From:
brascoben@yahoo.com
Date: 2005-01-25 20:07:43 UTC
Subject: lethargic ferret... slower down more
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6509247.1106683663540.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I'm really hoping someone can give me advice if you were in this situation.=
This has been going on for a few months w/ my boy Rudy, 2 yrs old, n male=
. I adopted him w/ 2 of his cagemates end of June. They all came w/ inter=
mitent runny stools/diarrhea. Rudy had that, but mostly birdseed stools. A=
ll 3's energy level very good. Vet & shelter thought it was due to stress =
from a new environment, give it time. I did, it continued for a few wks. =
Brought them to vet, did fecal tests, nothing. She treated them all for h=
elicobactor w/ Metronidazole. Had me cut them down to 1 food, 8in1 ultimate=
. Other 2 ferrets were fine. Rudy continued w/ birdseed stools, but energ=
y level still good. Treated him again, with Metron, Amoxi, and Pepto. Tota=
lly worsened things. He went from birdseed to complete diarrhea. Called v=
et, they said to continue out the dosing schedule. I wanted 2nd opinion. M=
ore fecal tests, nothing. They said ECE?? and to seperate Rudy from the oth=
er 2 for 6 mths and wanted to put him back on Metron, Amoxi and Pepto 4 tim=
es/day. Seemed stranger to me, I researched and thats not even the meds fo=
r ECE. Wanted another opinion, he's getting worse w/ no help. 3rd vet sai=
d IBD. Put on Pred for 2 wks, start of on Turkey babyfood only then add in=
Purina One Turkey fd. He's still getting worse, still diarrhea. She said=
to put him on Pred for 2 mths. He's worse than ever, not only diarrhea, b=
ut now he's hardly eating (he will eat if I scruff him or keep putting it i=
n up to his mouth - its the turkey babyfood), and now he's got practically =
no energy level at all. He comes out to play, and he just looks for a spot=
to curl up in and go to sleep. Talked to the vet again, she suggested wea=
ning him off of Pred slowly for the next 2 wks, and if that doesnt work, ex=
ploratory surgery. =
I guess I should have just left him alone when he just had birdseed stools,=
but I was concerned he wasnt absorbing his nutrients, and wanted to get hi=
m in a really healthy condition.
So, now I've got to wait another 2 wks. And this has been going on for so =
long already. Please if anyone has been in any similar situations or has a=
ny suggestions, I and Rudy would really appreciate it. Thanks, and sorry f=
or the long message.
Andrea and Rudy
=
=
End of ferrethealth Digest
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