Message Number: SG13035 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: courtney_leborious@timeinc.com
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 21:39:07 +0000 (GMT)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: Tooth decay
Message-ID: <3616728.1110317947377.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi,
I live in the NY Metro area - can anyone help with dental suggestions - surgery & vet recommendation?
I searched and searched and thought I had foudn the best area vet (I wont mention his name, but came highly recommended). I have been taking my ferrets to him since we moved to NY four years ago. But I need a different vet to perform dental surgery.
Brief backgound: My baby girl has been living with insulinoma (pretty severe and low blood sugar) for around 2 years. She has been on duck soup for a long time and I cannot get her back to kibble. She goes to the doctor every 6 months for bloodwork, exam and sometimes xrays.
About 10 days ago she really just stopped eating, it was never a problem in the past. Now she really fights me when I hand feed her, but I am still able to get it down 3-4 times/day. I am really upset because I just saw her mouth this morning and it looks really sore and infected. She definintely has a bad infection with her back molars.
In the past I had tried to brush her teeth many times, but it is absolutely impossible (to all moms and dads of kits - you should absolutely get them used to your fingers in their mouths when they are young!!!)
I had pointed out tartar to my vet on at least two occasions and he dismissed it. As I said, he is highly recommended by all the local ferret rescue places and is known for his knowledge of ferrts. I, however, feel very upset that he did not help me sooner.
I called and am waiting for him to call me back. I just don't like the way he treats me, but I have been to four different vets and he is the best of the ones I visited. I am feeling a sense of urgency because of her pain and inability to eat, as well as her vulnerability due to her insulinoma.
Any help greatly appreciated...!
Also, I am wondering what to do... I hope he will say that surgery is an option, but she is a bit compromised since she is skinny and having a hard time eating. Help. I don't want her to contineu to have the mouth pain.
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.