Message Number: YG9724 | New FHL Archives Search
From: - Z -
Date: 2002-01-02 11:46:00 UTC
Subject: Very sick, weak and anaemic ferret, please help

From: "ferretlove_uk" <ferretlove@n...>

>My friend's ferret is very sick. Vicky was diagnosed with insulinoma about
>3-4 months ago, she eats chicken so her blood sugars were controlled with
>the food. ... Vicky's stools are black and there was lots of blood in the
>toilet. The vets where my friend lives are useless so I told her to bring
>Vicky here and we'd go to my vets who always have an emergency vet on.
>Vicky had stopped eating, my friend tried everything but any solid food and
>Vicky would vomit it back up, even the chicken that I did...

Hi Ulrike,

This sounds a lot like an ulcer--I'm not a vet, but I had an experience with
a ferret with insulinoma who developed an ulcer fairly suddenly this fall.
The symptoms were very similar to what you describe, and the bloody stools
are a big sign of ulcers. Ulcers are doubly hard on a ferret with
insulinoma, because it's harder for them to go without food than for
healthier ferrets. Vicky may need an I.V. line to give her fluids (the
white gums are a sign of dehydration) and nutrients to give her body a
boost. That is what saved Amelia, although she was on an I.V. for five or
six scary days before she could stabilize on her own. Starting insulinoma
medications might be a good idea now too, because Vicky's body will need all
the help it can get regulating her blood sugar. I hope things are going
better today for her, my thoughts are with you...

Regina

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