From:
ferretgm
Date: 2007-11-17 15:58:22 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] current ECE protocol?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
As my confidence is a little shaken at the moment, would you all be kind enough to tell me if the following is the current ECE treatment protocol? I've looked through the archives, but am a little worried that I haven't found the most current info.
Spring, my 7.5 yr-old, came down with it six days ago, which was three days after we brought a pet-store-baby-ferret into the house. As Spring came from a shelter, and was boarded at shelters that had had ECE when she was younger (and I think she actually had it once), I have to think she had been exposed as a youngster, but maybe this is a little different strain. I have had a full blood workup on her, and nothing appears to be wrong otherwise, and the timing and symptoms are extremely indicative of ECE.
She is getting amoxi 2x/d + carafate 3x/d, and had that for four days with little improvement. She started getting flagyl / metronidazole yesterday (friday). The vet also wants her on that 'carnivore care' powder and pet tinic. I have had her at the vets' offices three full days last week, once overnight, to get fluids and food, etc.
She strenously resists all meds (even w/o the flagyl) and particularly despises the Carnivore Care. Often, she'll be mouth-pawing or grinding teeth, even in between feedings.
She seems a bit better this morning. I gave her all the meds except the flagyl, waited 20 minutes, gave her about 9 ml (2/3 of a bigger syringe) of Carnivore Care, let her rest for an hour, and then gave her about 1/2 ounce of baby food -- which she ate without teeth-grinding, mouth-pawing, or spitting.
Should I try to feed her every couple of hours instead of every six hours?
Can I give her carafate 20 min before each meal, if I feed her 4x/day, instead of just 3 doses per day? ( I suppose I should just ask the vet)
Is ECE still expected to run 1 - 3 weeks in older ferrets?
Is flagyl still necessary when they aren't pulling out of the ECE quickly? Is there something less vomit-inducing I can give her?
What's the best timing for the flagyl? I tend to think it should be given far away from meals, so as not to associate food with the bad taste.
Sorry to be so question-intense. No need to reply in detail if I've got it mostly ok. :)
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