IMPORTANT UPDATE!!! NEWS RELEASE BROWARD AVIAN & EXOTIC Animal hospital for birds, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles and other special species Deerfield Exotic Vets Discover Distemper in Ferrets Owners need to be aware of fatal disease (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) –The veterinarians at Deerfield-based Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital have discovered an outbreak of distemper among pet ferrets and are working to warn owners throughout South Florida to take precautions. The owner of the clinic, Dr. Susan Kelleher, and her associate, Dr. Lauren Thielen, discovered the distemper last week when a ferret owner brought in their recently-adopted male pet because of a swollen face. The owner’s second ferret also exhibited signs of distemper by the next day. Both ferrets had to be euthanized to prevent prolonged suffering. Since there is no cure or prevention currently exists for ferrets, and the vaccine for dogs does not work for them, Dr. Kelleher is concerned about owners being informed about preventative measures immediately. “Distemper is an extremely dangerous disease for all animals, but especially ferrets right now, as a vaccine is not currently available,” she said. “The vaccine should be available by the end of February, but until then, owners need to be vigilant about caring for their pets.” According to Dr. Kelleher, three ferrets, including the two from her clinic and another in Lake Worth, have been confirmed to have died from the disease. The last reported ferret distemper case was in 2005. In addition, four dogs have been confirmed with distemper. Canine distemper virus, which is similar to measles in humans, is the same virus found in ferrets. It is 100 percent fatal in ferrets and is also transmittable to skunks, and raccoons. Ferret owners should look for the following symptoms for signs of distemper: · Dermatitis of the chin (skin looks red and black, hair loss, and thickened) · Swollen face and thickening of the skin of face and lips · Abundant green-yellow thick nasal and eye discharge · Respiratory signs, such as coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing · Thickening and flaking of the skin on all paw pads · Fever and lethargy · Vomiting and diarrhea (more common in dogs) · Seizures (more common in dogs) If any of these symptoms are present, Dr. Kelleher recommends that owners contact their vet, particularly someone trained in handling exotic animals, immediately. The animals should be kept away from all other pets. Once available, pet ferrets should be vaccinated to prevent distemper. The vaccine, PUREVAX Ferret Distemper Vaccine, according to the manufacturer, Merial, is very challenging to produce. It has been on back order for eight months. Two vaccinations, given two weeks apart, are required to maximize immunity. “Until this vaccine is available, there is nothing to protect pet ferrets,” she said. “I want to get the word out to all owners to avoid taking their ferrets out, exposing them to other pets and keep a close watch on possible symptoms.” For more information, contact Broward Avian & Exotic Animal Hospital at 954-968-7171 or visit exoticanimalcare. The clinic is located at 1101 South Powerline Road, Suite 108 in Deerfield Beach.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:53:52 +0000
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