From:
"katharine"
Date: 2004-12-30 11:50:19 UTC
Subject: RE: Ferret with ulcers and confused
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <00c201c4ee65$bcdaa5d0$e8102cc7@D1CW2811>
autumn_whispers2me wrote:
What I was giving him was Uncle Jim's Duck Soup Mix (Marshall's) and
mixing it with the A/D food from the vet's office. We ran out of the
duck soup mix and couldn't find any anywhere near us at all, so I
softened his kibble and put it in a blender with the A/D food. So we
should nix that, i guess, and go get him some of the Gerber baby foods.
****
A good, bland diet that I use is to mix 1 can of A/D, 1-2 jars of meat baby=
food (I use lamb or veal), and Pedialyte to make it the consistency you ne=
ed it to be. Water is fine too; I tend to worry about dehydration when the=
y're sickly. I usually syringe-feed in these cases so I need it pretty liq=
uid. Mix it with a hand-mixer. It will be very smooth and easily passes t=
hrough a syringe.
Try to feed 3-4 (4 is best if you can manage it) times a day, 30-40ml each =
feeding. On average, a ferret needs about 100-120ml daily to sustain its w=
eight.
Ask your vet for a prescription for sucralfate (carafate), obtained through=
human pharmacies, if he doesn't have it available at his practice. It's a=
pinkish liquid and my ferrets take it willingly. (you don't want to give =
them something that will cause even more stress) Give it 10-15 minutes pri=
or to each feeding to coat the ulcers. Don't wait much longer to feed or t=
he coating will be gone. I hook a timer to my shirt. LOL
If you will give the carafate and stick to the diet religiously, you should=
quickly see improvement.
Oh, and be sure to give other meds well before or after giving the carafate=
so there won't be an absorption problem.
Katharine
http://community.webshots.com/user/katharine524