From:
Melissa Litwicki
Date: 2003-08-18 03:17:56 UTC
Subject: Puff very ill; not sure what's wrong
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Pine.BSO.4.51.0308172243510.19239@naughty.monkey.org>
Hello,
For about the past week, my 7.5yo female Puff's general health has been
declining - first as a lessening of appetite and then lethargy, lip
smacking/teeth grinding, and lack of energy. Her last bloodwork in July
showed slightly elevated levels associated with kidney problems, so I
moved her to a lower protein dry food at that time. She had a splenectomy
and insulinoma surgery almost a year ago, but her blood glucose levels
were normal in July. Since Wednesday, I have been hand-feeding her a mix
of meat baby foods and canned cat food, since she was showing no interest
in eating on her own. She has been taking this avidly, although she did
vomit two or three times. Today, I took her to the vet, where they gave
her 20ml of subq fluids and gave me amoxi and carafate to take home.
However, she is no longer eating at all, and vigorously fighting me when I
attempt to feed her or give her fluids. Her stool are of normal size and
color; her urination has been regular. She's obviously in pain, and the
smell of food makes her retch at first. Scruffing her even lightly causes
her to retch. As soon as she stands up and takes a few steps anywhere, she
slumps back down and usually just lies there, grinding her teeth, until
moved elsewhere.
The vet said her nodes were not obviously swollen, and her temperature was
not high. She didn't feel anything significant in her abdomen, and said
she was slightly dehydrated.
Our various thoughts include a sudden worsening of her kidneys into kidney
disease, a sore throat infection that's been going around, or possibly
ulcer. Obstruction was not ruled out, but the chances of it being due to
her having eaten something unnatural is highly uncharacteristic.
Any ideas? I am going to take her back to the vet tomorrow for bloodwork
and xrays, although I will also be asking what they can give her for pain.
Thanks,
Melissa