From:
sheziwa@gis.net
Date: 2005-10-16 02:05:34 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] IBD protocol needed pre -op surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
First, has his condition been diagnosed by biospy? This is the
only way to achieve a definitive diagnosis. Many many things can
cause the symptoms of "IBD." And, is it Irritable bowel, or
Inflammatory bowel disease?
Before assuming it's either, or that it's EGE (eosinophilic
gastroenteritis) you could try doing a food trial to see if it's a dietary
intolerance ("food allergy"). With one of my kids, I had good results
putting him on the Hill's z/d feline kibble, cutting out ALL other
food sources including treats while addressing the irritation of his
gut with Duralactin Feline, a non-prescription supplement that has
anti-inflammatory properties. This was given in a small amount of
ferretone twice a day.
Other protocols involve starting with 48 hrs of loperamide
(Lomotil) and pred--continuing the pred for 2 weeks before tapering
the dose (while doing the food trial). Often the ferret must stay on
the pred to control the symptoms but sometimes it may stopped if
he stays on the diet, using pred only to control relapses.
If these methods don't work, there are heavy-duty immune
suppresants like Immuran, which carry the risk of possible serious
side effects. But you also really need to rule out All Other Possible
causes, such as hairball or foreign body, or even liver, pancreas, or
gall bladder issues. Radiographs and Ultrasound can be very
helpful for this (and my apologies if you've already done all that).
depending on his dose of pred, you may not want to discontinue
before the surgery--that's really your vet's call, but I've had some
insulomic kids who *couldn't* stop the pred and they came thru ok.
It will slow the healing process though, so the post-op period of
exercise restriction should be extended.
The FHL archives should yield a good number of posts on the
whole "IBD" topic...
Not a vet, I've just seen some good ones at work :-)
skyla
====================================================================<<<
Whatever you Wanadoo, click below:
http://ads.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=000000b7c79a99a500000000
====================================================================>>>
--
If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
To leave the group, email: ferrethealth-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
Report abuse http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D1423922&mid%3D15697