From:
"Tanya"
Date: 2003-05-05 21:42:35 UTC
Subject: Loosing weight, can't find a diagnosis
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <00d301c3134f$3e3dfda0$5800a8c0@concentric.net>
Hi FHL -
It's me again - this time it's my roommates ferret, Radar. Radar is 5 y/o
deaf blaze. He has had no medical problems until recently. All parts of
his body are still intact with no obvious signs of adrenal or insulinoma (to
rule out two problems from the start).
Here is the symptoms and the drugs that he has been on.
For the past 8 weeks Radar has lost 13 ozs in weight despite 3-4 hourly duck
soup feedings by bottle. Feedings have included homemade duck soup
including pet tinic + dyne supplements, baby food, soaked kibble, A/D, K/D,
duck, pea and potato food and/or a mixture of all of the above. Whipping
cream was used but the diarrhea was really bad. He also gets pedialyte and
water + sub q's as needed. He basically will not eat on his own and has to
be bottle fed - some times he's very willing and other times he has to be
scruffed.
He has been on Clavamox, Amoxy, Flagy, Pediapred, Potassium + benebac,
carafate, albon, pepto-bismol, pepcid/tagamet, baytril.
He has been treated as if he has IBD, colitis, enteritis and heliobacter.
Abdominal ultrasound was negative. Blood panel was essentially normal except
for a few elevate levels attributed to dehydration. Xray was negative
except for gas in the bowel. No bloody stools and occasional tooth grinding
when being fed. He's had some good days with good poop (meaning mushy
formed) but mostly bad days of diarrhea. He is rail thin, but his coat is
stays thick and shiny. Some days he appears alert and interested in his
surroundings, but mostly he sleeps the day away. He still fights to take
the meds and will scrap at the cage door when being transported to the vet.
Has anyone had this experience with a ferret and what was the outcome? How
long can a ferret survive under the conditions that Radar has been under?
Most importantly what can we do to keep him hydrated and get some weight on
him? Any other ideas on what he has or what type of tests to run that may
help diagnosis his problem? Lastly, how long can Pedialyte be given and in
what amounts? We noticed when he drank 2 ozs of straight pedialyte the
diarrhea came back after producing some mushy style poops (seemed like a set
back). Is pedialyte the best to give for dehydration? Radar goes back to
the vet tomorrow - who also by the way is stumped on why the diarrhea
continues. Any and all suggestions are welcome and needed. Melissa lost a
8.5 y/o in Feb, as you know I just lost Harry and my 6 y/o boy Max in March
due to heart disease. I don't think we could handle another death in our
family right now.
Thanks again.
Tanya in CA