From:
Kym Barone
Date: 2002-06-03 15:35:00 UTC
Subject: Bloody behind... hemorrhoids??
Hi all,
I have a sick ferret named Patches. She is approximately 4 1/2
years old. Symptoms of the illness included weight loss,
lethargy, general wasting, diarrhea - both 'normal' and at one
point, black and tarry. Loss of interest in food, dehydration,
etc. Vet diagnosis was bacterial/viral enteritis and
prescribed Clavamox and carafate twice daily as well as sub-q
fluids. Incidentally I have a 2nd ferret around the same age
with the same symptoms, diagnosed with the same problem,
prescribed the same treatment. He is doing better, Patches is
not recovering as quickly.
For the past day, when she poops, her behind swells and
becomes blood-red to the point that it looks like it is wet
with blood, but when I touched it with a paper towel, no blood
appeared. It is causing her a great deal of discomfort. Is
this just hemorrhoids, and if so, will they heal on their own,
and is this related to her tummy bug?? Should I be treating
the problem with something other than the clavamox? Can I use
something like Preparation-H on it to help with the
discomfort?
She is voluntarily eating an AD/Stat/Ferretone duck soup mix,
and her most recent poops are looking a tiny bit better (we
had a nice green liquid one and then most recently a mostly
brown, seedy, very slightly formed one - definitely better
than the black tarry ones). So I *think* she's at least
moving in the right direction.... I'm still extremely worried
about her, but I'm optimistic.
Any thoughts/suggestions would be most greatly appreciated.
Kym
Ferret Mommy to 20
L'il Grunt, Kerplunk, Mookie, Mikayla, Marty, Tanglefoot,
Tumbleweed, Corky, Tequila Sunrise, Squirt, Piggly Wiggly,
Trouble Too, Muse, Patchwork Princess, Boo, Homer, Connie,
Bonnie, Sallie, and Tangerine Twist
Meet the kids: http://www.ferretmommy.com