FERRETS — A TO Z. 195 



fected with it, running around the pens. When 

 it is known that the dogs in the neighborhood are 

 infected with distemper, it is best not to let 

 strange dogs run about the ferret pens. I know 

 of one breeder who lost all but one of his ferrets 

 with distemper this season and the one that had 

 it and lived was in the pen with the others that 

 died, but pulled through all right and raised a 

 litter of young in the same pen. 



The symptoms of the disease are as follows : 

 The ferret refuses to eat and the eyes become 

 swollen, the lids being stuck together with a 

 peculiar sort of matter; the nose becomes 

 swollen and inflamed, and the eyes will discharge 

 a watery fluid; sometimes the nostrils will be- 

 come closed and the animal dies— apparently 

 from suffocation. Some authorities say that 

 with healthy, well kept ferrets, this disease sel- 

 dom makes its appearance. 



As soon as this disease is noticed among the 

 ferrets, the infected ones should be placed quite 

 a distance apart from the others. A quantity 

 of good disinfectant should be proclired and 

 sprayed generously about the pens. A few drops 

 of sulphuric acid which can be obtained at any 

 drug store, placed in the milk, has been thought 

 to be of avail in checking the disease. 



