From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2002-06-02 08:14:00 UTC
Subject: prostate infection
Your vet should be able to show you where to palpate the
bladder and express it. I think it is something that needs to be
demonstrated, but if anyone on this list is good at explaining
via words only, maybe they will be able to tell you how to help him
empty.
The prostate can not be felt on a ferret, in circumstances where
it is cystic or very big maybe? but in humans it is something only
felt on rectal exam- not sure about ferrets. An ultrasound may be able
to show the prostate if enlarged. An x-ray may show stones if they are
suspected
cause of urination problem, and not the prostate.
The most important thing here is to look for the cause, almost
always a prostate infection and trouble urinating in a ferret
is from adrenal disease ( can be stones, maybe) There is a good site
www.ferretdoctor.com or www.bradleyhills.com to look
into info on adrenal disease, as well as many good posts in the FHL
archives.
Prostate infections need weeks of antibiotics, much longer course
than an urine infection, so don't stop the meds too soon, even
when he is better- continue for up to a month or longer depending
on what your vet says. The best way to know if you are on the right
antibiotic is from a culture of the urine, so if your vet sent a culture,
you should know what organism is causing the infection and the best
antibiotic to treat it. In the meantime the antibiotic you are giving him
is the right one- sometimes cultures are not done, so if he isn't
responding
to the antibiotic as expected it is time to go back and get more tests.
If he can't urinate at all, or only very small amounts it could become
an emergency, so keep an eye out for that.
If you adopted from a shelter, let them know about his medical
problem, this could be expensive if adrenal disease.
Good luck,
Patty
ps. E-mail returned to me, undeliverable to that address.
On Sat, 01 Jun 2002 17:19:43 -0000 "eezilee_amuzed"
>
> My questions:
> How can I, a mere pet owner with no training, tell if a bladder is
> swollen or dangerously enlarged?
> As long as he is eating, drinking, acting fine, and urinating some,
> should he be alright until his follow up appointment?