From:
kbreeden@cfl.rr.com
Date: 2004-07-05 02:29:34 UTC
Subject: stomach surgery post-op care
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6896027.1088994574609.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Harley, 3 yr old MF male, who has been having intestinal problems since December, and had been on amoxi almost consistently, finally blocked Wednesday. The Vet removed a huge hairball, about 4 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter, and very hard, blocking the stomach exit to the intestines.
The Vet was back in surgery on another patient when I picked Harley up late Friday afternoon and they felt he was doing so well, I'm afraid I didn't ask enough questions about what to expect post-op.
Meds: 1/4 of a 22.7gm Baytril once a day
He is eating kibble, and pooping. Today (Sunday) he produced an almost normal poop (better than I've seen in a long time), but he seems very lethargic still.
I am confining him to a sick cage, only letting him out for a few minutes about every four hours. When he is out, he wants to explore, including wanting to go back into his regular cage, where his cagemate lives. This causes him to put his front legs up on the cage door (which would be open during a normal playtime, but is closed to him now because it is a multilevel cage). When I can't find a way to distract him, he has to go back in his sick cage. He also props himself up like this sometimes when I put him back in his sick cage.
My concerns:
Could he tear internal stitches by propping himself into an upright position?
Is his lethargy 4 days post-op normal, or is he bored, or something more serious?
We have tile floor in most of his play area, which he sometimes slips on, is this a stitches hazard? Should I try to keep him on carpet?