From:
Meryl Faulkner
Date: 2004-09-03 01:59:37 UTC
Subject: Subject: Pain medication Options for ferrets after surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <6.1.0.6.2.20040902181540.029f15c0@mail.4d.net>
After my last two ferrets (now passed on - I'm waiting for legalization
before replacing them) required surgeries, the vet who performed the
surgeries prescribed Torbugesic for pain (generic name is Butorphanol). The
label on the bottle says Torbugesic in VAL syrup but the strength on the
rest of the label has faded. I assume the vet made up the solution for the
ferret since one of my wildlife formularies states that Torbugesic comes in
tablet form. I was impressed by the way each ferret seemed to perk up
after the administration of the med. It is an opiate, but I doubt the
ferrets become addicted (and what could they do anyway- the cap is on tight
and the container is stashed away!) The two males who had abdominal
surgery (adrenal and pancreatic tumors respectively) appeared to be
depressed, lethargic, squinty eyed, and looked to me as though they were in
pain after the surgery. In each case about 20 minutes after the torbugesic
dose their eyes looked brighter and they tried moving around a little -
they simply looked like they felt better. I gave them the med every 6- 8
hours if they appeared "droopy". After a few days in one case, and a week
in the other (who was in worse shape), they no longer needed it. Another
medication that has recently been approved for veterinary use is Metacam
(generic name Meloxicam )- this is an NSAID in liquid form and it has been
used on wildlife being rehabilitated and on zoo animals after surgery -for
pain and arthritic conditions I believe. I do not know if this has been
used in ferrets. Having had some bad pain in my youth, and been given some
pethidine (an opiate) I have to say that the opiate not only freed me of
pain, but if there was any pain left I didn't care about it - some euphoria
I guess. I would rather give an opiate to a ferret and ensure that it was
pain free than rely on a possibly less effective NSAID. There are some
contraindications for Butorphanol in wildlife - renal insufficiency,
geriatric or debilitated patients (although both my ferrets were 7 and
obviously somewhat debilitated), and it should not be used in lower
respiratory tract disease where coughing is desirable, from which I guess
like most opiates it suppresses coughs. Again, my veterinarian and an
emergency vet hospital have prescribed this for ferrets after surgery, so
you might check with your vet again.
Meryl