Message Number: YG8969 | New FHL Archives Search
From: bwiborg@webtv.net
Date: 2001-11-25 00:02:00 UTC
Subject: Another wheezing problem...

I have a 5 1/2 year old ferret named Lucy who started wheezing last
spring. It has since gotten much worse. I brought her in to our vet who
took chest ex-rays. Lucy's heart was slightly enlarged and laying on
it's side (unusual position according to vet), and showed some
irritation of bronchial tubes. She was given an antibiotic in case of
infection. Also prednisone was prescribed. Symptoms didn't improve, so
blood tests were done and fluid from her chest was sampled. Both came
back with nothing unusual. She was put on a diuretic for the obvious
fluid in her lungs, which has helped considerably. The vet thinks it
is allergies or asthma. Lucy still wheezes while she sleeps but it goes
away when she is out playing. Some days she is very active and feeling
great but other days she seems very lethargic and has difficulty
breathing. She stopped eating last weekend so I started feeding her duck
soup which she took very well. She is eating good on her own again along
with the duck soup (trying to get her weight back up).

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be wrong with her? The vet
doesn't seem to think it is heart related since her heart sounds very
strong at this point. I don't feel it is allergies since her
environment hasn't changed at all, but she has good days and bad days.
And doesn't asthma get worse when you are active, instead of getting
better?

Thanks for any thoughts,

Barb