From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2006-05-24 10:28:33 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: 2 lethargic, fatty yet bony ferrets that are gagging
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
xxxxxxx, both need a vet assessment. Are they older?
If it's ulcers, it's a pretty straightforward treatment, as you already know. Carafate 20 minutes before feedings and a gentle diet of chicken or trukey baby food which can be mixed with Hill's AD, diluted with water, and warmed to feed. It is very possible they will develop ulcers, if they haven't already, given the circumstances.
My vet and I usually go ahead and treat this type of surrender for helicobacter (causes what we call shelter shock) with Biaxin and Amoxi if they go off their food, since they are already compromised and you don't want them to further decline. Just a personal preference, I guess, and what we have found that works.
However, the most likely thing that comes to my mind, is a mass. I've had a couple ferrets that had this 'gagging' behavior. Bailey, in particular, had a lot of extra body fat. Xrays, may or may not pick up the mass, but if it is large enough, you will see the heart and lungs pushed lower in the ribcage, and the trachea may be pushed out of it's normal location which will give you a pretty good idea 'something else' is in there. I've had a couple with thymic masses that would 'gag' a lot.
The other thing that comes to mind is MegaEsophagus, but if they have a lot of belly fat, that isn't typical, and it would be odd for both to have MegaE where I think it could be very possible both could have thymic masses, heart, or kidney problems.
If they are dehydrated, and you are able to give fluids, that will help with the eating problem. Ferrets don't want to eat if they are dehydrated. If you can't give subQ fluids, dilute their soft food until it is easier for them to eat -you may have to offer it at the front of their mouth with a medicine dropper.
Check for mouth ulcers (kidney problems or helicobacter). The heavy abdomen may be fluid build up. I would also suspect heart problems.
Without seeing the ferrets, it's hard to tell what the red splotches are. Does it look like bleeding beneath the skin? Are they adrenal?
This doesn't sound to me like ADV or Distemper. My experience with ferrets that curl their toes when you try to get them to walk hasn't been good. Again, a vet visit is needed.
Julie
Author wrote:
> I have two rescues that came in and gag every time they drink water. Their spines are bony, yet they are still fatty...
> Does this sound like ADV? Distemper? One is not wanting to move very much and curling his back feet up when I stand
> him up. At first I thought that it was just shelter
> shock. Perhaps it is. One also just came down with a red splotch by a nipple with a black center. The one with the red splotch is dehydrated. I have begun to give carafate in case it is ulcers. xxxxxxx
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