From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-08-16 22:12:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Gripe water? Bruce W
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Vex@n... wrote:
> Would you reccommend gripe water(used for enfants when suffering
from
> upset stomach from teething) my ferret Skittles I believe is
> suffering from ECE (checking with Vet in 2 days) and has had
diarria
> for two weeks straight I think there was maybe 2 good days. My vet
> reccommended pepto bismal (1/4 crushed tablet), although I think it
> is not helping anymore. He throws up, not as bad now as in the
> beginning. He's drinking lots of water...so dehydration is not
> occuring but his stool is just jetting out his tooshy. I have been
> doing the chicken soup and now chicken soup with mushed Totally
> ferret for variety. Although the loose stool has me stumped I want
to
> make it have a lil firmness and was suggested gripe water although
a
> friend says wait and find out if there are concerns so here I am
> waiting for your reccommended advice...Thank you for your time.
>
There is no indication for gripe water (dill seed oil and sodium
bicarbonate) in this case. the use of sodium bicarbonate would have
no effect in the small intestine, and I am unfamiliar with any
documented evidence in beneficial effects of dill seed oil.
A dosage of 1/4 crushed tablet is too much PB, to start with, by
about 400%. while there is a good safety margin, the appropriate dose
in a ferret is 1/15 of a tablet.
I do not recommend using any kibble, wet down or not - ferrets with
ECE (if the diagnosis is valid) cannot digest any kibble. My
experience is that straight baby food for 4 weeks is the best way to
go in such cases. The ECE damaged intestine cannot digest much at
all, and low-fiber foods such as baby food are probably as much as
most can handle.
Save your money on the gripe eater - if he is drinking plenty of
water, just make sure he is taking lots of food as well. If we are
truly dealing with ECE, it will sort itself out.
With kindest regards,
bruce williams, DVM