From:
deevecchione
Date: 2002-02-17 13:47:00 UTC
Subject: Re: VET RESPONSE PLEASE-Ferret: diaherra, mucus in poop,
sometimes blood, nauseas, doesn't want to eat, gagging on medicine
Hi Lynn,
I'm sorry to hear of your sick little guy. I would say IBD could be a
definite possibility here. The only way to know for sure is with
surgical biopsies of various organs, including the intestines,
stomach, liver, lymph nodes, etc. Dr. Burgess has an excellent
article on IBD in the "files" link. He also does offer phone
consultations with treating vets for only about $20.00.
He definitely sounds nauseous. I think Reglan<sp?> is used for that.
The fact that he needs to go right after eating is suggestive of
colitis. You didn't mention his age. If he is a young ferret it could
be proliferative bowel disease. If older, IBD. He should be getting
prednisone to control the inflammation. There are injectable forms. I
would ask your vet. I was using injectable Dexamethasone. My little
guy was impossible to get a pill into.
I would definitely consider switching to a hypo-allergenic food like
Science Diet Z/D. If he won't eat that, then a "novel" protein like
Duck and Green pea, or Rabbit and Green pea. Both of these are made
by Innovative Veterinary Diets.
Read the article by Dr. Burgess and take the info to your vet.
In the end, you may never get this thing under control. I was never
able to. I battled it for over a year, tried all the protocols,
including Imuran. IBD has horrible systemic effects and can take a
real toll on the organs, including the kidneys, liver, etc, has even
been linked to lympho. Make sure you have a full blood chem done.
Renal failure can cause nausea, inappetance, diarrhea. He'll need to
be kept hydrated. Make sure he has access to Pedialyte or similar.
My BJ was given sub-q fluids every day for months. We lost him anyway.
He began to bleed from the rectum...almost like a menstrual period.
Dr. Williams said ferrets will bleed like that from shock and when
they are near death. His body gave up...and it was his time. I only
wish I had known before I put him through a blood transfusion. All we
can do is our best by them, so don't give up. Try everything and then
at least you'll have the clear conscience of knowing you did all you
could, even if it doesn't have a happy ending.
Best of luck,
Dee