Message Number: YG1413 | New FHL Archives Search
From: katharine
Date: 2001-03-18 07:38:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Appetite stimulators

Dr. Murray,
I'm who posted about using Serax (oxazepam) for
appetite stimulation. My vet has had great
success with it in cats.

Champ (ferret) is in renal failure and hasn't
eaten on his own since the diagnosis (3-4 weeks
ago). He will eat soup but only if he's sitting
in my lap and I let him eat most of it off my
finger. His refusal to eat coincided with the
renal failure diagnosis. I didn't mind too much
since I use the soup to keep him occupied while I
give him his sub-q fluids. I thought, for a
while, that he had a tummy ache so we put him on a
round of anitibiotics (flagyl, amoxi). He is also
taking cemetadine (tagamet) forever. The
antibiotics didn't help any so Dr. F suggested
trying the Serax.

I started Champ on it Friday p.m. This is one of
those teeny, tiny capsules and I'm supposed to
break it open and give him 1/20 to 1/10. I felt
like a druggie when I was "cutting" the powder
<g>. So far, he's had 4 doses (twice a day). I
did see him playing with the kibble the first
night which is the closest he's come to kibble in
weeks. I didn't see him eating any. I started
with 1/20 (as best I could measure) but have gone
to 1/10 to see if that makes a difference. Dr. F
did say that he would just sleep if I gave him a
tad bit too much. I put the powder in his soup
and have decreased his soup to 1/2 cube per
sitting. If I give him too much soup, he won't
get hungry! I am weighing him regularly.

I guess it's too soon to know if it's going to
help. I plan to give it at least a week. If that
doesn't work, I'll suggest the Periactin.

In the meantime, we are keeping his weight steady
with soup with a little whipping cream added.

Thanks for the information, Dr. Murray.
Katharine