From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-07-10 15:52:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Prolapsed Rectum
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, JJ <myferrets18@...> wrote:
>
> The vets I consulted said a resounding No!
The advice varies depending on how extreme the
prolapse is, the cause, and the known expertise
of the person who has the ferret.
Luckily, most prolapse situations are not bad enough
to need the purse string approach. In fact, in 26
years with ferrets we have had only one who had to
have a purse string. I can't recall the cause but given
who I think I recall it was that could have been when
ECE hit our household, and certainly diarrhea is a
common cause of prolapse.
Some pop in on their own with the right things used to
decrease size and you will find some listed in the FHL
Archives. The typical prolapse is not extreme and once
the meds reduce the swelling can be replaced gently
and then get to the bottom (Sorry!) of the underlying
cause. Sometimes once the swelling has gotten down
enough just getting the ferret to shift position will let it
go back in. Sometimes careful help with the right
ointments, given time to work and then a gentle finger
or swab can work.
If the prolapse is extreme, for example if a large portion
of the colon has emerged or if it is very red or purple
then get an immediate emergency vet appointment. Use
ointment if the treating vet says to when you call but
otherwise do not touch. Yes, emergency appointments
cost more money but if anyone here had part of your own
colon emerging from your own rectum I think emergency
care would be sought. The usual problem is that people
don't realize that there IS emergency care. A rectal
prolapse is a straight-forward thing so does not have to
have a ferret specialist.
Here is one of the past vet posts on this topic to help:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG1285
So, to clarify: a minor prolapse can go back in with just
the right ointments (usually plain Prep H or a cortisone
one, or both mixed together) but the cause still needs to
be dealt with. One that is a bit worse can be gently
replaced if the person has enough experience to be able
to assess which ones she or he should not even touch.
Again, the cause needs to be found and treated. Worse
ones call for emergency vet care.
So, in a way everyone was right here, because one bad
enough to need a purse string is bad enough to not put
in oneself and requires emergency care, but most are
not that bad.
IMPORTANT:
In the case of the ferret in the original post I am concerned
that the person says that the vulva is also up.
That could mean an infected anal gland with a fistula straight
down (something I learned about from Dr. Williams as a rare
occurrence but a logical one) as well as the irritation of the
colon, or there could be an underlying diarrhea which has set
up a vaginal infection.
Alternatively, the ferret may have adrenal disease or a UTI
(often secondary to adrenal disease in females but can have
other causes).
UTIs (urinary tract infections) can often be secondary to bladder
stones, too, and so can intestinal straining. In fact, we have two
who ccan't have more than 35% protein in their diets because of
cystine stones in their pasts and both began by appearing
constipated.
If there is a bladder stone it has to come out and the TYPE of
bladder stone is ESSENTIAL to figure out, and the urine pH should
also be taken. This is because of the three most common types:
Struvite, Calcium-Oxalate, and Cystine, two need opposite
approaches. Struvite involves a diet too high in vegetable matter
and too alkaline a pH (too high a number) whereas cystine stones
involve an individual who can not tolerate high levels of any of 4
types of amino acids which are protein building blocks (the COLA
group: Cystine, Ornithine, Lysine, and Arginine) and the urine is
too acidic (too low a number). Neutral is 7 and typical ferret urine
is from 6.5 to 7.5 in pH.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/