From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-07-14 12:43:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] RE: Helicobacter treatment
Awhile back someone asked about how to treat
Helicobacter and ulcers in ferrets. There are 2 common
protocols. The first one is the "triple therapy". This means
giving 1)amoxicillin (30mg/kg), 2)metronidazole (Flagyl 20mg/kg),
and 3)bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol 17.5mg/kg) 3 times
a day for 3-4 weeks. The newer protocol is to give 1)clarithromycin
(Biaxin 25mg/kg) and 2) ranitidine bismuth (Tritec 24mg/kg) 3 times
a day for 2 weeks. Ranitidine is the same thing as Zantac, and
bismuth is similiar to Pepto-Bismol. (Thus Tritec is sort of Zantac
and Pepto in one medicine. Plus it also has citrate in it.)
Other antacids such as Tagamet (10mg/kg) 3 times a day or Prilosec
(0.7mg/kg) just once a day can be used instead of Tritec. In
addition Carafate the "ulcer band-aid" (1/8 of the tablet
or 1 ml of the suspension) can also be used prior to feeding.
If you use Carafate, then do not give the antacid 1/2 hour before
or after the Carafate; because the Carafate needs an acid stomach in
order to work. A bland diet such as Hill's a/d or Gerber's baby food
(chicken or turkey) also helps. Since most ferrets hate Pepto and
most hate Flagyl, treatment with Biaxin, an antacid, and Carafate is
usually the best way to go. Biaxin comes in a fruit punch flavor
that
most ferrets tolerate.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM