Ok, so *I* have a myco flare-up!!

[adoptaratcanada]

Can you believe it?!

I thought it might be the flu and I wanted to get checked out because I don't want to be contagious to the oldsters at work. Mind you, I probably got sick from them, I've been coughed on by so many sick people over the last week or two Some have had terribly persistent coughs and sadly some won't let the nurses give them medicine.

I don't have any rats at the moment, but if I had, is human myco transferable to rats or other pets that get it?

[Die Fledermaus]

Can the Mexican Flu be transfered from human to rat?

I think a quick call to a vet would answer that. But I would be shocked if it could be.

>> AN PETS GET SWINE FLU?
April 29th, 2009 by Dr. Donna Spector

Although there is a plethora of information available about people and swine flu what about our beloved pets? Many concerned pet owners want to know if their dog or cat is at risk and what they can do to protect them.

The good news is that there have been no documented influenza (flu) transmissions between people and their pets. While dogs and cats both have contagious influenza viruses that are capable of causing illness, these viruses are very species specific and do not pose a risk to humans. Similarly, the influenza viruses of people are very specific and up to this point have been unable to infect and cause illness in pets.

If you are an owner of a pot-bellied pig, these pets should be considered at risk for contracting the swine flu virus. Signs to look for include coughing, sneezing, discharge from the nose and eyes, fever, decreased energy and appetite. The good news is that swine flu is usually mild in pigs and most will recover without incident. If you suspect your pig is ill, CALL your veterinarian for medical advice. Do not take your pig into the vet as they may serve as source of infection for people. Visit the CDC website about taking proper precautions for yourself.

Influenza viruses are very formidable bugs…they are capable of changing their structure (by mutating through a process called “antigenic drift”) to enable them to survive and spread in an environment. While there have never been reported cases of flu spreading from humans to dogs and cats, the nature of these viruses are ever-changing. If you are suspicious your dog or cat seems ill, contact you veterinarian for advice.

For more information about swine flu, visit:
www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
For more information about dog flu, visit:
www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
For more information about cat flu, visit:
www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/4/662.htm <<

blog.halopets.com/2009/04/29/can-pets-get-swine-flu/

I will ask on the rmca board.

[Hamsters82]

Some animals can catch what we give them. That being said, I hope you feel better Linda. And when those people start to cough on you, just tell them politely to stop it--that's what I do. Or move away from them. I hope you start to feel better and just try to relax, take some medicine, rest, eat right, and don't do anything big until you feel up to it or are getting better.

*hugs*

[adoptaratcanada]

Thanks, Hammie! I should have read your entry before I started moving furniture! *sheesh* no such thing as a day off for this kid (also, any work I miss, I "have to" make up...it's all about budgets, they ultimately have to be spent). Fortunately I do feel quite a bit better today, but I'm trying not to do anything else for the rest of the day...I really want to shake this.

Unfortunately the people who are coughing on me are past knowing they shouldn't be coughing on a person, and wouldn't grasp it if I asked them not to. I'm getting good at noticing when they are gearing up and I move away as fast as I. Still, sometimes it's just not possible to avoid the spray area, and sometimes I'm working in a fairly confined space.

I can't believe I got sick. Because I work in a care home, I'm very aware of washing my hands (and even my arms in the case of being coughed on). I'm almost anal about it. I use hand sanitizer after touching pretty much ANYTHING that someone out in public might have handled (bank machines, door handles, cash) and even use sterilizing wipes that some grocery stores provide, for use on the carts. For stores that don't offer that, I keep my own in the car. I don't touch my eyes/nose without washing my hands first.

Oh well, I rarely get seriously ill and I was glad to get into the doc and get some antibiotics and nip this in the bud.

SIDE NOTE: my enthusiasm for cleaning at the moment hinges on the fact I will be GETTING MORE RATS!! I'm going to keep them in the room I originally used for the rat cage, but over the last few years it's been used largely been used for storage, so it needs a good gutting and good dusting.

[Die Fledermaus]

I have been very busy for a week, an annual tradition, spending as much time as i can outside in botanic gardens and parks seeing the blooms and blossoms. More on that in separate thread later, in Members Only; look for it, with photos. The weather has been so good I have been out a lot; normal work is all backlogged. But it was all lovely. people in Florida and california have none of this, which is their loss.

I also have been fighting my own allergies - tree pollen is very high and grass pollen moderately high. Itchy watery eyes.

Here are some answers on the rmca board:

mischief.rmca.org/viewtopic.php?p=181883#181883

Salubrious wishes to you on your illness. Best wishes for the new rats.

[Hamsters82]

That's good that you're feeling somewhat better Linda! I can't believe people still cough on you, people. *shakes head* That's a good idea to wash your hands before doing anything, especially with this swine flu going around now.
And that's neat that you're getting rats soon. Do you know what they're going to look like or what you'll be naming them?

[adoptaratcanada]

May 1, 2009 17:34:25 GMT -4 Hamsters82 said:

Do you know what they're going to look like or what you'll be naming them?

"...or what you'll be naming them?"

hehehe It's like you know me or something! ;D

Once I come up with names, it's game over!

I had contacted the local rescue regarding 3 boys that I had been eyeballing online for a couple of weeks. As fate would have it, one of them had just passed away, and the other 2 are "getting on" and they were just considering removing them from the adoption list (all the animals are fostered out to members/volunteers of the Rescue).

The lady I was in communication with said that they have 3 grey dumbo brothers who would be suitable. They sound lovely! They are a year old, which is a bit older than I would have preferred, but that's ok.

Also, a friend of mine has to give up her rat and asked if I would take it (which of course I will). The young lady downstairs is interested in adopting a rat, but isn't sure if the BF's bad allergies will allow for it. What we might do is a trial run with this rat, and she can take him and if it doesn't work out, I'll still take him. His name is Bodhi.

I'm not sure about introducing them, or whether I'll keep him as a solitary (he's been on his own all his life...he's also around a year old).

Now, as to the names of the other boys....

When she said they are 3 grey brothers, my brain got working on a theme I had thought my next rats would be the (James) Herriot Rats, but with them being 3 greys, that set me on a different track.

My first thought (being the geek that I am) was, "oh, The Greys....as in aliens!!" So my first thought was to give them movie alien names (anyone remember "Ro-Man from Mars"??) , but then I got to thinking "Earl Grey", "Greystoke", and what to name the third, and the Grey Alien thing got the better of me, so I'm thinking "Thor" (the grey alien from Stargate....such a geek).

Thanks, Hams!

[Die Fledermaus]

Does anyone in your circle know of rat rescues around NYC? I can never find any.

Name themes. One time Homer Simpson adopted a murder of crows, or vice versa, and he named them, Cameron Crow, Crow Diddley, Russell Crow, Gregory Peck, etc.

Earl Grey. Ever try Lapsang Souchong tea! I love it.

How about Graham, Graydon, Grayson.

Gray originated as a descriptive nickname among the English for those with gray hair or a gray beard. Among the Scots, it may have developed from an ancient Roman personal name Gratus, meaning ''welcome.''

[adoptaratcanada]

May 2, 2009 13:45:43 GMT -4 Die Fledermaus said:

Does anyone in your circle know of rat rescues around NYC? I can never find any.

How about Graham, Graydon, Grayson.

Hmmm, Dick Grayson....I like it ;D


Do you know Drusilla Kehl? She's a big rat person in NY. I don't know that she's a proper rescue, but people often take rats to her since so many know about her and rats.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9S8uMTjfwg&feature=related

I should mention it starts off in another language, but switches to English.

I thought I'd see what the other "parts" are about. Part 3 was about exterminators, so I gave up

[Die Fledermaus]

>> Do you know Drusilla Kehl? She's a big rat person in NY. <<

How big IS she??

I will get to videos later. No time now for the log downloads.

All veterinary opinion on the Swine (Mexican) Flu is that it cannot be transfered to any pets of any kind.

[Die Fledermaus]

My vet today specifically confirmed that it is virtually impossible for any transfer between humans and any pet with the Swine Flu.