From:
"Mike"
Date: 2006-12-18 03:41:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] VERY SICK FERRET! NEEDING ASSISTANCE!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
First off, greetings to one and all out there!
Here's what's up: a good friend of mine has two ferrets (Chester and
Maggie). Chester is a four year old ferret who, for the past few
months, has been having a series of fairly bad problems going on. We
have taken him to Dr.[Name removed as per rules] (highly kown ferret vet in N.E.
Florida) and he was unable to figure anything out. He finally
reccomended that we take him down to the [Name removed as per rules] Hospital
to see if they came up with anything. --So,
several thousand dollars and a few months later, we have come up
with SQUAT! Following are the symptoms:
-Constant diarreah (we're keeping fluids in him by both him drinking
by himself, and an occasional sub-q (IV) fluid injection)
-severe loss of weight! (we're talking that he's currently about
800kg or less)!!
-lack of desire to eat a whole lot
-difficulty chewing when he does eat (takes a bit of food in mouth,
then next thing you hear after crunching, is almost a grinding of
his teeth on the right side only)
-definite lack of energy
--we've been giving him darn near anything he'll eat (even fiberous
snacks/crackers to try to help his diarreah)... We give him pieces
of ham lunch meat coated in egg protein powder. We have started
using a medication called "Carafate", in combination with a liquid
suppliment called "muscle milk". This combo seems to help him, but
only a VERY minute amount.
I don't know what else the vets here, or in Gainesville, can do
other than what has already been done. They have used/run darn near
every test there is to figure this out, with no results!
The following is as good a history of Chester and the current
problems he is facing, as could be compiled:
-- Diarrhea first started on 6/28/06. Antibiotics saw a brief
increase in stool firmness, which later returned to mushy (within
about 48 hrs).
-- 9/9/2006 - carrier was knocked over by accident with Chester
inside. 2 days later, started pawing at mouth, refused fluids, began
grinding of teeth (mainly on right side). Xrays showed potential
ostiomyolitis (bone infection within mouth/jaw region). Was given
valium and clendomiosyn...again improvement fluctuated.
--Mouth pain was still present after 2 weeks...hydration was also
still an issue (but now more serious). Was reffered by Dr. [Name removed as per rules] to the [Name removed as per rules] Hospital at this time
for further treatment options.
-- Hospital: Full xrays showed no inflamation, nothing out of
ordinary
-- Antibiotic therapy was tried including: -amoxicillin,
metronitozol, meloxicam (anti-inflam.), prednisone, famotidine (acid
reducer), pancrezyne, psyllium.
-- Laboratory tests were as follows: 4 CBCs (first showed moderate
liver enzyme elevation; later 3 tests showed normal). Blood glucose
ranges were at acceptable levels. Fecal flotation was negative.
Direct smear was negative. Electron microscopy was negative...no
virus particles.
-- Was released from Hospital on 11/23/06. At this time,
condition was improved... Soon after, however, he refused intake of
supplements and thereby began redeterriation of condition from there.
-- About 1 week later: back to Dr. Suggested use of Carrafate
and a general ultrasound. Results = intestines, heart, lungs, and
liver were clear and free of any abnormalities.
-- Use of carrafate yielded decent results (slight increase in
food/liquids intake), but still not enough to yield good results.
-- Foods Chester has been offered and will eat little to none of
include:
..Duck soup (hates it--will not touch)
..A/D (won't touch or even sniff it)
..Chicken, turkey--cooked/raw (sniffs but won't eat)
..Ensure (will drink)
..Cheerios (sometimes...gets tired of stuff real quick)
..Whipped cream (suggested by Dr. -- will eat some)
..Strawberry yogurt (does enjoy...but again won't eat a lot of)
..Meat babyfoods (tried general variety...won't eat)
..Marshall Ferret food (will eat some times)
..Dried cat food (will eat...steals from cat LOL...)
..Bannana flavored baby cereal (won't eat)
-- Has been looking bad the last several days. Today, 12/17, he does
look a bit better...but still no big improvement. In general, any
attempts to help him (give sub-q IV fluids, or wrapping in warm
towels to cuddle or sleep in, etc.), Chester fights againts
(generally involving the shooting of dirty looks, and running under
the couch).
IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS FERRETS WHO ARE, OR HAVE, EXPERIENCED THE
SAME COMBO OF ISSUES MENTIONED ABOVE, AND HAVE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED,
OR FIGURED OUT WHAT IS WRONG, PLEASE EMAIL ME OR POST ON THIS
MESSAGE! I don't know how much longer he can last, and his human is
not all that happy either
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