From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-03-17 10:49:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: When are probiotics a really bad idea, and why?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Let me add to the caution. A woman brought over her ferret to me on the weekend (my vet had called from the emergency clinic and asked me to see her) because he was not doing well. My vet didn't feel it was an emergency after speaking with her on the phone but felt the ferret should be seen and didn't want the woman to drive all the way to the emergency clinic and end up with a huge bill.
She was looking for a recipe for duck soup. When I saw him he was clearly dehydrated, vomited once - white foam, and had a mucousy stool. However, in spite of that he was very active, no abdominal distension or tenderness, no prolapsed rectum, good colour to gums. I prepared him a mix of A/D and warm water, which he devoured. We discussed his recent history.
The woman had gotten a powdered electrolyte mix that she started giving him about 10 days ago. The cage was near a radiator and on a particularly cold day she had turned up the heat and was worried that the ferret may have overheated, although from her description I don't believe he had. She was mixing it into his drinking water.... I told her that it might be the source of his problems and to stop giving it. She's been in daily contact and he has improved considerably.
He is seeing the vet today on my recommendation. However, I do believe the electrolyte mix threw off his body chemistry, which it is known to do if not given properly. It should never be mixed with food or given to the degree she was giving it. This is a product that is sold by a well known manufacturer that markets ferret products.
Tressie
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