From:
Debbie Utter
Date: 2001-10-28 14:28:00 UTC
Subject: 4+ weeks since splenectomy and still problems eating
Forgot to mention that Brae's being fed very small amounts of
ground kibble - only about a teaspoon or so, with just enough
water to make a thick gravy. Would adding more water make it
more palatable? Should he be fed even smaller amounts, but
more frequently (say every two or three hours)? I work, so
days I have no choice but to go 4-5 hours. Also, Brae seems
to be vomiting after about half of his meals. About three
weeks after surgery, he had reached the point where he was
going almost 24 hours or more before getting sick one or two
meals in a row. So this is obviously a regression.
----- Original Message -----
From: Debbie Utter
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2001 9:16 PM
Brae had an extremely enlarged spleen removed over four weeks
ago, and he still is eating nothing but ground kibble with a
little warm water added. He is very fussy and is eating
nothing but ground Totally Ferret, some Nutrical, and 1-2
Cheerios a day. He turns his nose up at chicken baby food. He
eats about every 4-5 hours, and manages to keep down most
meals, but is vomiting far more than I'd like. If he's going
to be sick, it's immediately after eating, or within 10 to 15
minutes. Before the spleen came out, he wasn't keeping down
much food, probably because his insides were so squished, so I
expected there to be a period of time before he was able to
keep food down again......but it's been over a month! Is this
normal, or could there be something else going on? In all
other ways, Brae seems fine: is active and playful, and is
definitely feeling better without that huge spleen inside him.
I have noticed that his poops seem a bit foamy the last day
or two, and seem thinner, too. His pee seems pretty pale.
The vet said he can't tell what the problem is (continuing
vomiting) without doing bloodwork again. Does anyone have any
idea why Brae can't keep his food down? He's definitely
hungry....goes right for his food. Unfortunately, he hardly
goes a full 24 hours or so without bringing up at least one
meal. I don't have any way to monitor his weight, but he
seems to have gained a little weight since surgery. Would
appreciate all suggestions! And if this is normal......to
take weeks for his system to accept food normally again, and I
just have to continue to be patient, then so be it. If
however, he should be keeping his food down by now, I need to
have more bloodwork done to see what else it could be.
PS: A barium before the spleen came out looked ok, kidneys
looked good in xray.