From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2002-04-05 00:39:00 UTC
Subject: fighting medication
I have a problem that I am sure a few of you are
well used to.
My ferret, Snowy, had bilateral adrenalectomy 2 months
ago, since then he is on twice a day prednisone, and
percoten injections monthly. He may be needing the
Percoten every 3 weeks, since he went downhill today
and it is exactly 4 weeks, he was slowing down for the
past 2-3days.
The problem is he hates his prednisilone ( it is
the pediapred 5mg/5ml), he was taking
it begrudgingly up until a week ago. He will gag and paw
at his mouth and foam- he does this for a few minutes
and won't take anything until he is done getting it all out.
I doubt any gets in - he is only on 0.2ml twice daily,
I increase it a little hoping some gets in and
I try to do a ferretone before and after but he won't
take it at all until he gets the prednisilone out of his
mouth. He did the same thing with Amoxil, and
any other meds he has had to take over the year
I have him. I know he won't take prelone- it
is much worse tasting even though I can
give a lot less.
Can anyone suggest what else I can do?
Is is easier to get a notoriously bad medicine taker
to take a pill crushed and mixed with ferretone-
or compounding the med, or a shot of dexamethasone
as a last alternative to the oral meds?
Any chance he doesn't need it? I am sure this is wishful
thinking since the Percoten is definitely needed, and
his sodium:potassium ratio was on the low side last checked-
the cortisol level was never done since the vet couldn't
get enough blood from the neck vein, under anesthesia-
I don't want to put him through more tests unless absolutely
necessary.
Thanks,
Patty
ps. Anyone get oraped and find it more palatable?
He won't take baby food or chicken gravy unless
very ill, he will do the same thing rub face on carpet,
paw at mouth,etc. He does like ferretvite, and ferretone
if not mixed with meds.
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