From:
teresa@mivox.com
Date: 2003-04-14 02:10:51 UTC
Subject: RE: Stomach ulcers
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <30485672.1050286251223.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Author wrote:
> I am new, it is about my chickasaw, she may have stomach
> ulcers, can anybody help me with what to do?
Well, first off giving her Pepto-Bismol until you can get her to a vet to be looked at may help her eat better for now. My vet recommended 1ml of Pepto twice a day for my Zan, but they really hate the flavor, so I think he probably only swallowed about .7ml of each dose. ;-)
Be warned: wear a ratty old sweatshirt or an apron when you give it to her. Zan would froth at the mouth, and then shake his head & splatter little pink dots all over me, the top of the cage where I gave it to him, and the wall behind him.
In his case, we believe the ulcers were caused by a helicobacter infection, and Dr. Williams has recommended a 4-6 week run of amoxicillin, metronidazole and Pepto to combat it, but ferrets really hate both the Pepto and the metronidazole.
I've heard that amox., Biaxin and Carafate are easier on the ferret, but never had the chance to try that protocol on Zan.
I don't think there's any harm that would be done by getting her started on an antibiotic regimen for 4-6 weeks... but harm *can* be done by waiting too long, or not keeping her on antibiotics long enough if helicobacter is her problem. If they're stress-related ulcers AFAIK, the Pepto or Carafate will help them heal, and the antibiotics won't hurt.
Teresa
(who is not a vet, but really doesn't want to see anyone else's ferret go the same way her Zan did with his ulcers)