From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2006-09-02 18:28:46 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Ulcer Treatment Failing - Ideas?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, marchand@rainierconnect.com
Have your vet try mixing a concentrated barium mixture. This is normally
used for x ray contrast, but it really can coat the stomach and intestinal
tract quite well and often allow them to feel better. I usu give about
10cc. Just remember they may poop white from the barium and this is okay.
Also try her on something for pain as well. The grinding is a sign of pain
and may be helped a bit with pain medication. I would suggest something
like Buprenex and if it helps he can make it into a liquid form that you can
try orally.
On your dosing I assume you don't really mean that you are giving 44ml or cc
or amoxi, is there supposed to be a decimal point, or are you referring to
mg not ml? Be careful when listing dosing etc it is really very important.
Some of these kids develop the ulcer secondary to a furball in to stomach so
if all else fails I think it is advisable to do an exploratory since these
are not always seen on x ray. It could help indicate if there is more going
on inside too, and perhaps stom and intestinal biopsies can be done.
Lab work is not in my opinion a definitive way to diagnose lymphoma, I would
monitor lymph node size etc. Hope this helps I am sending to you and FHL
since my replies do get way layed and this is easier then going to the site.
Hope this helps and all the best. Please let us know how he fairs.
Dr. Sue
>From: marchand@rainierconnect.com
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Ulcer Treatment Failing - Ideas?
>Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2006 23:28:21 +0100 (BST)
>
>Desperation setting in. We've been treating our 7 yr (est) old male ferret
>(Wilson) for
>Ulcers since ~July 15th. Symptoms initially included black tarry stools,
>severe teeth
>grinding, stomach gurgling noises (often quite loud and I mean clear across
>the
>room loud, especially following meals) and weight loss.
>
>After an abortive attempt to start on Amoxi/Metro anti-biotics, our primary
>treatement consisted of 1ml (1gm/10ml susp) Carafate and 1ml Pepto-Bismol
>approx 4-6 times/day (10 minutes before meals), with a food change to
>Gerber's
>Chicken (#2 - Blue Jar). Attempts to use *just* Carafate OR Pepto failed.
>By failed, I
>mean grinding would increase in duration and intensity. Slow but steady
>improvement was noted until stools returned to near normal ~ August 11th.
>Teeth
>grinding greatly reduced, but continued.
>
>We continued just this treatement intending to start on Amoxicillin/Biaxin
>when
>teeth grinding cleared completely, but he started getting worse (increased
>discomfort noted with more teeth grinding, obvious pain with squinted eyes,
>etc.) ~
>19/20 Aug. In consultation with vet, decided to initiate Amoxi/Biaxin
>combo before
>he deteriorated badly again hoping the antibiotics would work their magic.
>Began
>combo on 24 Aug (once daily, 44 ml Amoxicillin (400mg/5ml susp) and 1ml
>Clarithromycin (250mg/5ml susp)), in addition to Carafate/Pepto. Also
>started on
>Pepcid (2-3 times/day, 0.25 ml (10mg/10ml susp)).
>
>Separately, Wilson also suffers from Insulinoma. He underwent surgery in
>April (4
>large tumors and several micro removed, but several micro remained).
>Following
>surgery, glucose readings were still low, so we tried
>Prednisone/Prednisolone with
>Diazoxide in several dosing levels to no avail. In May/June, we tried
>injected Depo-
>Medrol (sorry, no dose avail), which stabilized blood sugar effectively,
>with
>injections required approx. every 4 weeks.
>
>Our vet consulted w/ vet that did Insulinoma surgery, and think it is
>possible he's
>got Lymphoma. His blood work has consistenly shown slightly low WBC
>counts.
>She recommended we try oral Prednisone, which we've resisted since he was
>stressed when we tried using Prednisone to treat Insulinoma. However, at
>wits end,
>we started him on it yesterday (Aug 31) (Prednisolone 0.7mg 2 times/day).
>
>To make things a bit worse, he developed some sneezing and runny nose about
>7
>days ago. We guessed it was a cold, for which all our ferrets have been
>prescribed
>Amoxi in the past. He appears to be getting over them now, but I'm sure
>having
>that has not helped his recovery. I guess the one benefit of being on all
>that
>medicine is that something was bound to help with his cold.
>
>We're entering our 8th week trying to help him fight this illness. He has
>managed to
>maintain the weight he gained back (from a low of 2 lbs, 0 oz to a high of
>2 lbs, 5
>oz), but his discomfort is still substantial, and nowhere near where he was
>a short 2
>weeks ago when complete recovery appeared imminent. Still no signs of
>black-tarry
>stools, but grinding is consistent when awake, and bad at times.
>
>Pleading for any/all ideas.
>
>Dale
>
>
>[Quick Moderator's Note: ferrets do not get colds which are caused by a
>rhinovirus
>and so do not respond to antibiotics. They do get some more serious
>things,
>including bacterial sinus infections which do respond to antibiotics.]
>
>
>
>
>
>
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