From:
ELNRRGBY1@aol.com
Date: 2002-09-06 09:37:57 UTC
Subject: Friable bowel- Bonzai update and questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <42.2cee24ad.2aa9d175@aol.com>
Hello all,
The daily phone update earlier today (yesterday now) on Bonzai was
semi-encouraging. The vet said the bradycardia did not return, he is passing
soft stools, and that he "looked a little brighter". He had one episode of
teeth grinding in the middle of the night Wed/Thurs, but they gave him some
meds and he quieted down again. The plan for tonight was that they were
going to begin him on a clear liquid diet and then gradually begin advancing
the diet and weaning him off of his IV. He is able and willing to get up and
use the papers to potty and was actively burrowing under his bedding to go to
sleep. Doesn't sound like much, but it is an improvement from his condition
before the surgery. Hopefully all will go well getting him back onto a soft
diet and then maybe he will get to come home soon. (still trying not to be
overly optimistic, but he's made it this far at least! something I wasn't
sure would happen and still very nervous about)
To Sukie, thanks for all of your help and information. As for whether it is
an acute onset vs. a more chronic type of problem, I don't know and I'm not
sure the vet knows either. All I can say is that he was a normal and healthy
appearing active ferret in all regards almost immediately up to the onset of
symptoms on Sunday. Could the friability have been there prior without him
showing symptoms? I have no clue. I was hoping someone on the list might be
able to answer that. Just seems like if it was a chronic/progressive type of
process
that there should have been symptoms or some kind of warning signs. But,
there wasn't. No weight loss, no changes in eating or bowel habits, no
vomiting, and no change in behavior. So, in that regard I can say that the
presentation at least was very acute. Just can't say for sure that the same
holds true for the actual disease process that has caused this, whatever it
may be.
Also, thank you Dr. Kramer for your response and information. If you are
still following this, could you perhaps give me more info on the overall
presentation of the two ferrets you mentioned that had intestinal lymphoma?
Did you seen an acute onset of illness like this without other physical
symptoms? Were you able to determine the amount of involvement of the
intestinal tract...was it diffuse like this or more patchy in nature?
Thanks again,
Stacia