From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2002-08-18 22:09:27 UTC
Subject: RE: Is 48 hours too long to fast?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <11584165.1029708567995.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Let's be careful to not assume the worst right off.
It turns out that what existed was a phone answering machine message which was not too clear and due to scheduling problems things couldn't be clarified. As a result there could be confusion on the part of the receptionist, the recording may have been poor, or the connection may have been poor.
Now and then a ferret will need an unusually long fast. By long I mean a fast of over 8 hours. Scooter has a stomach problem that causes him to hold food in there extremely long and he is someone who needs a very long fast. Last time, if my memory serves, we settled on 10 hours and he needed every bit of that and could even have used 12, to be honest. Most ferrets, though, do wonderfully with about 4 hours. Some ferrets can't safely have above that level due to blood sugar problems.
Until we know the source of the confusion and talks occur we should not assume the worst or ramp this thing up to a level that may be unwarranted. We still don't even know if someone may have said "4 to 8" and had either the receptionist or ferret-mom hear "48" accidently.
We don't know what records the other vet may have passed along, what pre-surgical testing the vet feels may be needed to be safest for the ferret, or many other critical pieces of info. The vet may want to do an ultrasound to check the heart or -- if male -- the prostate presurgically. The vet may want to rule out a possibility of insulinoma with a fasting test or have hints of early insulinoma so that while in the vet would know to be extra careful to look for any tiny tumors if needed.
Too many pieces are missing to assume anything beyond a verbal misunderstanding at this point.