From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-07-22 17:08:15 UTC
Subject: RE: how to tell if prostate is enlarged
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2091477.1122052095828.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
That does not sound like he is having trouble urinating. Those are all just things that happen, except many don't make a noise. It sounds like the vet heard the noise and that it isn't a pain noise.
When a ferret has trouble urinating the ferret may also show constipation, or may pace like crazy repeatedly stopping to try to go to the bathroom unsuccessfully or with only a few droplets coming out.
Your vet can provide you with a special type of litter to use in a clean litter pan to collect urine, or can help you manually get the ferret to urinate on a clean surface, or can even remove urine by needle though that usually is not needed. Most ferrets do fine on a high protein diet, but because that is a relatively new approach in the U.S. we are just beginning to get a handle on how many are vulnerable. Unlike the ferrets who have too much plant matter in their diets (and get struvite stones and alkaline urine) ferrets who get cystine stones have urine which is too acidic. (There is a lot on this, including info on an on-going study on cystine stones in ferrets in the FHL Archives.
It does not sound to me like your male is having trouble urinating.
-- Sukie (not a vet)
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