From:
A M
Date: 2007-06-18 16:35:42 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Bear update (adjusted meds but still no appetite)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Sigh.
Well, we brought Bear to the nearby vet last week. We live about 90 minutes from our "ferret vet", so we bring him to a ferret-friendly nearby vet when we need to. She consulted with the third vet (the cardiologist), who reduced his heart meds. Apparently, all three heart meds (Enalapril, digoxin, and lasix) can "kill" the appetite, so they reduced all of them. Unfortunately, it didn't make a huge difference in his appetite, and now his labored breathing and weakness are back. Sigh. We have taken him completely off the Lasix for the time being, since the vets think that might be the most likely appetite-killer. His Enalapril dose has been halved.
I can get him to lick a warmed-up solution a little bit, but most of the time I have to force-feed him. Right now, he's getting about 30ccs of watery food about 4 times a day. That mix includes water, olive oil (for taste), canned chicken-flavor cat food (also for taste), some powdered "duk soup", and a little bit of kibble and liquid no-sugar protein liquid "Proteinex." (I'm giving him the latter just because his food is SO watery that I'm concerned he's not getting enough substance.) He seems to not like whole "real" chicken anymore, so I haven't given him that in a while.
Someone suggested a product called "Carnivore plus" (?), but I couldnt' find it mentioned anywhere. Anyone have any other suggestions for helping him gain weight and enjoy food again? Sigh.
For the record, his stool doesn't have any of the typical indicators of an ulcer, and seems fairly normal in color (although loose, but that's probably because of the extra liquid I'm giving him.) He is still "smacking his gums" after he eats. It's not the same tooth-grinding that you would see with an insulinoma seizure. For whatever reason, the nearby-vet did not suspect an ulcer, although I still do. (I realize the meds can cause inappetence, but he also acts nauseated when he eats, even though he acts hungry, too. Poor baby.)
Any other suggestions on boosting his appetite or preventing the nausea? He is getting omeprazole every day (and has been, for about 6 weeks) and gets Maalox abou 20 minutes before meals. (This seems to help prevent SOME nausea.) I have used slippery elm in the past, but it doesn't seem to work any better than the Maalox.
-andrea in maryland
****************
Andrea M ****** moonferret AT yahoo DOT com
What kind of weird stuff did I eat today?
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