From:
Debbie Utter
Date: 2001-11-07 19:01:00 UTC
Subject: URGENT: Diagnosed megaesophagus - need your help!
I really need your help. I have posted eight times between
9/19 and 11/3.....all related to the same problem. Brae had
primary splenomegaly, and had a splenectomy on 9/25. After
more than four weeks of still not keeping down all his meals
(very small portions; ground up kibble made into a gravy) and
still not on regular dry food, took him back to the vet. Was
prescribed two meds to aid the stomach in accepting the food,
etc (Neomycin/Pepto, and Metoclopramide). He still has two or
three days worth of the Metoclopramide left - I'm mixing each
1/4 tablet with Nutrical - that's the only way he'll take it.
Yesterday, another barium/xray/bloodwork series was done.
Radiographs were taken at 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 2.5 hours
post barium. The esophagus was not clearing like it should -
taking much longer to leave the esophagus......everything else
looked good. Diagnosis was megaesophagus, and we have
Propulsid 10mg tablets to give (0.25 tablet every 24 hours)
for aid in control of this condition. Brae was given an
injection of Depomedrol 40mg, and I have a can of Hills A/D to
either give straight or mix with his ground kibble gravy for
additional nutrition. So far, that's not gone down very well.
In fact, last night and today Brae has either not wanted to
eat anything, or eaten only to bring it back up.
I really need your help. Anyone with experience in nursing a
ferret with megaesophagus, or has information on this
condition, please email me! Someone referred me to miami
ferret page with information on this, but I have a hundred
questions! I need recipes/feeding suggestions (he doesn't
like the Hills A/D, doesn't like chicken baby food). I need
to know how much he needs to eat per feeding/day, how long he
can go between feedings (should I continue middle-of-the-night
feedings, or would he be okay going 7-8 hours without
eating?). What about massaging his throat after eating,
elevating him as he eats? Should I be doing this? Does it
really help? What's the realistic life expectancy with this
condition, especially if he doesn't eat well? Will he slowly
just waste away? Is he uncomfortable? (I know he's very
uncomfortable after eating........what about between meals?)
What's his quality of life? Will he need to be on medication
to alleviate symptoms for the rest of his life? What about
when the Propulsid is gone (the vet said they don't make it
any more.....he just happened to have 20 tablets left, and
sold me what he had) - what medication should we use then? Is
there anything in the archives on this condition? I haven't
had much luck getting to them just yet due to computer
problems and lack of time.
Up until a couple of months ago, Brae was a thriving,
energetic, happy ferret. Even up until the last few weeks, he
was feeling better after getting the spleen removed, but now
all he does is sleep, wake up to eat, get sick (or fight
getting sick) from eating, and go back to bed. He has lost so
much weight, although he still weighs in at 2.1 lbs (his
healthy normal weight was about 3 lbs). I just need to know
if it's fair to him to keep him going. This is my first time
going through a serious health condition, pills, special diet,
etc. so I need all the help I can get. What little
information I have found on this condition gives me little
hope that he'll survive or thrive.
Thank you for your help!