Ferretocracy

05/09/2025

9/4/2025, H5N1 contamination in raw pet food CONTINUES to be an ongoing issue as we get ready to head back into fall. The link to the most recent FDA recall can be found in the comments- RAWR brand raw cat food, based in California.

It is important to note a few things:

• This virus, typically seasonal and spread by migratory birds to domestic livestock, has seemingly established an ongoing foothold in dairy farms across the western US. HPAI is less fatal and more treatable in cattle than in birds or felines. As a result, we VERY FIRMLY ADVISE AGAINST the consumption of raw milk by humans or pets. Either buy pre pasteurized or pasteurize it yourself, but DO NOT consume raw milk or offer it to pets.

• We STRONLY ADVISE AVOIDING all commercially processed raw poultry for your pets, including raw commercial poultry based pet food, raw freeze dried poultry based pet food, and raw poultry sold for human consumption. If its a species born with a beak, dont feed it to your pet raw. (Possible exception- day old chicks hatched in an incubator and immediately euthanized for pet food. These are a treat, not a meal)

• This virus has a very high mortality rate for cats, can seriously impact mustelids, and can be extremely serious/deadly for humans as well. If you choose to continue feeding raw poultry (or raw milk) please at least be aware of the risk, the symptoms, and seek immediate medical attention for your pet if they fall ill. Be aware that cats do not typically survive, and may have neurological damage if they do survive.

• At MMR, we feed a mixed diet of kibble, whole prey rodents & fish, as well as limited amounts of raw beef commercial pet food from a processor that does not process any poultry. We encourage you to do the same: 🐓 AVOID POULTRY 🐓

16/08/2025

23/06/2025

For anyone who has ever loved a soul so deeply that it left a cosmic mark. Ferrets and Stardust is a poetic journey through devotion, spiritual memory, emotional rescue, and feral joy. Each song celebrates the wild tenderness of ferrets and the transcendent connection between beings. Blending humor,...

13/05/2025

At the beginning of the year, the ferret community received sad news of a large number of ferret deaths that occurred after attending a UK ferret show.

The exact diagnosis had been speculated upon but from the nature of the deaths, an infectious source is likely.

In response to this, I have been working with the National Ferret Welfare Society and their veterinary professionals, to produce some guidelines to help prevent recurrence.

Ferret shows are fun and a great way to socialise with like minded people. The guidelines contain recommendations to support a safe environment for ferret shows.

A huge thank you to Benjamin Kennedy BSc. MSc. BVetMed. MRCVS Mem.RES for your time and help in creating these guidelines.

Let’s keep ferret shows fun …. But most importantly let’s keep them safe

You can find the guidelines on the NFWS website or this link-

https://www.nationalferretwelfaresociety.co.uk/health-related-articles

22/04/2025

TIME TO RUN TO NETFLIX
Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey is now streaming! Witness the resilience of a rescued pangolin and the man who dedicates himself to its survival. Set in the stunning landscapes of Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in Southern Africa, Kulu’s journey will show you what it’s really like to be a pangolin and survive the illegal wildlife trade.
Link in bio for more info about the film and how to support pangolin conservation!
📸 Gareth Maverick
Netflix African Pangolin Working Group Lapalala Wilderness

05/04/2025

4/8/25 update: This fox's rabies testing has now come back negative (along with multiple other tests) and brain tissue samples have again confirmed HPAI suggesting that HPAI is the primary cause of the clinical signs this fox was exhibiting.

This past Monday, we admitted an adult female Red Fox from Hamilton, Virginia and she tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

This animal was lateral on intake and not responding to handling. She was also exhibiting tremors and nystagmus, a rhythmic, involuntary eye movement that is often seen with brain trauma or disease. Given these severe neurological signs without any indication of trauma, our top differentials were rabies, distemper, and HPAI. As all of these diseases have a very poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was elected and testing was performed for rabies and HPAI. While rabies testing is still pending, the HPAI testing came back positive.

This is the first report of an HPAI positive mammal in our state (though most other states have seen many mammalian positives, especially in dairy cows and free-roaming domestic cats). With cases on the rise at our hospital, and foxes having been found positive in multiple nearby states, this case did not come as a surprise. This positive was of course reported to the proper authorities and those that came into contact with the fox are actively monitoring for HPAI signs, which include fever, body aches, and irritated eyes in humans.

Please help us minimize the risk of this virus by keeping a respectful distance from wildlife. Most cats are infected by hunting wild prey or ingesting raw meat or milk, so please do not allow pets to free roam and do not feed raw milk or meat products. Keep yourself safe by avoiding these products as well. Please read the press release from DWR (linked in the comments) to learn more about this virus and how to stay safe.

This virus is still considered low risk to humans and there is no need to be concerned as long as you are staying up to date on the outbreak through reliable sources and taking proper precautions around wildlife and susceptible domestics.

27/02/2025

Multiple cats from separate homes die from bird flu after eating raw pet food, officials say | https://tinyurl.com/2rzejszk

01/02/2025

The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Learn more about bird flu, HMPV and COVID-19.