From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-08-29 21:17:27 UTC
Subject: RE: Ferret aspirating- Please Help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7901909.1062191847135.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Christina,
You don't mention how old Bandit is. It is possible you are dealing with two health issues. The first, could be low bg and the second, cardiomyopathy; both can produce seizures.
If Bandit has low blood sugar, you will need to get him on Pediapred, or something to boost and stabilize his blood sugar. I did not see where you mentioned his being on Pred.
The second sounds to me like a heart related problem. I have had ferrets with heart problems that had fluid build up in the lung/chest area, that had a wet, gurgling sound in the chest/throat area. (their breathing sounded wet, and one even had fluid 'spit' from her nostrils when she breathed.)
They also breathe abdominally. You won't really see their ribcage expand, although it appears to remain expanded all the time; all the breathing takes place from their abdomen, and appears exaggerated and labored.
Your vet should be able to determine if he has fluids in his chest or lungs, and if so, can prescribe lasix to help push the fluids out. (among other heart meds if appropriate)
When Mr. Molly died from dilative cardiomyopathy, he had a series of seizures, so the seizures could be heart related, and not necessarily from low bg at all. Please take Bandit to the vet, as that is the best way to tell what is causing the seizures.
Julie
ps, I'm not a vet...
Author wrote:
> Hi,
> I have a question-- this morning Bandit had a bad seizure when I found him he
> was laying there-- poop beside him...at first I thought the worst and my
> heart was in my throat. I tried the Karo syrup for 15 minutes straight and he
> still lay limp--so I called my vet and he suggested mixing the karo syrup in
> water and then giving it to him in a syringe. I did this- but Bandits teeth we're
> clenched down- could not pry the syringe in the side of his mouth-- was able
> to get it in eventually- but shortly after he began making a girgling noise in
> his throat and chest cavity and seemed like he was having a difficult time
> breathing...I called the vet back thinking maybe he was aspirating the fluid
> (going to the lungs) anyway the vet said that it could also be caused by the
> seizure that saliva builds up and make get caught in the lung area...he suggested
> holding him upside down every few minutes to see if it helped...
> I was able to feed him after the seizure and noticed the sound alot while
> feeding him and then I gave him his meds and it seemed like he was having a hard
> time swallowing them...he is resting now but still making the noises and
> breathing heavy..
> Please any and all including the vets on-line if you could please offer me
> some advice....
> P.S.
> Sukie had mentioned in a private e-mail to me that perhaps it was
> esophagilitus(sp)?? but I did discuss that with my vet and he was sure it was not.