Message Number: SG10180 | New FHL Archives Search
From: wheesht53@yahoo.com
Date: 2004-08-22 14:28:06 UTC
Subject: RE: bladder stones, our problem too
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20935297.1093187090818.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>

My 6 1/2 yo ferret was recently dx with insulinoma. I switched from Marshall's Premium Diet, which they've eaten their entire lives, to Totally Ferret sometime in June. I noticed app. 3 or 4 weeks later that my ferret had blood in the urine.

The first urinalysis didn't show crystals, but the vet put him on amoxycillin for 2 weeks. 2 days after the end of his antibiotic finished I saw urine that looked like it was all blood. Back to the vet and she put him on Cipro, which he's been on for 1 week. His urine still looks dark to me at times.

I'm at my wits end. I hate to subject him to surgery if it's diet related and can be fixed. All these tests at the vet isn't cheap and I don't begrudge the little guy his medical treatment, but this year and pets for me has been quite expensive.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I would like to get right to the heart of the problem without all the added (maybe unneccessary)tests.

Author wrote:
> Well this seems to be a recurring post lately so I apologize, but I would
> welcome any personal experiences about stones in ferrets. My vets have never
> seen it and are giving me that "how do you always get this stuff?" look.