From:
Hippo2b@aol.com
Date: 2003-02-19 16:06:56 UTC
Subject: Hunger Strike
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7b.a8fec1d.2b8505a0@aol.com>
Hello;
I have a 2 1/2 year old cream male named Squeak who since Sunday has refused
to eat his regular food. Sunday morning he vomited, he seemed ok right
afterward, the vomit was brown and very stinky but not odd looking. Sunday
he slepted most of the day only drinking a little and licking a little
ferevite and a minimal amount of baby food. Sunday evening we had a hard
time waking him up and decided he was too dehydrated and took him to the
Emergency Vet. They game him Sub-Q fluids and took an X-ray to see if he had
a blockage. They didn't find anything on the X-ray except an empty stomach
and some gas in the small intestine. They game me some Neopectolin for him
at.5cc 3xs per day. He was very perky at the vets as well as on the ride
home.
Monday he woke up very perky and wanted out of the sick cage. He ran around
with everyone else and drank a good bit of water from his favorite spots
(cats water and bath faucet) He voluntarily went into the main cage and ate a
small amount of kibble. I assumed we were out of the woods. He had a great
time running around and looked very bright and alert. His poops were very
runny and green. I have been trying to feed him Dyne, baby food, ferevite and
pedialite in what ever mix he will eat. He will eat about 1/2 a tsp. full of
ferevite with a small dab of cream in it. But its not enough. No vomiting
even with the meds which he hates. He will also eat treats out of my hand.
Tuesday morning no change, he ran around a bit with everyone (he's kept in a
sick cage otherwise) drank water and ate 2 treats with everyone else. He has
not touched his kibble since Monday morning. The Emergency Vet said to feed
him baby food for the bland effect but he stopped liking that Monday. So
back to Ferevite with cream, he ate the usual amount and still has green poo.
Made an apt. with the a new vet because ours is out of town. He took blood,
pushed on his tummy checked his mouth for sores and gave his a shot of
vitamins and a small amount of antibiotics.
He said his tummy is not terribly sore and his blood test came back with
nothing alarming. His red blood cell count was low and his glucose was a
little high but that was it. He didn't prescribe antibiotics because he
wasn't sure that was the problem and they can cause more diarrhea. He said
to give him 1cc. of Pepto Bismol if he didn't eat by evening. We haven't
totally ruled out a blockage but he said its unusual he's pooping and not
vomiting more. He doesn't paw at this mouth or look in any pain, I know it
could be a partial blockage also. I gave him some petramalt to help move
stuff along. He was hoping the shot would stimulate him to eat but he wasn't
any different that night or this morning. He has lost almost a pound and his
little ribs are poking out.
I have been trying any combination of foods. Dyne, ferevite, babyfood, cream,
whatever combination he will eat, but its hard to keep his attention. He will
eat about 5 finger full of ferevite with cream but that's it. I gave him the
pepto Bismol and that was like killing him he squealed and fought me I only
got .7 cc down him. I don't know what else to do I just want him to eat. He
seems rather normal in every other way, not super spunky but he's not eaten
enough to be his usual spaz. He runs around climbs and drinks but he will
not eat his regular food, I even tried grinding it up and adding stuff to see
if he would eat it, nope. He still has runny green poop and last night had
seedy yellow poop, don't know if that's an improvement or not.
Background info, we have 4 ferrets and a cat, they are all healthy and we
have had 2 since they were little and the other two we adopted last year from
a shelter. The cat is healthy and none of the animals go outside. So far
none of the others have gotten sick or stopped eating.
If anyone has any ideas please e-mail me. I am new to the sick fuzzy thing so
even the simplest advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Kelly