Message Number: SG1364 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Melissa
Date: 2002-09-09 21:44:51 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Weird Abdominal Muscle Contractions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20020909214451.54767.qmail@web14402.mail.yahoo.com>

Someone replied to my query regarding Mishka's
abdominal muscle contractions:

> I had a ferret with IBD that would get these weird
> muscle contractions. His flanks would actually move
> in and out. . . . I assumed it was
> because of the IBD.

Interstingly, Mishka's abdominal muscle contractions
(and consequently major problems getting enough food)
seem to be due entirely to sensitivity to the
pediapred. Out of desperation (due to a steadily
decreasing appetite), we skipped Saturday AM's
pediapred dose, and by that evening, he was wolfing
down baby food without need of the carafate. We now
have him on 0.4 ml a day (down from 0.6), and are
going to try an extra 0.2 ml every third night. This
is much less than his original dose, but for the time
being, he is *much* improved. He is much more active,
his food intake has doubled, and there are absolutely
no abdominal muscle contractions when he eats.

I understand that this may cause the insulinoma to
worsen. However, he has never had any hind end
weakness or any additional insulinoma symptoms, so we
are hopeful that he may have a few weeks' of happy
time before we have to increase the dose or add the
proglycem. He simply cannot eat while on his previous
dose of pediapred, even with lots of carafate.

I just thought this reaction would be of interest to
the list since I have heard that a sensitivity to
pediapred seems to be fairly uncommon, particularly
this reaction.
Best wishes to all
Melissa

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