From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2002-10-02 01:21:45 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Arthritis in older ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.44+UNC.0210012109330.54042-100000@login2.isis.unc.edu>
On Wed, 2 Oct 2002 Turkpot77@aol.com wrote:
> Does anyone have any information on types of meds you can give a ferret
> for arthritis besides glucosamine? ... Something that is easier to
> give and in a smaller dose than the 7.5mL.
Wow, yeah, that's A LOT of volume to give. Makes me wonder what the
desired dose was...
My vet once prescribed a thing called Cosequin for one of my ferrets.
It's a veterinary glucosamine/chondroitin compound. It was in the form of
capsules filled with powder. I would give my ferret one half of the
powder in one of these capsules once or twice a day - I mixed it with
chicken baby food and she didn't even know it was in there. She was on a
lot of meds and they all went in there and escaped detection. Cosequin is
pretty expensive, and there are lots of similar compounds available at
health food stores or in pet catalogs. Many claim a special "twist" or
additional compound (for Cosequin, one of those is the inclusion of
manganese) that makes the product special. You'd need to work with your
vet to figure out, in milligrams, the desired dose, and work it out from
there. Web page about Cosequin:
http://ww.nutramaxlabs.com/veterinary/cosequincat.htm
There is also a thing called Adequan. It is an injectable product that
your vet can give; it works in a similar way. If oral meds are too hard
to get down, it may be an option. My memory is fading, but I think it is
given like weekly or so for several weeks to see if it is going to help
and then maybe the dose is dropped or it is given less often. It would be
in the product info if it is to be tried...
Hope that helps...
Best wishes,
-Pam S.