From:
tlcoffey@sbcglobal.net
Date: 2005-07-28 15:32:50 UTC
Subject: Teddy is home :)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8291942.1122564770427.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Teddy is finally home :) He is still on anitbiotics and vitamin K but he's eating really well and the bleeding has stopped. He's put on 4 ounces!
I called the phone number on the litter container. Turns out I was calling PetsMart. The litter is not made by them but packaged under their label. I told them the whole thing and was told that the corporate office would be in touch. I thought "Yeah, right".
However, yesterday, PetsMart corporate called me. They said that the litter is considered to be inert and not poisonous.
HOWEVER, since he has been eating the litter, it needs to be removed immediately (DUH) because 1) the litter was not intended for consumption (DUH) and 2) the chunk crystals would cut up his GI tract when they were passed in stools - sort of like eating glass (again, DUH). However, I was pleased that they took the time to call me back. The PetsMart vets even had some suggestions about possible ferret diseases but my vet had already checked those and ruled them out.
Everyone remembers that Teddy was eating the litter crystals AND had been eating the fuzz off of his blanket hammock. Bleeding problems can result from either poisoning OR a vitamin K deficiency. The best explanation anyone (PetsMart vets or my vet) can come up with is a scenario something along these lines.
Teddy had been eating fuzz from his hammock and litter crystals. This caused a blockage that, for the sake of argument was basically a hairball with glass chunks in it. The blockage resulted in decreased appetite, weight loss, malnutrition (that's where the vitamin K became depleted).
I was slow but finally realized what was going on. Took away the fuzzy bed and litter and started giving him Laxatone because I figured he had to have a blockage. He started passing the fuzz and crystals. When he started passing the crystals, it was like pooping glass. He started bleeding internally but couldn't stop bleeding because of the vitamin K deficiency.
Now, however, he seems to be litter and fuzz free. He's eating like a little pig again. He's putting weight back on. He'll be on the medications for about 2 weeks and I have to watch him very closely just in case it isn't all of the above.
I want to thank everyone for their advice, research help, and kind words of encouragement. You guys are great :)
Teresa & Teddy the Weasel Boy
PS. Don't ever use silica crystal litter or fuzzy beds