From:
"ncferretmom"
Date: 2007-08-22 08:41:27 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Ferret with osteomyelitis. please help!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "lumazzanti" <lumazzanti@...> wrote:
>
> The ferret is so weak, his
> immune system is so low and the antibiotics don=B4t seem to work. The
> ulcers are really growing slower now (and some are not even growing
> anything). But they don=B4t get small either. Plus he has the
> infection that comes from inside.
Yes, this would tend to make one weak. But, if the ulcers are slower, the d=
rugs may be
catching up. I hope so. Like Dr. WIlliams said, it will take time, especial=
ly orally. I had
surgery once and a problem developed after. It took a while to stop the res=
ults and then it
stablized and THEN it began to improve. Not nearly as fast as I would have =
liked, but it did
turn around.
> Thank God, the ferret is not in pain nor suffering. He is not very
> active either... he only goes from one bed to another and gets up and
> walks only to poop and to eat. He eats well (Totally Ferret, Zupreem
> and A/D cans)... and takes his meds ok in his duck soup... so I think
> he wants to keep fighting.
Excellent. Have you ever had the flu and just wanted to lie there? Your bod=
y needed to
recover. You can expect that with any sick animal. He IS sick and his body =
needs all its
energy to fight. Can you get Carnivore Care over there? You can add it to h=
is soup OR feed
it alone. I think Critical Care is also anoption, but I add Carnivore Care =
to my ferrets soup.
It is not cheap, but helped me get 300 g back on my ferret in one week's ti=
me. Plus, I hand
fed him every 3 hours!
> I won=B4t give up. He is only 1 year old... and soooo sweet.
>
> I asked the vet about the IV antibiotics but we have some problems:
> 1) Here, the valves that administer the medicines are made for animals
> of over 4 kg. and my baby only weights 500 gms. (skinny).
What do they use to administer stuff for anesthesia? They never operate on =
an animal
under 4 kg? Isn't 454 g about a pound? That would be an 8 pound ferret, rig=
ht?
> 2) he will have to remain in the hospital all the time
Yes, it would require hospitalization. When mine had to spend time in the h=
ospital, I
visited several times a day and overnight to do the feedings myself and let=
the baby know
Iwas there. (Yes, I have had some wonderful vets! Dog vet again.)
> 3) his 3 legs (one was amputated) are very swollen and infected, so
> the needle will have to go into his neck...
Quick question - are you soaking his legs in warm salt water? Is this an op=
tion? Would it
help? I am a BIG believer in the healing powers of warm salt water - if thi=
s will help with
swelling and infection, or even comfort - that is great. Anyway, I don't th=
ink the vein used
matters. That is a wuestion for the vet. Personally, I think it is easier t=
o keep it in a ferret
in some of the other places.
> Do you think it is still possible to do the IV in this case?
I don't know - I am NOT a vet. There are great vets on this list, but it is=
just so hard to give
advice without seeing a ferret. AND, unless your vet asks, it is not approp=
riate for them to
offer the advice. In general, though, an answer might be possible.
> Thanks, you are a big support.
> Luciana.
That's what we are here for. Keep us posted. And, just thought of this - do=
you know any
pediatricians? Babies are born in under 4k everyday. There may be some opti=
ons there for
sticking them with smaller equipment options. Good luck.
renee :)
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