From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2002-09-02 19:08:02 UTC
Subject: Re: Moose
To: scarlettoferret@ve.sdcoxmail.com, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <p05111705b99964d0c34e@[10.0.1.6]>
Stephanie wrote:
>Has anyone had a ferret who stops eating dry kibble and loses weight
>and when you give him soft foods, his system makes noises. These
>noises sound like your stomach makes when it's hungery.
Do you know which part of his GI tract the noises come from? Normal
digestion actually involves a lot of noises. Try holding a
stethoscope to anyone's stomach and intestines during digestion and
you'll find them rumbling and gurgling. Ingestion of a lot of air
also will add to noises and a dietary change may increase the amount
of swallowed air. If the noises are from places that normally make a
lot of noise (UNlike places like esophagus) then it may merely be a
matter of adjusting to a different diet which takes time. If the
noises are happening where they should not be like the esophagus or
are accompanied by reflux, vomiting, diarrhea, signs of pain, etc.
then it's not a normal adjustment situation.
Unless the symptoms are marked, why not leave a phone message for a
call-back from your treating vet so that you and the vet can discuss
this to see if and when you need to bring in the little one?
Obviously if the symptoms are marked (including noise from the wrong
area) a vet visit is called for, but it may be needed (as the vet
decides) even if they are not marked.