From:
remytemytrue@aol.com
Date: 2005-07-12 03:14:04 UTC
Subject: Very sick - Strange things in poop - Help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3411856.1121138044542.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My ferret Remy became very sick 2 weeks ago. Started vomiting, crying out =
when taking a BM and producing pencil thin tary stools. My vet suspected u=
lcers and he was started on Carafate before meals and Biaxin 1x a day and A=
moxicilian 2x's - He was also perscribed Prolesec (1/4 capsul 1x a day) Bec=
ause I was unable to locate the Prolesec in capsule form (not realizing tha=
t it is available by perscription only) I was unable to get it for him unti=
l a week latter. By that time he was doing very well on the other meds and=
eating and playing again. The trouble started on day 2 of adding the Prol=
esec. Within 1/2 hr. of giving it to him (opened capsule and divided beads=
and mixed with Ferravite) he violently threw up all over the place. I tho=
ught maybe I had not waited long enough after his food to give him the meds=
. but then he took a BM and I noticed something in it. There were what lo=
oked like rice grains - They were very dense and white and the size and sha=
pe of rice. It did not look like it could have developed from anything he =
had eaten (Duck Soup and Ferretvite) My first thought is that it was the Pr=
olesec pellets that had expanded but not been absorbed? Then I went online=
and read about Coccida bacteria that can cause ulcers and show up as eggs =
in the stool. Has anyone seen anything like this? Could it be the Prolese=
c? (It seems like my vet perscribe a very large dose - 1/4 of a pill a day =
for a 2 pound ferret when a human is 1 pill a day - Is that standard?)
My vet told me to stop the prolesec and see how he does. He is worse today=
. He is not interested in his food at all and his last BM had what looked =
like possible blood in it. He is lethargic. He does not seem to be in any=
pain just unhappy. He was doing so well on the meds and improving and now=
I don't know what to do or think. I have a call in to his vet but need he=
lp now. =
Can anyone offer me any advise on dealing with gastric ulcers and possible =
underlying causes and treatments. I trust my vet but really rely on this s=
ite for options and advise.
Has anyone ever seen what I described in the stool? Why would he be getting=
sick again if the treatment was working for a week and he was doing well u=
ntil I added the Prolesec. Could this just be a coincidence? Or could some=
thing else be going on? =
My ferret Remy's stats: =
6 years old - Insulinoma under control on low dose of pred. - Labs are norm=
al with slight elevated white blood counts - Ultrasound and X-rays show hea=
rt good - Adreanals good - No signs of obstuction - All other organs good.
I know an ulcer can be serious but I was feeling confident that we could tr=
eat it until this. What could be causing him to be backsliding - Please an=
y advise would be welcome.
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