From:
motorcityferrets@hotmail.com
Date: 2005-06-20 18:29:21 UTC
Subject: more virulent cause for ulcers? many in trouble!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4210579.1119292161981.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
We're used to seeing critters fall hard from stress and ulcers. However, while we're probably just having a bad spell around the shelter I'm really getting nervous about what I'm dealing with on the ulcer front.
Over the past week, 9 critters have developed serious ulcers. We started all on Flagyl, Carafate, Clavamox, Tagamet and food/fluids. I'm doing 20ml lactated ringers 3 times per day and feedings all day long (chicken baby food + nutrical).
The roster includes:
(3) 1.5 year olds and (1) 3-5 year old that were recently surrendered together. They were all on crappy grocery store food and none came with them, so we had to immediately change to proper chow. All ate well for the first week, then all hit the skids. The older boy had an episode about an hour after they arrived; his glucose was 54 so I started on pred for insulinoma.
a 2 year old female who's been here for 3 months. Healthy and happy at surrender. Her mate is doing fine.
a 3.5 year old female who is one of our ambassadors, so she's been here for 3 years. Recently her coat says adrenal, but otherwise she's in apparent good health.
a personal female of ours. 5.5 years old, adrenal surgery April '04, during her spell her glucose was reading in the 50's, so we've started pred for insulinoma.
a 3-5 (?) year old female who's been here 7 months. She's never been vigorous at all, both she and her cage mate have always been quiet. Her sister died 3 days ago (filled with cancer), but she spent soem time with sis and some time with others as sis battled her issues. She's been the same during her stay...a bit thin, poops not bad, quiet and shy.
a 4.5 year old male who came in with 5 others, from an original group of 14. The crew were abused by the former home as evidenced by the female's specific biting behavior. The boy has always been quite; he arrived in good weight but soon became thin, reserved, etc. He's been here 6 months.
All of the above critters have been pooping nothing but blood for 3-7 days each, depending on the critters and despite all the meds/support I've been giving. The older boy of the group of 4 has died, and the 4.5 year old and 1.5 year old boy from the foursome will most likely die today from what I'm witnessing (it's been a long, slow decline). Absolutely none of the critters are improving AT ALL, except for one of the 1.5 year olds from the group of 4. She never developed the serious ulcers and instead was quickly back on chow after two days o' babyfood. The meds continue for her anyway.
I've seen critters not recover after ulcers get ultra bad. But for so many to be down and to see no improvement in such youngsters and otherwise healthy critters...and critters who've been here for some time (instead of the newly surrendered who can get into SUCH stress)...a friend wondered if perhaps they have a more virulent strain of helicobacter? I don't know if such a thing exists, but I'd sure like to!
Now the group of 4 have all had trouble, but everyone else is singular in their troubles. In other words, their cage mates are doing fine. So I figure if there were something truly contagious wouldn't I see more trouble? It's been about 10 days now since the first critter had trouble.
I am at wit's end as to what else to do for the sick crew. I've never seen so many have SUCH trouble at once, so that makes me worry about the general population...but if it's something contagious, what could it be? Newly arrived, been here for years, young, middle-aged...all are having such trouble. IF anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears!!!
Nanci
Motor City Ferrets
www.motorcityferrets.org