From:
"Dan Muldoon"
Date: 2003-04-11 16:49:24 UTC
Subject: Eating difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <0a5501c3004a$4ee890b0$269a8693@URD0020647421>
Foster had adrenal surgery at the end of January and he still isn't back to
eating regular food. He lost nearly a pound but has gained some of it back
(from 1.8 to 2.2 lb.) after I started syringe-feeding him baby food. The boy
doesn't play as much as the others but has become more active simultaneously
with the weight recovery. He takes in two jars/day of chicken baby food from a
spoon, although some of that requires "encouragement" by scruffing him and
holding the spoon in front of his nose.
The trouble is, sometimes he won't take any without being scruffed first, and
he'll cough it back up within a minute after getting some (even just one
spoonful). If he doesn't vomit it up within a minute, the food stays "down."
I've ruled out the possibility that he's already eaten and is full. These
episodes happen about 2 or 3 times a week. Also, I've observed him making a
smacking motion with his mouth and shaking his head when eating and drinking .
This seems independent of what he's ingesting and even happens when he drinks
water or takes a ferret treat, or his Amoxi-drops, which he seems to relish
(the bubble-gum aroma will wake him from a sound sleep). It looks like he's
gotten something really nasty tasting or like something is irritating him in
the back of the throat. This doesn't happen all the time and that makes it
hard to demonstrate for the vet, who hasn't found any signs of mouth
infections, sores, etc. No "coffee grounds" or black tarry stools.
His poop has generally been very loose although it became somewhat firmer and
more normal colored after my vet gave him Tylan. After the antibiotic course
was over his stools became more "muddy" (but not as bad as pre-Tylan). Now
he's on Amoxi-drops and his poops improved a little bit but are inconsistently
runny. He had similar troubles in his previous home but the stools quickly
returned to normal with Amoxi-drops. But then a few weeks later the loose
movements would be back again. On one occasion his poop was really loose and
reminded me of watermelon juice; one other time it was more yellow. These seem
to be isolated incidents.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Dan