From:
FerrerMomJC
Date: 2002-03-29 09:54:00 UTC
Subject: Really FAT Ferret
I had posted earlier but it apparently got cought up in Yahoo
never-never land.
We're not talking chubby here - we're talking a BIG, FIRM
balloon-like, can barely clear the floor or walk kind of belly.
I've had Hermie for over 4 years - he was a shelter ferret and
should be 6+ at this point. I thought it was winter weight - but
this is way above & beyond winter weight, and it's not going away.
I know x-rays don't show a lot - but we did them just in case -
no masses were seen or felt, no large pockets of air and it was my
ferret-knowledgeable vet's opinion that it really was simply fat.
I could switch him to Totally Ferret for couch potato ferrets, but
it would mean housing him apart from all the others.
This can't be healthy - he can hardly walk or get around - on a
tile floor, he looks like he's going nowhere real fast...back legs
just move & move but he only gets traction on the carpet! His
quality of life is pretty much limited to eating, going potty and
getting to a bed now.
When Hermie was taken from GCFA, he was on a med for liver
problems - I know that's not much help since I don't know what the
actual diagnosis was and I'm afraid it's been too many years for
me to recall which med it was, but after 1 1/2 years, I was told
his liver values were "fine" & we discontinued the meds. Same
with a 6 month recheck. I know, I know, I can hear you Dr. W,
saying specifics would be much more helpful!
I've been told liver, kidneys and heart are likely suspects -
what tests should I have done to best help the Hermster? Should
we "tap" this balloon to see if it's all fluid and if so, relieve
him of some of it?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Jerri Carel, Louisville KY
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