From:
mkoronias@netscape.net
Date: 2005-02-25 14:45:38 UTC
Subject: RE: Boogie has lost his bounce!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4099672.1109342738641.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Thought not exactly the same, I have had a similar experience with my ferre=
t Nosette who is now alright. I adopted her at one year old in March 2004. =
She was very sedate and started to look "fat" after a while. Since she wasn=
't with me long, I wasn't sure of her "normal" behavior. On day in May 2004=
I felt her belly seemed hard (like your Boogie's) and took her to the vet.=
The vet did xray and bloodwork and diagnosed an enlarged spleen and high w=
hite blood cell count. She had surgery the next day and besides removing th=
e spleen, the vet also removed left adrenal, tumors from the pancreas and l=
iver and a hairball. She stayed sick for a while after surgery and besides =
treating her with antibiotics the vet also did a course for Helicobacter. H=
er white blood cell count remained high for 5 months during which time we w=
ent to the vet regularly and tried new treatment courses every 2 weeks. Dur=
ing this time, she became more active but was still not up to the energy le=
vel of my other ferrets and was getting supplemental duck soup (she would e=
at a limited amount of kibble on her own). Finally her blood levels were no=
rmal and we could stop medications. In December 2004 she had a relapse in w=
hich she became sedate again with vomitting and no eating. She went back in=
and spent Xmas at the vet hospital being hydrated, syringe fed and getting=
antibiotics. She recovered after a couple of weeks and with another Helico=
bacter treatment course (the vet suspected Helicobacter as the source of he=
r problems). Since then I have learned to recognize when she begins to feel=
bad and treat her with duck soup, rest, and carafate and the occasional an=
tibiotic. She usually recovers in a few days. Otherwise she is the bouncy p=
erfect ferret princess and lately seems to be doing better and better as we=
have her conditions under control. My point with this saga has been to sho=
w you that even though it could take time and effort with spleen and stomac=
h problems, it can turn out well. Nosette is about the same age as Boogie a=
nd I while I know she will occassionally have relapses, I am prepared, and =
I expect her to live a long and fun life. Don't give up. Keep trying differ=
ent meds till you find what works (remember my 5 month battle) but through =
it all make sure to keep your ferret well fed and watered. Think of Boogie =
as your intensive care patient and you his loving nurse. Good luck!
Moscha
Author wrote:
> My name is Wendi and I am owned by four ferrets. One of my males, Boogie=
, has been sick since Christmas 2004. =
=
=
End of ferrethealth Digest
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