From:
"Tony Clarke"
Date: 2007-06-12 17:26:14 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Tony -- Helicobacter can be detected by fecal examination
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Tony
Clarke" <Tonytclarke@...> wrote:
>
> > --- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Florence
> > Love" <ferret7love@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Can you give more info that I can share with my vets.
> >
I think I missed part of the sense of the question.
When my new (then) Suki had loose stools I took her to the
vet and bloodwork did not lead to a definite diagnosis. The vet
and I both read all we could on GI problems and both came to
the conclusion that it could be H. mustela. Hence the fecal
test. When the result came back as campylobacter we were
not convinced as campylobacter is comparitively rare. Hence
we questioned the lab and they confirmed the original result
(not a retest).
The vet and I took a joint decision to treat for H. mustela as
the symptoms did not fit campylobacter.
We use the treatment regime in 'Biology and Diseases of the
Ferret 2nd edition' p335 Treatment/ new treatment
After 2 weeks of 25mg/kg clarithromycin only (no ranitidine
bismuth as no signs of ulcers) her symptoms improved by 90%
followed by the remaining signs diminishing over a few weeks
as her system settled down until now we have no further
problems and still symptom free after 7 months.
As an aside the difference between H.mustela and
campylobacter microscopically is only the number of flagella the
the organisms have (there are other surface differences but
the shape is the same).
We did not go the biopsy route because my vet did not have
small enough instruments to do it internally(endoscopy) so a
full thickness biopsy was needed (considered too risky with the
other procedures), she was also spayed and liver and kidney
biopsies done at the same time as bloodwork pointed to
possible problems there.
The origanal blood results were as a result of the long term
diarhea and cleared up too.
Tony (not a vet), Sugar and Suki.
In memory of Sally and Sue.
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