From:
Debi Christy
Date: 2001-11-08 17:07:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Sick Ferret
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., cachi1243@y... wrote:
> hopping in and out of the litter box like he has to go but can't.
I
> started him on pedialite and strained chicken baby food to get
> nutrition into him since he is not eating his food or drinking from
> the bottle...he's not throwing up and seems to have enough energy
help.
The first thing I suspect with this particular behavior is a urinary
tract blockage or infection. If he's not urinating, you'll be able to
feel a full bladder by gently squeezing his lower abdomen. It will
feel like a small water balloon. If you're not sure what you're
feeling, replace litter with several layers of paper towels to be
sure whether or not he's urinating. He should urinate a least every 6
hours. Sometimes, they can only "squeeze out" a drop or two at a
time. The problem is the same. If he skips a 6 hour period, it's
serious enough to see a vet immediately. The bladder is fairly
elastic, but it can only hold just so much. A vet can extract urine
from the bladder with a syringe to provide immediate relief and
precribe an antibiotic for infection.
This type of illness, I most commonly see in male ferrets with
untreated adrenal tumors. It might be a good idea to check for this
as he's at the "prime" age for adrenal disease. If it is a
complication of an adrenal tumor, it can become a chronic and fatal
problem. (Hair loss is NOT always present with adrenal gland tumors.)
I would continue the pedialyte and chicken baby food until he returns
to normal eating routines. But, this is one I would take to the vet
today or tomorrow morning at the very latest, if he's not urinating
at all.
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst