From:
whiteweasel@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-05-02 16:20:04 UTC
Subject: re: bilateral adrenal
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3EB26274.30207.1F9DBAEB@localhost>
Hi, Tanya,
On 2 May 2003 at 0:43, tanya@screentechinc.com wrote:
> But since the surgery he has been "flat". Not back to his old self. Harry normally is my fert who stays awake for long periods of time just cruising around the house with no particular goals in mind. But he would normally stayed awake for hours. Since the surgery, he hardly has any energy
and (maybe) stays up for 30 minutes checking things out. The energy he does have is really "flat". I brought him back to the vet for a check up and he was given the DOCP shot which we will do again in 30 days. He is also on .1cc prednisone 1x a day. Next week he will be weaned at 1x per day,
every other day, for 7 days.
>
> He has lost interest in eating kibble.
Harry needs to go back to the vet NOW, not later. What you are describing are classic
Addisonian symptoms. His electrolytes are out of balance. Have your vet do blood
work and adjust his meds accordingly. Is he getting florinef (fludrocortisone) or
percotin? One of those dosages may need to be adjusted if he is, and if he isn't he
needs to start on them. Your vet can't tell what is needed without blood work. That is
the first step, not the second.
I am not a vet, and I generally don't give definitive answers, but I have been where you
are and if this is left untreated and if electrolytes get further out of balance it could lead
to a full blown Addisonian Crisis, which is life threatening. It is about the scariest thing
you can ever see as a ferret owner. You don't want Harry to go there. My Pertwee
almost died. Get him to the vet TODAY and get new electrolyte values.
Good luck to you and to Harry.
All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine
Caity and the non-stop nine