From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2002-12-11 02:27:11 UTC
Subject: RE: Chomping noises- Dr. Williams can you respond too...
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <33224864.1039573631938.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Dear Christina:
There has been a lot of spot-on good advice already doled out that I agree with. Long-term prednisone will result in a definite pear shpe from accumulation of fat in the mesentery, coupled with some muscle wasting. This is very common, and its really nt due to appetite increases. I am assuming that the pred is for the low glucose. Surgery probably would have been a better option earlier on, but that's water under the bridge.
Foul odor in the mouth is most commonly the result of periodontal disease (I must say that I am surprised after a year on prednisone and nothing but baby food that they aren't in bad shape.) An off odor in the mouth can be present in animals with terminal renal disease, so I would wonder what the last blood test showed in that case. Chomping immediately after waking up doesn't sound so much like ulcers but just discomfort in the mouth. (I really would love to see what those teeth look like...)
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> Hi Everybody,
> Hope all is well and everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season!!!
> This question is for anyone that can help, also Dr. Williams if your there
> can you respond too.
> My question is regarding my oldest guy, Bandit, his symptoms puzzle me and I
> wonder if the vet is overlooking something. Just a brief recap, Bandit is
> about 5 or 6 could even be older, he's as the vet puts it obese, weighing 4.2
> lbs. The vet did an x-ray of his abdomen because it is quite large and drags
> on the floor when he walks, the vet says it's fat in there, and that Bandit
> needs to loose weight because the fat is pressing on his organs and he's
> uncomfortable and that's why he probably whimpers when you pick him up or
> when he moves around. Bandit has been on pred now for over a year (was .50
> and raised it to 1.00 1x aday) the vet says the pred increases the appetite
> and I should switch to the proglycem?? or see if I could cut back on the pred
> slightly without his sugar dropping. It seems strange to me Bandit's blood
> sugar is between (65 & 70) and the vet says that's fine, this has been his
> average blood sugar for a while now. Anyway, Bandit always chomp his little
> mouth when he wakes up and his breath is fowl- so someone suggested it might
> be ulcers and that could be contributing to the low blood sugar..so I started
> giving him 1.00 of carafate 3x a day 30 minutes before each meal. I have not
> noticed a difference in his breath or the chomping but his stools are more
> formed and look more normal. I feed Bandit a combination of soup and
> babyfood 3x a day- I thought maybe his gums might be bad but the vet said
> there okay. I'm really at my witts end and don't know what to do, can anyone
> tell me about this chomping and bad breath and what it could be a symptom
> of?? Also the vet said it's very important that Bandit drink water by itself
> to reduce the water in his food to entice him to drink. But he won't drink, I
> tried many suggestions, the linetone in the water, a water bottle instead of
> dish, nothing works, he's blind now due to the cataracts and I don't know but
> since then he never drinks.
> Please Help,
> Christina