From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-07-11 03:42:55 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] unexplainable weight loss
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20030710204255.7b3e9b92.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi, Jaki, and everyone else,
Has your vet ruled out chronic pancreatitis? Pertwee lost weight (from
1,394 grams all the way down to 802 grams) for no apparant reason and
with absolutely no other symptoms. Our vet started him on Viokase-V
mixed into Bob Church's chicken gravy after guessing that it could be
pancreatitis. Our vet said the Viokase wouldn't hurt him if it wasn't
pancreatitis but would help if it was. The blood test, unfortunately,
can't be done on ferrets because nobody knows what the normal values
would be, so it was a matter of trial and error.
Sure enough, with the pancreatic enzyme mixed into his food Pertwee
began to gain weight again. He's still on the thin side (around 1,100
grams), but healthy, happy and stable two years later.
HTH,
Caity