From:
"April Armstrong Campbell"
Date: 2005-06-03 18:10:52 UTC
Subject: RE: Helicobacter Tx; also, update on Bandit Campbell's tumor biopsy
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <23667197.1117826438432.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
"I haven't used that med combo for years opting instead for the Biaxin and Amoxi
for 14 days treatment. Usually with my kids they are eating kibble again in about
10 days. That is in the worse cases, where they were off food completely.
I also use Carafate 20 minutes before feedings to protect the ulcers helicobacter
usually causes. (grinding probably is due to ulcers or a troublesome hairball.)
Maybe someone that uses those meds will comment, too.
Julie
---
We usually use a cocktail of pepcid or pepto once a day, amoxicillin twice a day,
flagyl twice a day, and carafate three times a day (the carafate, AKA sucralfate,
typically at a much higher dosage than what the Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents
formulary lists-about three times the low dose, which is 23mg per kiligram three
times a day-so we typically do at least 75mg per kg three times a day; if there are
known ulcers, like with my Holly, you can end up with much bigger doses-I believe
she was on 125mg or more three times a day when she died).
Results vary greatly depending on the ferret and whether or not it has any other
conditions (and whether or not that is what's going on): Bandit responded within 5
days when I first got him two years ago and he had no other issues (helicobacter not
confirmed, but it's common to do those cocktails for those symptoms either way); it
took a couple of weeks two years later when he also had insulinoma.
One friend's insulinomic ferret took two months to really do much better; another's
insulinomic took about ten days or so.
RE: Bandit Campbell's giant tumor in his omentum encompassing most of the liver
lobes, stomach, kidneys, spleen, etc.: It turned out to be a giant carcinoma, which
the pathaologist gave a "grave to terminal prognosis" for (so we did the right thing
not trying too many heroics and making him suffer overmuch) and was suspected to
have originated as an islet cell tumor (insulinoma/pancreatic tumor). Again, my
surgeon couldn't believe he was still alive at surgery time.
Thought you'd like to know.
-April Campbell
PS Best wishes for speedy recovery for Tubey!