From:
tlawford@verizon.net
Date: 2004-04-04 23:46:25 UTC
Subject: RE: More Helicobacter questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <451823.1081122385218.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
In the 18 ferrets I've owned since 1990, 5 have died from stomach ulcer (H =
pylorii) but I have managed to rescue 8 or so. I have just rescued coco puf=
f from the rainbow bridge in the past week. It always starts with the ferre=
t getting skinny, too weak to walk, laying gazing at the water or food dish=
but absolutely refusing to drink. The deydration is what kills them in the=
short run, renal shutdown and shock. (I'm not a vet, I'm a people MD) In p=
eople, treating with dual antibiotics has an 80% success rate, and if you a=
dd an acid blocker, the success rate in people goes up to 95%. Metronidazol=
e is gawdawful tasting stuff, Ive tried it. So even though vets use it, I s=
witch to what eradicates this bacteria in people, biaxin (a methylated eryt=
hromycin) and amoxicillen. It comes in pediatric suspensions, and .3cc of e=
ach given twice a day is the appropriate dose. With that, I usually see imp=
rovement begin on day 6, the ferrett will actually voluntarily drink water.=
Meanwhile, during treatment, I give them 10cc of pure whipping cream each =
twelve hours using a syrinege while I scruff the ferret. The cream is both =
the liquid they dearly need to prevent vascular collapse, and nutrition, wh=
ile it also should coat the ulcer and soothe somewhat. In this present resc=
ue of Coco Puff, on day two she still looked like she might die anyway. Too=
k her to the vet who added Pepsid (a human acid blocker with a long half li=
fe) 0.02ml qd, and Sucralafate .3mg q12 hours. Sucralafate (carafate) is gi=
ven to human ulcer sufferers to coat the stomach, the coating sticks for 12=
-24 hours. She recommended we run for 14 days with everything. (About the s=
ame as the human regimen.) The Pepsid and the Sucralafate had an immediate =
very beneficial effect. Coco Puff quit pawing her muzzle in pain, was actua=
lly willing to drink a little water on her own, and would accept the 10cc o=
f pure cream eagerly rather than struggling to avoid it. We are at day 8 n=
ow and she is gaining weight, eating lots of solid food of her own volition=
and wresting with her boyfriend Spencer. I will, nevertheless, grab her ea=
ch 12 hours and continue the regimen to day 14. I have had h Pylorii recur =
often enough a year or so later in a ferret that was 'cured'. The water yo=
u are giving is critical to keep them from going into shock (vascular colla=
pse) and dying. Please do feel free to call me on this if you'de like. My h=
ome phone is 703-476-5155, up until 10PM each night. Work Mon and Fri is 20=
2-636-1536 or 1431. Work Tuesday is at the Smithsonian 202-275-9286 or 222=
2. A good universal rebroadcasing email that reaches me everywhere is tlaw=
ford@alum.mit.edu =
Author wrote:
> Is it common for a ferret with an outbreak to suddenly start showing symp=
toms?? My 5 year old, Floyd, started Tuesday with hind limb weakness. He =
was taken to the vet Thursday where blood panels ruled out insulinoma, live=
r or renal failure. His x-rays were fairly inconclusive; his stomach area =
was obscured. They did show an enourmous spleen, but his has always been a =
bit large. He's very weak, can't really use his back legs, and skinny. I'=
m trying to get some food into him, as well as water every half an hour to =
an hour. His belly is quite tender and there's what looks like bruising nea=
r his penis. Exploratory surgery is an option if he doesn't start to respo=
nd to medication(ammoxicillin and metronidazole) soon. Should we persue th=
at option? When? When will he show signs that the meds are working? Any he=
lp is most appreciated, as Floyd's been extremely healthy until this, and M=
erlin(his 2yr old fuzzy buddy) and I would like to see him near or back to =
his wired weaselly self.
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