From:
"Dan Muldoon"
Date: 2003-03-18 21:53:28 UTC
Subject: Malabsorption?
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <006b01c2ed98$cfafebe0$269a8693@URD0020647421>
My boy Foster had lost his appetite after adrenal surgery and I had to
supplement him with A-D/baby food mix. He lost nearly a pound. Now his
appetite seems to be OK but he has not gained weight back (if anything, he's
lost more). Unfortunately I haven't access to a suitable scale. I'll be taking
him in a few days to get his rabies shot so I'll have another weight figure
soon. Intermittently he has runny, strong-smelling, olive-drab colored poop
(NOT "slimy" or "bird-seedy", more like thin pudding). Other times his poop is
soft but otherwise normal. No blood or "coffee grounds" either. His diet is
mostly kibble (mix Totally Ferret, Marshals, Eukanuba chicken/rice cat like
the others eat) plus chicken baby food (12 mL 2-3x/day). He's been getting 0.1
cc Pediapred in about 1/2 teaspoon of heavy whipping cream. Could he have
developed malabsorption?
Also, at times he shows discomfort when eating and drinking. It looks like
he's gotten something really nasty tasting and he smacks his mouth and shakes
his head. It isn't all the time. Vet hasn't found any signs of mouth
infections, sores, etc. He's going back to the vet on Saturday. I'd be
grateful for any suggestions.
Dan