From:
hillarytheriault@hotmail.com
Date: 2001-09-04 10:06:00 UTC
Subject: The affect of stress on ferrets - please help!
Hi everyone,
Many of you have already read about the ongoing saga with Busy Bob -
but just a quick recap, he has had diarrhea on and off for over a month
now - although he continues to eat and play. I am now convinced that it
is stress which is causing his ailment.
5 weeks ago we went out of town for two nights and left Busy Bob and
his sister home (in air conditioning, etc). After that is when we
noticed the change in his bowels, but it was hot and I have noticed
similar behavior in him before so I thought it was the humidity. We
finally took him to the vet, who gave him some Flagyl for 5 days and
Busy Bob started to improve. On Saturday we went away for the weekend
again and when we came back early yesterday morning we noticed that he
had had runny, yellowish diarrhea all weekend. Plus, I don't think he
had been eating much. I immediately made up a batch of duck soup, which
he ate for me every 1.5 to 2 hours and he also ate one really good meal
on his own last night as well. I also started giving him .4cc of Pepto
Bismol every 12 hours and his diarrhea has ceased, although his bowel
movements are still a bit soft.
However, this morning he wouldn't eat for me at all and I am worried
that he might not be getting enough nutrition. I am hesistant to start
giving him some nutrical because that seems to make his problem worse.
He is drinking on his own but I have also noticed he is starting to
grind his teeth ever so slightly (and just for a second or two - don't
know if it is the duck soup or what).
Also, I have also noticed that he is acting agitated. He doesn't seem
to sleep very soundly and he runs around in a very eratic and agitated
fashion - which is what leads me to believe this is stress related
(although maybe it is something else - I don't know).
I am at a loss and I don't know what to do. I am very worried as he has
definately lost weight this weekend. I am thinking of putting him back
on AD tonight, but I also don't want to shock his system with new food.
Any advice would be great. He just got over one terrible illness
earlier this year and I don't know if I can go through all of that
again so soon.
Thanks!
Hillary