From:
Roger Vaughn
Date: 2002-01-01 19:15:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] More about Vicky
Severe anemia will cause all of the symptoms you describe - extreme
weakness, dizziness and lightheadedness (that's probably the "distant"
look you see), shortness of breath, etc. Her body isn't getting enough
oxygen, so it can't power itself, and her brain can suffocate a bit.
Severe anemia is very dangerous in ferrets - make sure you get her
looked at by the other vet as soon as possible. It sounds like (in my
lay opinion) that she might be in need of a transfusion to get past
this.
It most probably is ulcers. The other diseases mentioned can cause
ulceration of the stomach lining - in that case you will have to treat
the ulcers and the underlying disease. Until you get her to the vet,
keep feeding her a bland, liquid diet like you're using to avoid
irritating her stomach more.
The usual disclaimer applies - I am not a vet, take it for what it's
worth.
Best of luck -
Roger
Digger and Bear
>
>
>
> Vicky is very weak still, she tilts her head to the left and can't
> walk, she hasn't got much control over her body, twists her body,
> she almost appears to be brain damaged, her eyes, it's like she
> looks but isn't aware, I don't know how to put it. I've
> managed to feed her with the liquid cat diet from the vets, she had
> 10cc, then 15cc and then 10cc again, sort of every 2-3 hours.
> The only good thing is that she is eager to eat, I pull the syringe
> away and she stretches her body to reach it. But I have to
> support her whole body and head so she can eat. She peed in
> her bedding so obviously couldn't move to the toilet. I've
> never had an anaemic ferret and don't know what symptoms the
> anaemia can cause...
>
> Thanks to Patty and Charleen for their replies and suggesting
> ulcers, upper GI tract bleeding. I hope that whatever it is
> that she recovers soon...
>
> Ulrike
> and Jack, Bella, Mason, Baby, Dana, Fox, Reno, Rose, Jasmine, Hobo,
> Gremlin, Bobby and Willow
>
> Missing Angel, Hope, Igor, Barney, Tom, Spike and Jilly
>
> West Wales Ferret Welfare
> E-mail: ferretlove@n...
> http://www.ferretlove.co.uk
> Last update 01/12/01