Message Number: FHL530 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-04-12 10:43:00 UTC
Subject: Arthritis? Please help
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

I am carrying this post for a member whose post seems to have been lost in the ether:

BEGIN CARRIED POST

From: Ulrike <ferretlove.uk@googlemail.com>
To: FHL <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>


This is about an approx. 6 yr old neutered hob. He was normal and
fine one day and barely moving the next. He could not stay on his
feet or walk and got so bad where he was just lying down with his eyes
closed, whimpering. He recovered from this bad episode and was taken
to a vet who'd never seen a ferret before. She listened to his chest
and prescribed antibiotics for a possible respiratory infection. This
cleared up but the ferret was still very unsteady on his feet. So she
palpated his abdomen and spine and the ferret showed some discomfort
on his spine and the vet said he had arthritis and gave a Rimadyl
injection. Ferret improved a little and is now on Metacam, 0.2ml once
a day.

I am looking after him for a day and he is very stiff and hobbles
awkwardly. I'm just wondering what people and especially vets on this
list think. Can arthritis come on so severely within 12-24 hours?
What is the current thinking on Metacam, is it safe to give it long
term? Ferret weighs 1.3 kg and like I said is on 0.2 ml a day. I
looked through the archives and read an old post by Dr Williams where
he said it is not known how ferrets metabolise Rimadyl and Metacam so
am wondering if safe doses are known and if it can be given long term.
I did read posts from Pam S. and Dr. Murray that suggested Adequan
and Cosequin and possibly prednisolone for pain.

Ulrike

END CARRIED POST




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