From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-04-30 12:01:38 UTC
Subject: RE: Seizure recovery-advice needed
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3337447.1051704098141.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Dear Christine:
Sure - he can recover, be stable, and get surgery - he will need to be supplemented with dextrose during this period. However, let's not put this off too long - if his glucose is low enough to cause this serious a seizure, he may be pumping out lots of insulin, and he would be at a higher risk level for post-surgical diabetes.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> My ferret Willie is about 7 and has been medically treated with pred
> successfully for some time now (his current dose is 0.4ml of 5mg/5ml Pred
> twice daily). There have only been a few low glucose episodes with quick
> recovery. Last night at feeding time, we found him stiffening and
> salivating under the couch. Dextrose seemed to help a little, and I kept
> feeding him and giving him small doses of Pred throughout the night. About
> 7 this morning, he went into periodic screaming seizures. At the vet
> (where I work) we have been giving him Valium as needed and he is on a slow
> 5% Dextrose drip. The only time he started to normalize was for a short
> time this afternoon. He ate and drank willingly.
> It is so heart wrenching to see him like this. I know he's not in pain,
> but that doesn't make it much easier. My question is, have many people had
> ferrets recover from this level of seizuring?? I realize that surgery is
> the recommendation, but he needs to become stable first. Any advice would
> be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Christine & Willie