From:
autumn_whispers2me
Date: 2005-01-07 17:24:23 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Boo-Boo''s vet visit --- I really need advice
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <14620722.1105120193381.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
thank you for all the advice. Boo-Boo was positively skeletal, and by that I mean
you could see his ribs, and his hip bones (on top by his tail) were sticking up. When
we took him to the vet for a checkup before he got very sick (he'd stopped eating so
we took him in right away before the weight loss) he weighed 3.8 lbs, but he was
only 2 lbs after losing all that weight, and he's a fairly long ferret. They gave him a
clean bill of health at that point and never mentioned he was overweight at all. He
looked perfect for his length, etc. In other words, we's not round at that weight.
You can see a picture of him before the weight loss in a slideshow I have on my site
of my fuzzies. It may help to see a photo: http://www.thecorridors.com/
ferret_slideshow.html Boo-Boo is the one with a LOT of white.. easy to spot.
I understand about what rapid weight gain can do. I had a very athletic lifestyle and
taught dance several days a week, plus had 3hr/day dance practices... and went to
the gym 4 days a week. I had hypothyroidism and it went unchecked and untreated
until I could do nothing but sleep, and I couldn't even work out anymore. In one
year I put on 100lbs, and I was incredibly sick. My joints paid for it, definitely. So I
do understand that.. it does make sense.
They did bloodwork, which should come back today, and.... Boo-Boo has been
better since last night and today! Lymph glands are still enlarged, but he's out right
now, as he was last night, wandering about and looking around... which is
something he hasn't done since he got sick. He's also more alert. He gets way tired
still, but he's a LOT more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed than he was. Other things I
noticed as of this morning is that he has enough strength how to get to the bottom
of the cage to go potty, then go back up again, and he's getting in and out of the
hammocks, which is something else he'd stopped doing too. And the two little girls
pooped out and snuggled into their little sleep cage in the dining room while Boo-
Boo was still up and wandering about looking for something to do. And finally,
though this may not seem important to some, he's not a limp noodle when he eats
now and pushes with his front paws to hold himself up while eating. I'm spoon
feeding mostly now,
since last night, and trying to get him to eat more on his own.
I don't know if all of these signs are giving me a false sense of security, but it's
really nice to see him like this.
So what should I do about his eating? He's always hungry for his every 4hrs
feedings, and I don't force him to eat any more than he wants. He usually just stops
on his own when he's done. Still grinding his teeth, though, and I can't tell if that's
better or not. Feedings with the carafate in his tummy are definitely better.
sukiec@optonline.net wrote:
Well, there are a few things which run through my mind here.
Ella, Pixie, Boo-Boo, Peanut, and Tocho, and the bassets, Josie & Julep
Visit my web sites and forums:
www.autumnwhisperstome.com/Invision (weight loss forum)
www.thecorridors.com
www.autumnwhisperstome.com