From:
"Saskia Visser"
Date: 2003-10-20 17:12:06 UTC
Subject: Digestive tract issues
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: ferret-list@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Message-ID: <9616314.1066682390890.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
Hello everyone,
I have run into a problem with one of my ferrets. Doodle is 5 years old and
for the past 6 or 7 months has had chronic diarrhea. We first tried some
anti-biotics and it did not resolve the problem. Lab work showed that his
albumin was low which apparently is not uncommon with chronic diarrhea. We
decided to do an exploratory surgery ( to look for hairball, etc.)
We opened him up and found a hairball, we assumed that would take care of
it. When we had opened him up we removed some insulinoma tumors as well
as
his left adrenal gland. His right had been removed 8 months previously, we
were unable to recheck the right because of some nasty adhesions.
Anyway, his stool improved for about 3 days and then was mucousy and seedy
again. The unfortunate thing was that the vet did not take a stomach or
intestinal biopsy, but we decided to treat for Helicobacter mustelae. The
treatment did not improve the stool either. The vet had biopsied the
mesenteric lymphnode and it showed inflammation.
I then moved from Holland to Ireland where I am currently studying
veterinary medicine (1st year), I contacted the vet again because the
diarrhea issue was still not resolved. She suggested putting him on
Walthams convalesence support and then trying to add some cooked meat to
see
if he is allergic to any food. I tried for a while but he was very picky
and getting stressed out about it. He would urinate and poo on me, his hair
coat became even more dull. He was also loosing weight. I decided to let
him eat his food again because I am at vet school all day and cannot make
sure that he eats enough.
So I decided to try pediapred. He is currently on 1.25 cc (ml) of 1mg/ml
liquid pred once a day, and 0.5 cc carafate twice a day mixed in his soup (
he freaks out otherwise, only way I can be sure he takes it). His stool has
improved, his diarrhea is not continuous. But he still has his off times
where he will have diarrhea for a day or 2. Should I increase the dose
untill the diarrhea stops? When should I try to reduce the dose? Should I
be trying something else? And can some one recommend a recipe or two for a
bland diet to see if he likes a different kind (The soup he does accept is
made with Hill's A/D.)
I do not have access to a ferret knowledgeable vet here, maybe someone
knows
of one? Doodle is also on 0.2 cc of Percorten every month but I am
wondering since we could not inspect the right to see if there was any new
growth maybe he does not need it. Would giving him the percorten if he does
not need it cause any problems or symptoms that I should watch out for?
I appreciate any help and ideas, I also hope that a few vets will respond to
this. Thank you in advance, if you need any further info please ask. (I
have blood values, radiographs, etc, etc.)
Saskia