From:
Ferretwise
Date: 2001-11-15 08:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Question: GI Dz in ferrets
Hello Ben-
This reads like many hairball ferrets we have had in the shelter.
Did the owners administer hairball remedy routinely? If not As a
layman I would say cut before you lose the ferret - most probable
hair ball mas in gut-. We have not been able to palpate them and
they do NOT show on xray as density is close to that of normal range
tissue.
Best of luck we are doing our 3rd gut surgery today in 3 weeks all
are producing foreign objects and / or hairball masses.
a usual finding in thin ferrets in the shelter!
Alicia
at Ferret Wise
At 01:57 AM 11/15/01 -0500, you wrote:
Hi there fellow ferret listers + DVMS, and VMDs,
I have a procedure question to pose to the vets,
At what point do you opt for exploratory sx VS medical therapy
with ferret GI dz?
OK case in point:
5 yr. m/c ferret. has previous history as a young ferret of
multiple FB ingestion
has not done that in over 2 years though.
Owners don't always closely monitor ferret (they work)
started with GI signs 5 days ago:
vomiting, bruxism, diarrhea, inappatince, minimal fecal
production occ straining to deficate.
+/- Weight loss T = 101.5 deg F Blood glucose = 95
PCV = 45% TS = 5.5 mg/dl WBC = WNL No alopecia, 1
episode seasonal loss 2 yrs ago.
Palpation revels: small spleen, unremarkable liver, kidneys,
bladder, prostate, intestines, Questionable unusual feel to
stomach. NON PAINFUL
RADS: normal chest / normal heart. Unusual charateristic to
stomach - R/O pyloric obstruction - Possible loss of serosal
detail in cranial abdomen with possible free fluid ? Radiologist
R/O Perferation. NO obvious visualization of Radiodense FB.
OK HERES THE QUESTION: Chem panel norm. its Sat afternoon. - no E
clinics in area cut ferrets (illegal animals to own) - your day
off.
DO YOU come in and cut the ferret or Do YOU put it on helicobacter
therapy, force feedings and wait the weekend.
You elect for medical mgmnt since you could not talk any techs to
come in with you.
Owner does not have money for Biaxin + Omeprazole so you
choose.....
1. Amoxi BID
2. Pepto QID
3. Flagyl BID
4. Pepcid AC SID since you don't have chem yet about kidneys
5. Sucrulfate QID 20 min before pepcid (sucralfate binds to H ions
if you give h2 blocker first no H ions left to bind to - drug does
not work)
6. A/d syringe feeding 60 cc BID
and are relieved that its the owners giving it and not your
hospital !!!
NOW its Wednesday - owners have not called - no news is GOOD NEWS
ferret is eating like a champ !!! and passing normal stool.
WHAT NOW ????
CUT or NOT and if so why ?
I say CUT ---> here's why....
1. he had stomach ulcers not true FB - FB ferrets don't vomit -
even with a perf'd stomach.
2. May or may not have had secondary Helicobacter infection - I'm
not real sure about this
he had not exposure to other ferrets in > 2 years and i
usually see this as a young guy disease
3. I think he has a Hairball FB causing a chronic irritation to
his stomach lining, setting up a gastritis and vomiting
also acts like a partial ball valve to explain some GI signs
and diarhea.
4. Significant gastritis in ferrets may induce - PANCRETITIS - i
know I know ferrets don't get pancretitis -
well to quote those famous CarTalk guys from Haavyard
Squaare - BULLL SH_____. I've seen it
and i;ve seen pathological diagnosis of inflamed pancreases in
ferrets with severe gastritis.
So maybe thats were the radiologist was getting the free fluid
from.
anyway.
I have not done anything with this guy yet.
I';m going to finish the helicobacter tx. 21 days and then cut him
if still wt loss. / thin
ANY SUGGESTIONS ??
WHO WOULD HAVE CUT SOONER ?
Would you have cut on Friday without a chem profile - what if
vomiting was uremic?
Do ferrets get elevations in Creatinine with Azotemia? Why or why
not ?
why do old ferrets get hairball FBs and young ones don't?
What do you use for Ulcers? / Helicobacter?
does any one have a good source for small doses of biaxin - i
can't get the boss to
splurge for $200 of drug.
thanks for your patience and patients.
--ben
Benjamin A. Otten, DVM
Practice Limited to Avian
and Exotic Pets
"There is a fountain that is not
built by the hands of man"
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