a ticking time bomb.

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

TICKS!

Yes, we interrupt our normal schedule of events to bring you another post about these nasty little buggers.

Ticks are just nasty in general.
Then there is Lyme disease, carried by ticks.
Now we have a nameless bacterium transmitting ehrlichiosis bourne by ticks.

This is particularly note-worthy because although it often infects dogs through the American Dog tick, the main point of the article is that this bacterium has now been found to jump species.


Without a doubt, ticks SUCK.

Which is why we use FRONTLINE.
And now all the more reason we are going to keep using FRONTLINE.


Just something to consider before heading out the door with the fuzz today.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself. All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

a Wish List - Pain Management

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

In looking up a medical issue for another ferrant (a new word I learned recently, a "ferret parent".) I stumbled across a fabulous association the IVAPM, International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.
Taken from their introduction page:
Founded in 2003, the IVAPM intends to become the recognized leading forum and resource in animal pain for the veterinary profession through research, education, and advocacy.

Most people who deal with chronic pain have a keen sense of the distinction between "living" and "existing" so for me to happen upon this group was just... Wow... Truly impressive. On the one hand, it took until 2003 to officially acknowledge the need to address pain management in veterinary science (and these are professionals that see pain and suffering every day in their work.) But still, how far veterinary science has come to finally acknowledge that the non-human animal experience of pain, although it might be different,  should also be addressed in the course of regular treatment.

For what it's worth, I am not being sarcastic. I do find this very impressive for even in this recent era of medical advancements, the experience of chronic pain and the necessity of pain management for human beings (much less non-human animals) is a highly unacknowledged and sadly often outright dismissed condition. To have finally gotten around the considering that there are other "forms" or degrees and experiences of pain is a large step in the right direction.

There are too many people that take it for granted that just because the non-human animals - our animal companions and their wild relatives - don't cry or scream or complain they must not be in that much pain. Of course, they don't speak of their discomfort or pain, not in any human language. Nor do they often express in obvious body language that they have pain or weakness. They have learned through 10's of thousands of years and more of evolution that the weak and sick end up as first course on the Badlands Buffet.

On the other hand, any experienced vet knows there are other ways non-speaking animals show they too experience a range of emotions from depression to discomfort and pain - by not eating, lethargy, increased/decreased sleeping/activity level, etc.... However, as mentioned earlier, up until the 21st century, there has not been much concentrated effort in addressing this issue. Resources are still rather limited but increasing with, not surprisingly, consumer (in this case, the pet owner) demand. The major texts available are as follows:

＊Pain Management in Animals (2000)
I think this one can generally be considered the first of its kind. I actually bought this at the very painful price of 140 USD as it's the only one so far to be translated into Japanese. With the exception of supplemental or alternative therapies, all other animal pain management books in Japan since then have been non-professional publications.

＊Pain Management in Small Animals: a Manual for Veterinary Nurses and Technicians (2006)

＊Scientific Assessment and Management of Animal Pain (2008)

＊Update on Management of Pain, An Issue of Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice (2008)

＊Handbook of Veterinary Pain Management (2008)

＊Chronic Pain in Small Animal Medicine (2010)

Clearly, a specialty that is taking off.
But truly representing that shiny, juicy cherry on top our information ice cream cone, this was just released in January 2011.

Pain Management in Ferrets

abstract: The growing popularity of ferrets as pets has created the demand for advanced veterinary care for these patients. Pain is associated with a broad range of conditions, including acute or chronic inflammatory disease, neoplasia, and trauma, as well as iatrogenic causes, such as surgery and diagnostic procedures. Effective pain management requires knowledge and skills to assess pain, good understanding of the pathophysiology of pain, and general knowledge of pharmacologic and pharmacodynamic principles. Unfortunately, scientific studies on efficacy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of analgesic drugs in the ferret are limited. However, basic rules on the treatment of pain and mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy of analgesic drugs in other species can be adapted and applied to pain management in ferrets. This article aims to make an inventory of what is known on the recognition of pain in ferrets, what analgesic drugs are currently used in ferrets, and how they can be adopted in a patient-orientated pain management plan to provide effective pain relief while reducing and monitoring for unwanted side effects.
PubMed Link

... Oo♪ lala.♪♪

So that is on my wish list for me and all shelters out there. A tiny 10-page article worth its weight in gold, or 31.50 USD as the case may be here.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪


related links of interest:
Ferret Pain and Distress by Bob Church.

