From:
brett010101@optonline.net
Date: 2005-05-06 01:15:31 UTC
Subject: RE: Question regarding sick ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2482475.1115342131064.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
It sounds like there could be quite a few different things it could be. I'm not a vet but have had 5 ferrets and have experienced pretty much everything at this point. Losing fur could either be a seasonal thing (if in smaller quantities) or adrenal disease (if starting at tail and working it's way up the back). If it grew back on it's own, it's probably seasonal. The grinding of teeth is usually an indication of an ulcer, which might explain the loss of appetite since it might be uncomfortable for him to eat. Has he had any dark black stools? I have a several that have experienced ulcers. If there is no sign in the stool then a vet may be able to do a test? Mine have always been obvious. If it turns out to be an ulcer, mine have had great success with amoxicillin. Hope any of this helps...
Author wrote:
> One of my ferrets about two months ago caught a cold. We thought that with some tlc he would be back to his ways in no time. What really started to worry us at first was that he was losing weight and his fur. The fur has grown back, but the weight still has not come back. His appetite has decreased a little, he drinks normal, and sleeps a lot more, but when he does move around, (the little that he does) he "plops" a lot. Plus just the other day we noticed that he's making this weird noise, it sounds like he is chewing on hair. I am pretty sure that he might be grinding his teeth, but it still sounds weird. His stool and urine are normal looking, but he does put out a lot more urine than the other two ferrets.
> I am really beginning to get worried because you can see his bones, and it's like he has very little energy to do anything. He is only a year and a half at the most, and when we first got him he was more lively, and weighed a lot more than he is in his current state. He doesn't seem to want to play with the other two ferrets, and prefers to sleep instead.
> We've tried everything, so I thought that I would try and ask here and hope that someone knows what I am talking about and can give me an answer. I am pretty sure I covered all that is wrong with him, I just want my healthy buddy back.
> Thank you for reading,
> Erin