From:
mustelidmom
Date: 2002-06-23 23:15:00 UTC
Subject: Chocolate Moose watery stools
Chocolate Moose, my 5-year-old sable male ferret, gets watery stools
now and then and I can hardly go anywhere for a few days because my
ferret sitter gets worried and I can't ever be certain that he's over
it. It seems to come and go. Basically, the shape and color of his
stools usually look OK but they sometimes they're a little watery and
they get deposited within a dark puddle of fluid. He's also
apparently a little dehydrated -- pinched skin above his neck doesn't
snap back immediately. A few days ago, he wasn't eating much and
heaved up water -- we're assuming that's because he had a hairball.
After giving him some Laxatone, he felt much better and returned to
eating.
I did get some bloodwork done on him in early June for this problem
and also because he had lost 3-4 ounces that he hasn't regained. But
the blood values seemed OK except for SGPT (430) and alkaline
phosphatase (56), both of which were higher than normal, according to
X Diagnostics. His glucose was 87 at the time and when I had it
checked again at the vet, it seemed within normal range. He hasn't
been losing fur or attacking his brother such that I might suspect
his other adrenal is diseased (he had his left adrenal removed a
little over a year ago). I don't feel any lumps that would suggest
lymphoma.
So I'm wondering, what's the matter? Should I assume at this point
that he probably has helicobacter and if so, what is the preferred
diagnostic testing and/or treatment?
Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Linda and Chocolate Moose