From:
ferretkrazi
Date: 2001-12-10 14:33:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Blessing, Phenobarbitol & neurological seizures - in...
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., fhbythesea@a... wrote:
> Erin
>
> Do a search in the FHL archives on either my posts or 'Silk'. Silk
is a
> shelter ferret that has grand mal seizures and has been on
phenobarbital (we
> have had to up her dose to .3cc 2x a day to control them) for more
than a
> year. She was diagnosed with Leukemia and we believe that her
extremely high
> temperature may have caused some neurological damage, causing the
seizures.
> Anyway, she is on 1/4 tab of a 5mg tablet of prednisolone to keep
her
> leukemia under control and the pheno.
Hi Lisa, thanks for writing...
I'd done a search on the archives the week this all happened and
hadn't come up with anything. I'll do a search on Silk, I'm glad to
hear that the meds are helping her. Did you know her before her
seizures? How high had her temp gone? Tigger's was at 105° when we
got to the second emergency hospital. (One that actually KNOWS
ferrets.) Does the pheno seem to change her personality? Do you
know if it interacts with lasix and enacard? I know you're not a
vet, but being a shelter you've probably had much more experience
with bad stuff then you'd ever want.
> She's addicted to her meds at this point and actually waits at the
cage door
> for her meds. Thankfully, she takes them well and I mix the pred
and pheno in
> the same syringe with ferretone.
Poor girl... what a sweetheart to take them so well for you! If you
don't mind me asking, how much does the pheno cost? I'll pay for it
if it will help, but I'm just curious. His emergency fees alone were
close to $1500. He'd stayed in the hospital a few nights and had
lots of tests done. We haven't done an MRI or CT scan yet.
>
> The only noticeable side effects from the pheno/pred mix is fluid
retention
> and weight gain. She currently tips the scales at 3.75lbs (early
alter
> female). We run blood tests every couple of months to monitor her
> kidney/liver function and to see how her white cell count is doing.
She's
> doing pretty well though otherwise.
So it can tax her kidneys & liver? Sounds like that should be fun
for Tigger since he is on DOCP for his adrenalectomy and then lasix
for his heart. Talk about making things difficult. Does Silk play
at all? Does she eat on her own?
I'm sorry for the bizillion questions... Thanks for offering up your
experiences though. It really helps and I'll go out to search for
your posts now. Good thoughts will be with you and Silk... I hope
she continues to do well...
Sincerely,
Erin