From:
Diana Martinez
Date: 2001-11-21 12:54:00 UTC
Subject: UPDATE on "Not eating --- Looking very skinny"
First, I want to thank everyone who responded. All of your messages
really helped out.
Now, here is the scoop:
1. Original Message:
I need help. I made the mistake of switching ferret food brand too
abrupt on my 2 year old female ferret. Last Sunday is when I changed
it. I also switched out her bathroom bedding. I noticed she stopped
eating and was starting to look a little skinny, so I gave her the old
brand of food, but she is still not eating. I have also put back her
old type of bathroom bedding. I don't know what to do, she does not
eat very much. Actually she may take a couple of bites and that's it.
She is looking very skinny. I also tried force feeding her chicken
baby food, but that was hopeless. She refuse it.
About a month ago we lost our other ferret and have been watching her
to see how she was dealing with it. She was acting normal, until now.
2. Follow up on the original message:
I have seen her drink some water from a bowl own her own. I will try
to get some more fluids in her. Her poop is smaller and much less
often then usual. It does not have the regular tube looking shape. It
it looks like a slymmy blob. This morning it was of a light brown
color, but right now it is turning dark, dark brown. She has started
to vomit more too.
3. Visit to the Vet on Monday:
Dr. XXX thought that the symptoms were consistant with two things:
either a blockage (because she could feel little lump) or Helicobacter
mustelae. She was more inclined to the Helicobacter mustelae because
when dealing with a blockage there is usually lost of gasses involved
and when she examined Ginger, there really wasn't any. That night she
sent us home with Meds to treat Helicobacter mustelae, but she said to
bring her the next day because she wanted to keep her under
observation.
4. Visit to the Vet on Tuesday:
We took Ginger to the vet again, but before we left we noticed that in
her she had pooped something bulky and hard. We took it to the vet for
her to look at it. It turn out that it was a blockage and she had
passed it. The vet kept her for the day to see if she was doing ok.
When we went to pick her up, the vet said to keep on giving her the
meds because her stomach was still upset and maybe injured from the
blockage.
5. Tuesday Night:
By night (same day Tues.), she started to eat on her own!!!! She
still looks skinny and weak, but I think it will take a while for her
to go back to normal. For now we are going to keep a close eye on her
to see how she does.
Thanks again to everyone.
Diana and
Ginger
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