From:
ferretkrazi
Date: 2002-01-10 15:09:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Feeding tube help
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "critr36" <Critr36@h...> wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> I will not go into the whole history of how we reached this
> point, but I have had trouble with my 6 year old ferret Taz since
his
> bilateral adrenal sugery in early July. He has had several near
> death experiences to say the least.
Hi Susan, sorry to hear about Taz's trouble. Have you had his
sodium/potassium ratio checked? Ferrets who have had a bilateral
adrenalectomy should have their ratio checked about 3 weeks post-op.
The body still need the hormones produced by the adrenals. Without
enough tissue, the ferret may suffer from an Addisonian crisis. I've
been through it a few times and I think it's what cause a very near
death experience for my Tigger. Some symptoms I have seen are severe
lethargy, absolute refusal to eat and lack of interest in ANYTHING
but sleeping.
I would suggest that you run his ratio. Take the Sodium value and
divide by the Potassium value. If it is LOWER than 28, you should be
supplementing Taz with corticosteroids. Some vets use florinef, some
choose DOCP (Percorten), some use prednisone and some use a
combination of the pred and florinef/DOCP. From what I understand,
Florinef and DOCP are the same thing. Florinef is in tablet form and
is given once or twice a day and DOCP is injectible and given every 3
or 4 weeks.
I have 4 ferrets on DOCP injections for bilateral adrenalectomies.
As long as I am religious about them getting their shots every 3
weeks (I do it at home now), they are just fine. The dose that my
vet (a very ferret knowledgeable and helpful guy) prescribed was 0.2
ml of a 25 mg/ml dose Sub-Q. (I believe that is the correct
strength. The bottle is at home right now.) My vet has not felt it
necessary to use the pred in addition to the DOCP since they have
been doing well without it.
Since you're a vet tech, you may very well know all this stuff but
just never applied it to Taz. Maybe you've already thought to check
it and everything was normal. I just thought I'd mention it since
you hadn't written anything about it in your email. I hope it's
something as simple and as easy to regulate as this is and that it's
not anything more complicated for Taz's sake.
This is his last hope of feeling well. He is
> down from 2.6 pounds to 2.1 pounds in a matter of a week before the
> feeding tube.
I'm very sorry to hear he's lost weight. Maybe try just plain
chicken or turkey baby food. It might be bland enough for him to
stomach without getting sick, poor guy.
> Sorry to ramble, but you know how it goes when you are
emotional
> over your own animal. Sometimes easier to help someone else than
> yourself! :-)
Of course you're upset, anyone would be! I just hope we're able to
help you get to the bottom of it. *Please* keep us updated...
Sincerely,
Erin