123 13]

I didn't know either but did a search:

"Canine (dog) distemper is an airborne virus that can be transmitted from direct or indirect

 

contact with an infected animal. It can be transmitted from your clothing, shoes, or from

your skin for at least 8 hours after exposure. In other words, your ferret can become

infected just by inhaling the virus from your skin or clothing! Since the incubation period

can be as long as 10 days, always isolate any new dogs or ferrets brought into your

household for 14 days unless immunity to canine distemper (and other contagious

illnesses) can be ascertained."

from

http://miamiferret.org/distemper.pdf

 

"The canine distemper virus is mainly spread through bodily secretions and excretions

such as urine and faeces. An infected animal can also shed the virus through exhalation

implying that the virus can be transmitted via air. Younger animals are more vulnerable

to canine distemper than older ones because of their under developed immune systems. "

http://www.cumbriaferretrescue.org.uk/pubs/cd.pdf