Message Number: YG6591 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-08-23 22:16:00 UTC
Subject: Re: carafate for oral ulcer--how should i administer it?

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "fur. chaos. weezilarchy."
<weezilized@y...> wrote:
> biscuit got a cut on the roof of his mouth a while back, which, with
> antibiotics, has ot gotten infected but instead actually formed a
small
> hole in his palate. i am having a scrip for carafate filled as i
type
> this, but am wondering how i should actually administer it... the 1
> gram pills are supposed to be divided into 8ths, which is going to
be a
> trick to begin with. should i just make a paste out of the
prescribed
> amount and actually spread it on the roof of his mouth, or make a
> suspension out of it and just give it to him by syringe, or try to
get
> actual solid pieces into him or what?

Dear Kat:

I believe it is unlikely that carafate will actually do muich good in
the mouth. The mouth has the tongue (which the stomach does not.)
It is likely that the initial covering that the carafate perfomrs on
the orl ulcer will quickly disappear, far faster than in the stomach.

Let's though, try it like we do with the stomach - give it 10 minutes
prior to each feeding - that is when it will be most beneficial - to
allow your ferret to eat without pain.

Your scrip is better filled with liquid Carafate - it is available in
most pharmacies and is well tolerated. It is much easier to
administer in this form that trying to make a suspension in your home.

With kindest regards,

Bruce Williams, DVM