From:
ferretface@aol.com
Date: 2005-04-01 14:25:48 UTC
Subject: RE: ECE and growth on snout
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6286423.1112365548673.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi,
About the lump...the only sure fire way to know what it is is w/ a biopsy. But you should probably get the ECE under control 1st (unless it's bothering him- could be anything from an abcess to tumor)
About the ECE...the most important thing you can do for Chewy right now is to make him eat and keep him hydrated. Have your vet (if they haven't already) show you how to give him fluids SubQ at home. ECE is extremely dehydrating. You'll have to give a lot of fluids to make up for all he's losing. Your vet can figure out how much.
There are plenty of recipes for duck soup and other concoctions in the archives I'm sure but ferrets can be picky so you need to try everything. If Chewy doesn't eat on his own you HAVE to force feed him. Ferrets don't usually love force feeding. You need to be really careful that he doesn't aspirate any of the food. You best bet is to try to sqirt a little at a time on the roof of his mouth (as opposed to right down his throat), let him swallow, then a little more etc..
Long story short, my baby Roscoe had ECE....it lasted about 1 month. My hubby and I were getting up every 2hrs to feed him and doing fluids 2-3x a day. It was the most discouraging thing to see him so sick for so long. He hated his antibiotics, food, fluids, even ferrettone or ferretvite. But he pulled thru w/flying colors! On the 30th day he actually ate a treat! Then some ferret food! I remember being so happy. He went on to live another 3 years and died from unrelated illness at a little over 7yrs.
So there is a light at the end of the tunnel w/ ECE. You just need to be diligent w/ your supportive care.
Hope this helps.
Serena