Message Number: YG9724 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: - Z -
Date: Wed Jan 2, 2002 11:46am
Subject: re: Very sick, weak and anaemic ferret, please help
From: "ferretlove_uk" <ferretlove@n...>
Subject: Very sick, weak and anaemic ferret, please help
>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
_________________________________________________________________
Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.