Ferret News
Pet Ferret Care Tips
and Information
By Mary R. Shefferman & Eric Shefferman - along with Gabby, the ferret
www.ferretnews.com

contact: marymodernferret.com

  Last week there were several news stories that talked about Salmonella in pocket pets. Some reports mentioned ferrets; some didn't. What's the truth? Read the article in this newsletter to find out.

  We've also got a new coupon to help you with your springtime shopping. (Dad and Grad celebrations are next month!)

Important Notice: Very soon we will be switching over to a PayPal shopping cart for all of our commerce sites. You will still be able to pay with your credit card through PayPal, even if you don't have a PayPal account. We hope to make the transition as seamless as possible. This will apply mainly to our Ferret Trading Post store. Watch for the announcement!

--Mary

In this newsletter:

• Can Your Ferret Give You Salmonella?
   
• Save $ With a New Coupon Code!

Adorable stuffed ferrets make great Holiday & Christmas gifts!

Can Your Ferret Give You Salmonella?

By Mary R. Shefferman

  Many of you have read the recent news reports about children getting sick from Salmonella that they got from pet rodents (hamsters, mice). Some of the news stories included ferrets in the list of animals that can carry Salmonella. Is it true?

  Yes. Many animals can carry Salmonella. However, some animals are more likely than others to carry the bacteria and pass it to humans. These are reptiles (e.g., lizards, snakes, turtles), baby chicks, and ducklings. Other animals that have been found to pass Salmonella to people are dogs, cats (kittens), birds, horses, hedgehogs, and farm animals.

  If Salmonella occurs in so many different animals, what's the big deal? It's a big deal for children and the elderly or for people who have compromised immune systems or who are otherwise ill. Salmonella poisoning (salmonellosis) may require hospitalization. Although most people who come down with salmonellosis get it from eating food (eggs or chicken) that is contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria, people can get it from handling the feces of infected animals or handling the animals after they might have stepped in the feces. Often, an animal that has salmonellosis will have diarrhea or appear ill; however, that is not always the case.

  The best way to avoid getting Salmonella from a pet is to make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after handling the animal. If you have children, teach them from a young age to wash their hands after handling animals. If a child is too young to be responsible for washing his or hands, that child must be closely supervised when he or she is around animals.

  Not all rodents or baby chicks or ferrets are going to have Salmonella. But it's best not to take chances, especially when prevention is as simple as washing your hands. Be especially careful if any of your pets are sick with diarrhea. Ferrets have been known to show symptoms of salmonellosis (diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain) if they are infected. If your ferret is ill, take him to the vet. Diarrhea is very serious in ferrets. Also, if you think your ferret might have been infected with Salmonella be sure to clean every surface he comes in contact with and to be extra careful with litter boxes and cleaning up any "mistakes."

  Many ferret enthusiasts like to feed their ferrets raw diets. This is fine. Make sure any meat you feed your ferret is something you would eat yourself. "Questionable" meat is not appropriate for pets. Some of the Salmonella-infected rodents mentioned in the recent news reports were feeder mice. If you feed your ferrets pinkies, be sure to get them from a reputable source. Always keep an eye out for any signs that your ferret might be ill. Always wash your hands before and after handling raw meat or feeder mice.

  Of course, even if you feed your ferret a live or raw diet, it doesn't mean he will get or is carrying Salmonella. It does mean he may be more likely to be exposed to Salmonella. However, if you handle raw meat, you're probably more likely to be exposed to Salmonella, too. Keep it in perspective. Just wash your hands.

  The main concern with the occurrence of Salmonella in pocket pets (like hamsters, mice, or even ferrets) is that usually children are the ones who handle these animals most. They are also less likely than adults to reliably wash their hands after handling the animals. Thus, they are more likely to get sick if the animal has Salmonella. It is a parent's responsibility to ensure their children learn safe and sanitary practices.

  Any child who is too young to responsibly wash his or her hands after handling an animal should not be left alone with an animal. An adult must be present (preferably in physical contact!) at all times to ensure that the child washes his or her hands. If you can't guarantee that someone responsible will be there or that the child will be responsible for himself or herself, the child should not be allowed to interact with any pets (that's why there's Gund!).

  For adults, hand-washing should be automatic after touching any pet -- whether it is yours or someone else's. Hand-washing should also be automatic after cleaning up pet "mistakes" or cleaning litter boxes or any surface that might have come into contact with pet feces.

  Salmonella poisoning is not something to be taken lightly. It can make children -- and even adults -- very sick. It can also make your pet sick. If you notice any signs of illness in your pet, take him to see a qualified veterinarian. If you or your child is showing any signs of salmonellosis, see a doctor.

Further reading at FerretNews.com:

Could Your Ferret Be Sick?
http://www.ferretnews.com/issues/ferret-news-89.html

Further reading on the web:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/salmonellosis.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/fs050428.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5417a3.htm

All kinds of information about ferret illness in
the back issues of Modern Ferret Magazine:

Or you can support us directly by using one of these links.

New Coupon Code: Save $

  Save $5.00 when you spend $50.00 or more at FerretDesigns, AmysDesigns, and PowerDesigns. Use the coupon code:

MAY5

  All kinds of items: t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, mouse pads, sweatshirts and other stuff! All the stores use the same shopping cart, so you can combine items from all the stores!

  Coupon expires May 18, 2005.

  Thanks for reading! Go hug your ferret ... then go wash your hands!

--Mary, Eric & Gabby (the lone ferret)

  Stay tuned for more. You can always get updates by reading Mary's blog (a blog is an online journal). She keeps it sporadically and it usually runs to the more personal stuff. But you might like it. It's at: