From:
ferretsonly@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-09-03 05:44:05 UTC
Subject: RE: Megaesophagus
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <19079739.1031031845570.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Julie,
I'm so glad that Sammy is responding favorably!
> Also made
> squirting sounds, as the food entered the stomach.
I've described this as the sound of water suddenly going down a drain that was just unstopped. I don't remember the other sounds listed by other people because it has been 6 years since Magellan, my megaesophagus kid, died.
> Does anyone know if Mega-E is progressive or, if it is
> caught and dealt with, it's progression can be halted?
Most sources list megaesophagus as a fatal condition of short duration. It is my belief that if you can get a ferret treated early enough and they respond to Zantac, you can stem the damage from the repetitive regurgitation. Magellan lived for about 2.5 years with this condition which was diagnosed by a barium series. He died from heart failure at about six years of age. By following the course of treatment you outlined, he was able to live a normal life for those 2.5 years (I didn't because of the intensive management required to control megaesophagus!).
> Does anyone know what might be the cause of this
> condition to develop?
I think that stress or helicobacter could be implicated but I don't think the exact cause has been determined.
-Carla (not a vet)