From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-04-01 02:06:08 UTC
Subject: RE: Ulcers
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7453509.1112321168800.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
This can be helpful:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/ulcers.html
(ulcer photos at very top only, text later)
And this site's archives which can be found at
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
has a lot of info.
http://miamiferret.org/fhc/helicobacter.htm
can help. In humans with our version of Helicobacter (pylori) areas with more helicobacter have more gastric woes including stomach malignancies BUT it seems to reduce the acidity of the stomach, so areas with lower rates of H pylori in humans have higher rates of esophageal problems related to reflux including esophageal malignancies. Whether that is a valid conclusion is still unknown since it is hypothesis but one with so-far a pretty steadily increasing body of evidence. I have NOT heard of anything similar documented for ferrets.
Large furballs or ingested foreign bodies can cause stomach injury:
http://miamiferret.org/fhc/helicobacter.htm
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=477&S=5&SourceID=43
Some ferrets may have a genetic predisposition to serious stomach problems. We had one who had a stomach that became continually more and more large and flaccid, with thinner and thinner walls. I have heard of one ro two others like that. If memory serves, each of them also had other malformations.
http://www.heidihoefer.com/pages/ferrets/gi_foreign_body.htm
http://www.petcarevabeach.com/gas.html
When searching be sure to read about Carafate! It's a marvelous med to help.