From:
wyvern1121@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-09-16 22:27:46 UTC
Subject: unexplained illness-help w/ diagnosis
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <32949693.1032215266210.JavaMail.root@scandium>
hey all,
I wrote in awhile back b/c my little guy, Spike, was not playing or eating and losing weight, he also had some slight protein abnormalities. He was eventually treated for heliocabactor and has been on pred ever since.
The problem is that whatever is ailing him is back. He's lost another 4 ounces. I'm trying to persuade him to eat some duck soup, but he wants nothing to do with it. I'll get him to eat with a syringe tonight, but I'd so rather he ate on his own. Spike doesn't even want to sleep near his cagemate, let alone play with her. He seems to protect his tummy when she is around. The vet saw him today and after feeling around his bowels, she said she could feel the liquid (he just started diahrrea yesterday) and gas inside him. His temp was normal, but she did opt to send his tools for cultures that we hadn't done before. Unfortunately, I can't remember what she told me.
My vet is looking for anything at this point. Before treating for heliocabactor, we did a million tests and everything comes back normal. He's had blood tests, been tested for insulinoma and ADV, stools have been through all sorts of cultures, he had biopsies done on his intestines, liver, stomach and quite possibly a few more organs that I can't remember.
I know that for an online diagnosis/consultation I need more specific info, but I dunno what exactly to get from my vet to help out here. Suggestions?
I'm even willing to go to a different vet to see if maybe a second opinion would help. The only problem is I live in LA, so finding a really knowledgeable and experienced ferret vet is tough. Thoughts?
Thanks all in advance!
End of ferrethealth Digest
***********************************