From:
dougbabcock@hotmail.com
Date: 2004-09-07 21:31:26 UTC
Subject: Need advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7085139.1094592686320.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi,
I am new to the group and need some advice. I have six ferrets, all of them=
have been healthy until recently. Hannibal is four years old and about two=
months ago, I noticed that he was grinding his teeth and looked to be losi=
ng a little weight. I took him to the vet, had xrays, blood work etc done. =
Hannibal was placed on antibiotics, carafare and antacid plus ensure and wh=
ipping cream as a supplement. Hannibal got worse the first week and I ended=
up hand feeding him every few hours. He continued to lose weight and I too=
k him back to the vet, he changed the antibiotics and added pepto to the re=
gime. Hannibal started to rebound but still had to be hand fed. He started =
to be more active and things were looking good. This past week, Hannibal st=
arted to fight being fed, but was not eating on his own. Called the vet and=
was told to just continue current regime. I should mention, this vet is ve=
ry knowledgeable with ferrets. The past few days Hannibal will take nothin=
g-he will drink a little but that is it. He will either spit out the ensure=
, meds etc or let it run out of his mouth. I have tried to scruff him and d=
rip it in his mouth, but this does not work either. Naturally he has become=
very weak but I keep trying to get something in him. Today, I noticed that=
his stool is black and tarry, so I am assuming he is bleeding. My vet is o=
ut of town for a week so I took Hannibal to the Animal Emergency but they a=
dmitted they did not know much about ferrets and thought with his condition=
, I should consider putting him to sleep. This suggestion, I feel is premat=
ure. =
My question is: Can anyone give me suggestions on helping maintain Hannibal=
until my vet comes back. I want to give Hannibal every chance at survival =
whether it is surgery feeding tube etc.
Thanks =
Doug
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