From:
znt1@cdc.gov
Date: 2003-05-01 20:12:31 UTC
Subject: Breathing(?) prob in ferret with other conditions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <826166.1051819951722.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My ferret Meiko has been making heavy breathing noises when she eats and sh=
e seems to be swallowing a lot even when she is lying still, almost a hiccu=
pping noise although she doesn=92t actually have the hiccups. It=92s not qu=
ite a cough either. She may have a cold but I=92m slightly concerned since =
she has several medical issues and is currently on several medications. I d=
on=92t believe she has anything caught in her throat as she hasn=92t eaten =
solid food in almost a month. She isn=92t interested in eating much at all =
and never had problems chewing or eating on things she shouldn=92t. She has=
actually been making the odd noises when she eats for awhile but the hiccu=
pping noise is new. She doesn=92t make the gurgling noise or the drain nois=
e like people who describe ferrets with megaspohagus.
A brief background history:
Diagnosed with adrenal / insulinoma in Fall 2002. Blood glucose levels were=
in the 45-55 range. Had surgery in Oct 2002, 1 adrenal gland removed and s=
everal tumors removed from pancreas. Blood glucose steady on pred and progl=
yceem around 65. No hair regrowth.
Early March 2003 found her collapsed on the floor with raging diarrhea, rus=
hed to the vet and was put on fluids, antibiotics and hospitalized overnigh=
t. Her blood glucose was 223. The vet told me they thought it was some sort=
of Corona virus. They gave me 10 days of Clavamox and Carafate for her in =
hopes of clearing up the diarrhea. This worked for approximately 1 month.
Late March 2003, received Lupron shot as it appeared her adrenal problems w=
ere back due to rapid hair loss and extreme itchiness. I had wanted to hold=
off on surgery as she was still recuperating from the earlier illness. =
Early April 2003 - The Lupron wasn=92t helping after 2-3 weeks and she was =
still experiencing extreme itchiness so we decided to go ahead and have the=
surgery. The vet removed the 2nd adrenal gland and found no evidence of re=
growth from the first removal. No further tumors found on her pancreas. We =
experienced another diarrhea bout and this time she was given Amoxicillin f=
or 10 days. She has stopped eating any solid food (no matter how much I hav=
e tried) and is receiving Bob Church=92s chicken gravy 4x per day.
Late April 2003 =96 Only 1 week after the amoxicillin was completed, the di=
arrhea returned. Now she is on Baytril for 10 days. In addition, the surger=
y does not appear to have helped her itching and her hair in not growing ba=
ck either. Often, there are reddish splotches on her skin, although that ma=
y be normal, just not usually seen. The vet suggested Benedryl 2x per day t=
o see if that helped. At the recent vet visit, her blood glucose was 37. Th=
is was even after just having had her morning chicken gravy. She has been o=
n the Baytril for 5 days and while the diarrhea is better, the poop still i=
sn=92t exactly solid, just more formed. She is still on the pred and the pr=
oglyceem although the vet has increased the dosage to combat her recent low=
reading.
My poor little girl has so much else going on, I don=92t know if this curre=
nt breathing / swallowing problem is something new or somehow related to he=
r other medical issues above / or possibly the meds she is on. My vet is ve=
ry responsive when they know the illness but it seems sometimes if they are=
not sure what is going on they just give up. She may have fluid in her lun=
gs or something going on with her heart and I=92d like to provide some diag=
nostic suggestions to determine what is going on. Any suggestions are appre=
ciated. Thanks
Christy
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