From:
Burgess@swanimalhospital.com
Date: 2001-11-16 02:35:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Question: GI Dz in ferrets
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., toucanvet@a... 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"