From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-06-28 17:23:00 UTC
Subject: Re: post-op worries
>Looking at his 4 inch scar
> terrifies me - such a little body, such a big incision.
Yes, but a large incision is not unusual for abdominal surgery for anyone.
> imagining the sutures opening
He'll have internal stitiching, too, but do watch because some few ferrets do
pull their own stitches or the stitches of others. It is one reason to keep them
separated post-op for a few days to two weeks (depending on ferret and
procedure), and to monitor the stitiching each day. If they start to be removed
then the stitiching needs to be glued.
Sevie (Yes, the one who just had surgery and has the heart problem) lulled
out most of her own stitiches withher first surgery. With her second they were
also glued on top and she got out maybe two but not till the tissue underneath
had healed enough.
> terrible amount of pain.
Judge that form his behavior.
> I am worried about picking him up and even
> worried about him running or climbing to the top floor of his cage.
Ouch! He should not run and he should not climb. Simply should not for at
least a week to ten days. Some do so without problems but some die post-
surgically and when the folks are asked there often was a lot of activity while
the wound was fresh.
In addition he should have an extra clean form of bathroom: newspapers or
newspaper litter like Yesterday's News in a smooth lipped litter pot that has a
low entry -- no scraping. Other litters are too dirty at this time.
We usually barricade a bathroom door and give them a bathroom for
themselves at this time, but also have a safe sick cage.
> am trying to keep his activity level down and only let him around the
> other ferrets while supervised because he is a notorious rough
Good! that is right if you are keeping the activity level down enough.
> isn't showing signs of pain at all and seems his normal self with no
> signs of swelling or infection. His abdomen is a bit bruised though
> but I suppose that is normal.
Good! Sounds normal.