From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2003-06-03 00:39:33 UTC
Subject: Re: Skin Issues
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <73045.1054585917176.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Okay, these things may help you.
First off stop the laxative but do it gradually. Daily use of a laxative can create problems, and it's not really a good idea when diarrhea is present.
Secondly, instead of risking aspiration pneumonia go to a safer feeding method than syringe feeding. These methods do take time and a towel on one's lap is very useful as is soft talking or singing. Try finger feeding or spoon feeding. If those don't work and there absolutely needs to be some more inflicted method there are "droppers" with accordion tops called "Dr. Clown Spoon Droppers" which provide good control to prevent inhalation of food, or sometimes a small bottle with the tip cut off provides good control. Regular plunger syringes are terrible for control.
Third, for a while try a gentler food only. At Dr. Williams' site this will help you:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/babyfood.html
Fourth, get fecal checks. I am concerned that you may be dealing with more than ECE there, not sure, of course, but it is possible.
Fifth, Be extra careful about hydration. Sub-cu hydrations if very useful and if things get bad have the vet do a small cut-down and place an IV (a two person job in a ferret since one holds it in place while the other operates the slide).
To: "FerretHeathList" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>,
<phie@home.se>
From: "katharine" <katharine@nettally.com>
Message-ID: <004601c32968$9c1475b0$0c102cc7@D1CW2811>
Sophie wrote:
>Between some of his paw pads, he gets something that can only be descibed =
as black crust. His skin looks fine everywhere except for underneath his lo=
wer jaw and his paws, where I can see his skin having some kind of brownish=
-blackish hue. It looks like he's got "black heads" if I'm allowed to use h=
uman terms. He itches himself rather violently at times, causing him to br=
eak his own skin on the bottom jaw. >
Just a wild thought...possibly an allergy to his food dish? Are you using =
plastic food bowls? I've read on other lists, dealing with other pets, abo=
ut allergies resulting from plastic food dishes. They mostly show up on th=
e chin. I was thinking the paws could be affected also because they someti=
mes place their paws on their food bowls while eating.
Katharine