From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-15 22:26:00 UTC
Subject: Re: MVP in ferrets
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., bandiboo@w... wrote:
> Dear Dr. Williams:
.
> We recently started seeing additional
> signs of something more happening
> over the last several days which is
> of great concern. Several weeks ago
> Bear started having a problem eating
> his dry kibble...he would paw at his
> mouth and favor his mouth while trying
> to eat/drink.
This is a sign of nausea in ferrets, and is most often seen in
association with either gastric ulcers, gastric Helicobacter
infection, or both.
The pawing at the mouth often ends in the animal scratching the roof
of the mouth with a claw, and ending up with linear ulcers in this
site.
At this point, I would put him back on(or keep him on)the soup, if
kibble is what causes him to paw at his mouth. Anecdotally, Pepcid
AC has been reported to help with oral ulcers (why I'm still not
quite sure) but we can try it for a few days. To dose this drug,
crush a 10mg tablet and add to 10ml of water, and give .25-.30ml (1-
2x) a day.
This is probably less stressful than an endoxcopic biopsy, and
probably we should attemp this first. Any anesthesia for a ferret
with heart disease is a risky proposition.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM