From:
ferretface@aol.com
Date: 2005-01-01 20:04:25 UTC
Subject: need vet help on ulcerative colitis or bleeding tumor
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8159326.1104609865462.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi,
My 7 yr. old f/s ferret has either ulcerative colitis or a bleeding tumor/polyp. She has horrible bloody diarrhea (I mean red blood!)It's been going on since tues. She's still eating/drinking and playing. She probably needs surgery but I don't feel comfortable w/ that until the bleeding is under control.
Ultrasound is basically non diagnostic for colitis or tumor, bloods are pending (CBC, Chem, ADV). Rads show very inflamed and dilated colon- vey funky looking. She was on clavamox and amforol. Now (since thurs) she's on flagyl, baytril and pepto and Sub-Q fluids. I've also been supplementing her diet w/ chicken babyfood mixed w/ babyfood rice (I'm trying anything to bind her up!) Sometimes the blood is worse than others, sometimes it's pure blood and no stool, sometimes there's a little stool but there's always blood. Obviously there's only so much blood she can afford to lose. I'm sure she's anemic now (bloods pending). Oh, I forgot to mention...this is her 2nd bout w/ this. Back in sept. she had the same exact thing and she responded very quickly (about 1 day)to amforol and clavamox. Bloods were basically normal and so was the ultrasound.
So, are there endoscopes small enough for ferrets? I'm a lisc. tech and none of the vets I know have small enough scopes, does anyone know who does? (I'm in NY)
Does anyone have any other suggestions for treatment or anything? Thanks in advance, Serena