From:
ferretsonly@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-09-05 05:46:36 UTC
Subject: Re: Megaesophagus + propulsid
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <682654.1031204796079.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Angela wrote "...the ferrets I have had with megaesophagus still ate their dry food, even though it may have been uncomfortable for them and only in the late stages ate soft food..."
Magellan wouldn't even try to eat dry food. However, he would attack other things trying to find something that interested him. I concur with Sukie that strong smelling foods seem to attract them. Magellan would eat tuna fish and licorice (no, he didn't get fed these on a regular basis - they were only used to see if he showed interest in food).
Julie has mentioned something to me that I forgot. She said that when Sammy is regurgitating, his neck gets stiff and hard. Magellan's neck would would almost seem to expand, get hard as a rock and stay that way for what seemed like quite a while. I've had many a ferret wretch but none get like this. Has anyone else noticed this?
I found some interesting information about Propulsid. The second part of
http://www.usatoday.com/life/health/drugs/lhdru153.htm deals with the use of propulsid in dogs and cats and how banning a human drug has implications on our furry friends.
You can apparently still buy Cisapride from
https://www.gccinternet.net/internetvets/shop.asp?ItemCode=1690
They say "Propulsid is used to treat megacolon. Note: Propulsid is no longer manufactured. We have located a pharmasist to manufacture the Propulsid in capsule form. It is called Cisapride."
According to web information, Janssen Pharmaceutica stopped selling Propulsid in the U.S. in July, 2000 because it caused heart disorders and over 100 deaths.
"Concern over Propulsid remains especially high since many of the reports of death and illness involve children or babies" and "several children died soon after being given the drug".
-Carla