Message Number: SG11167 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "katharine"
Date: 2004-10-23 23:47:17 UTC
Subject: Upper Respiratory??
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000c01c4b95a$a41dfb40$0e102cc7@D1CW2811>

Sammy has had something going on for several months now. It started in Jul=
y. He started breathing very heavy/raspy/wheezy, and coughing. I took him=
to the vet the first time in mid-July. Doc did x-rays and put him on Clav=
amox. The x-rays showed nothing. The Clavamox was in case it was an infec=
tion of some sort. He seemed to improve a little bit so we left him on Cla=
vamox for 4 full weeks. The symptoms never fully cleared and then returned=
fully. He also started this cough thing that I described as sounding like=
a cricket (the sound they make when around water or after a rain). I desc=
ribe it that way because when he first did it, I thought it was crickets ou=
tside making the noise.

In mid-August, Sammy had a laryngeal exam, under anesthesia. Doc saw nothi=
ng other than slightly inflamed tonsils. His symptoms continued. We put h=
im on a low dose of Pediapred in the event it was asthma or something simil=
ar. No improvement. =

In early October, x-rays were once again taken, revealing nothing. Doc als=
o did a nasal flush under anesthesia, but nothing came out. His tonsils we=
re still somewhat inflamed. We then started him on a 2-week course of Bayt=
ril, along with the pred. He just finished the Baytril on Wednesday. He n=
o longer wheezes/squeaks when he breathes and I haven't heard the excessive=
coughing in a while but he is still breathing heavily. He sounds like his=
head is full of cold. Last weekend, there was a little clear nasal discha=
rge but I haven't seen any since. We have increased the Pediapred a little=
bit to see if it will help any. Doc said to try the higher dose for abou=
t 3 weeks. =

Poor Sammy seems to feel terrible and he is losing weight. I suspect that =
he can't taste anything so isn't interested in eating. I have started forc=
e feeding him to supplement what little he is eating on his own. He mostly=
sleeps while his friends are playing. Up until now, he has always been pl=
ayful and active. =

The best way I can describe it now is a major head cold. You know, when yo=
ur whole head and sinuses are just full of junk? That's how he sounds. I =
know that ferrets aren't supposed to get the rhinovirus, but that's how he =
sounds.

Any and all suggestions are eagerly anticipated. We just don't know what e=
lse to do for him.

Katharine
http://community.webshots.com/user/katharine524