From:
"sterling97"
Date: 2003-02-19 03:56:42 UTC
Subject: Possible blockage and barium study questions
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000b01c2d7ca$ea6ef0e0$63542344@parads01.nm.comcast.net>
Hi everyone,
Can barium "highlight" or outline anything in the stomach that *isn't* a f=
oreign object or a hairball? In other words, can something that belongs in =
the stomach be inflamed or enlarged and be "highlighted"?
My ferret had a few consecutive bouts of projectile vomiting last Friday af=
ternoon. Nothing besides undigested food resulted. She was a bit tired afte=
rward, but has had an appetite ever since. Her spleen has been up and down =
and her stomach has been bloated to varying degrees ever since. I immediate=
ly stopped all kibble and have been feeding small amounts of soup. I gave c=
at laxative for two days and started her on Infant Simethicone Saturday aft=
ernoon. =
I am not comfortable taking her to the emergency clinic here (unless it wer=
e an emergency and I couldn't get/keep control of the situation). Her regul=
ar vet is out of town but I found one that seems to know a little about fer=
rets. Nothing palpable in the abdomen. X-ray showed a bit of gas and someth=
ing else, which could have been food. I was told to fast her for 24hrs and =
come back the next day for more x-rays. I decided to only fast her for 9 hr=
s and gave a bit of Ferretvite dissolved in Pedialyte 3hrs prior to the x-r=
ays. The barium moved from the stomach to the intestines and colon in a nor=
mal period of time but something was outlined in the stomach. I don't have =
a clue what it might be, and can't say with 100% certainty that it isn't a =
foreign object. There is also a small spot that is slightly "highlighted", =
but the vet isn't concerned about it. I'm thinking it could be a loose (pli=
able, not solid) hairball? The vet wants me to continue to fast her until 8=
AM tomorrow morning, when another x-ray will be taken.
So, should I have fasted her for 24hrs and continue to until 8AM tomorrow m=
orning? And, what could be going on in there besides a foreign object or a =
hairball? The reason I did *not* fast her for 24hrs is because I've never h=
eard of or been told to do that with a ferret before, and because I just do=
n't think it's safe. I hope I didn't make a mistake by not doing what I was=
told.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
Sonya