American Veterinary Chiropractic Association

European College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia

International Veterinary Acupuncture Society

International Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society

International Veterinary Information Service

Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia Support Group

Veterinary Information Network


Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

ticks !?!

UPDATES on Ferret Food Recalls
Responses from Whole/Natural Prey Suppliers

CARPETSHARKING in all the wrong places

Out of the 6 fuzzbutts in the family to date, one girl would enjoy standing on the balcony to watch the outside, the cars and whatnot but that was IT. That was her limit for interacting with the Great Outdoors.
If it suddenly got too much, it was mad-dash-INSIDE～～! RUN! *panicpanicpanic* BREAK FOR COVER!!!

Another, my big brave boss-girl did enjoy the outdoors. Around the yard, the apartment. When she had enough, it was up the sleeve and look out through the cuff. o.0 (Which made it really hard to bend my arm so that never lasted very long - having to walk around with one arm outstretched.)

My current youngest is a HIKER. One hour in the woods is no more that a walk in the park. Try more like one and a half or even two hours for him. o.0

We came back after a happy, leisurely meander Saturday morning and after about 10 minutes I had found and picked off about 15 ticks.
Maybe I had them all, or maybe I didn't because when we went out again on Monday morning I found him covered AGAIN.
I picked off what I could see that day including the larval stage ones which are about the size (or smaller) than a beauty mark.
We didn't go out Tuesday morning because Tuesday morning I found THIRTEEN MORE (larval stage) to remove!

Before you get too petrified and start thinking about shaving your head, be assured that according to the ALDF "Deer ticks cannot jump or fly, and do not drop from above onto a passing animal. Potential hosts (which include all wild birds and mammals, domestic animals, and humans) acquire ticks only by direct contact with them." Good news for you, not so for the wandering fuzz since "the best precaution ... is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation as much as possible."

And from experience I can tell you those are EXACTLY the places they make a beeline for.

First and foremost, a common misconception needs to be addressed.

ONLY FRONTLINE KILLS TICKS !

* Revolution kills fleas, prevents heartworm, and other etc. (** see addendum below)
* Advantage mainly just kills fleas.

Beyond that, knowledge is your best defense.
So before heading out again, arm yourself appropriately.

General need-to-know information and pictures:

* American Lyme Disease Foundation (ALDF)
They have some pictures here, but the wealth of information is in their signs and symptoms and infected US areas - maps and statistics. (Note: Map uses data current as of 2006. )

* National Geographic
Note the unusual appearance of the adult deer tick. Not what we as humans are used to picking off our clothes.
"Significantly smaller than the more commonly encountered dog tick, adult female deer ticks are about as big as a sesame seed and have reddish hind bodies with black dorsal markings. Males are slightly smaller than females and are solid dark brown."

In regards to the dreaded and debilitating Lyme disease (which had me frantically calling my vet and posting for help on FB), do note that it takes FRONTLINE an unspecified number of hours to kill off all ticks yet the ticks "must remain attached for at least 24 hours for the bacteria to transmit." (National Geographic, Frontline )

A slight inconsistency in transmission-time should be addressed.
According to the ALDF "... studies of infected deer ticks have shown that they begin transmitting Lyme disease an average of 36 to 48 hours after attachment."
Again, even though that seems to give you a window of safety with FRONTLINE killing them off within some unspecified number of hours, the transmission time given by the ALDF is clearly marked as an average. In other words, IF YOU ARE LUCKY, LD is not transmitted before FRONTLINE kills the ticks off.

So don't feel you can rest easy just because you are using FRONTLINE.
If you find a tick, remove it ASAP!!
Then search for more.
And search again.

Because before you know it they are laying pathetically at the door signaling time-to-go! again

Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪


**ADDENDUM
There has been some confusion generated about Revolution.
Pfizer clearly states through their official website that "Revolution controls tick infestations only due to the American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), a tick commonly found on dogs. There are other common species of ticks that are not killed or controlled by Revolution."
You as the ferret owner are not concerned about dog ticks.
You are concerned about the other common tick species that are not killed or controlled by Revolution.

Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!
All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

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