Message Number: YG5861 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Mary R. Shefferman
Date: 2001-07-28 16:53:00 UTC
Subject: Re: NEED ADVICE QUICKLY [added info]

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Rhonda Foucault" <rhondaf_ca@y...>
wrote:
> Hello, I'm Rhonda from *Grin and Ferret* (Yahoo! clubs)...one of my
> members has a sick ferret and needs some advice. His ferret is
losing
> weight, has no appetite, will not drink, and is 'grinding' his
jaws.
> He has had him to the vet, but the vet is at a loss to explain his
> illness. At first, the vet thought it was distemper (because he is
an
> adoptee from a shelter only a month ago), but that has been ruled
> out. The vet wants to do exploratory surgery on him but fears that
he
> is too weak to survive it. Now he is suggesting putting him to
> sleep....They made duck soup for him which he would not eat, so he
> was hydrated at the clinic and given predenzone and antibiotics.
Does
> anyone have any advice to give before he goes ahead and sends him
> over the rainbow bridge? Thank you for your time.
>
> *Grin and Ferret*
>
> Rhonda Foucault
> Founder/Grin and Ferret
> http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/grinandferret

My guess would be ulcer (but I'm not a vet). You don't mention if the
ferret is having dark stools, but the tooth grinding and refusal to
eat/drink could certainly be signs. If ulcer is the problem, he needs
something like Carafate & Tagamet + Biaxin & Amoxy. Take a look
through the archives; I'm sure this has been discussed here.

Good luck!

--Mary & the Fuzzies