From:
"sterling97"
Date: 2003-02-24 03:41:05 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Possible blockage and barium study questions
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000d01c2dbb6$8fdc3760$63542344@parads01.nm.comcast.net>
On Tue, 18 Feb 2003, sterling97 wrote:
>Can barium "highlight" or outline anything in the stomach that *isn't* a f=
oreign object or a hairball?...
>...I was told to fast her for 24hrs and come back the next day for more x-=
rays. =
Hi All,
Thanks to everyone who replied on and off list. I knew better than to fast =
her for 24hrs (and didn't), but did not want to interfere with a potential =
diagnosis. After all, I am not a vet and sometimes there are exceptions (th=
ough probably not 24hrs worth). I asked several times but was assured (not)=
that her liver was big enough to sustain her. That just didn't sound right=
to me. And, yes, it was the vet who repeatedly said "24hrs". I fed her sev=
eral hours before the last radiograph, too, which still showed something, o=
nly less pronounced by then. He said it's in the pyloric region and that it=
won't hurt to leave it there, but recommended exploratory and biopsies to =
see what's going on. I asked about infection and he said not to worry, that=
it won't happen. =
I am very diligent when it comes to ferret-proofing, but know it would be e=
xtremely foolish to think she couldn't find or get into anything. She still=
has an appetite and seems to be doing okay with the exception of still bei=
ng bloated. I will be in touch with her regular vet and will keep a close e=
ye on her and hope that something else plays into this. Something less seri=
ous that doesn't require surgery. Something I fear, because of an extremely=
terrible experience involving my first ferret. I understand that I need to=
"get over it", but it's much easier said than done. =
Update: She passed a very small piece of semi-soft plastic so maybe that's =
all that was in there. I'll see how things go and will probably get one mor=
e barium x-ray. Today she was less interested in her soup so I started givi=
ng Carafate and am hoping it makes a difference. I guess the stress from se=
eing a new doctor, so many x-rays, and passing a foreign body may have take=
n its toll.
Thanks again.
Sonya
End of ferrethealth Digest
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