From:
"sandra_gothichica28"
Date: 2010-01-05 22:46:39 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] I urgently need advice!! I think my ferret is dying
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello
I have a male ferret, not castrated. I'm not sure about his exact age because he has another owner before he came to me and she doesn't know his exact age. All I know is that he is about 5 years old, possibly even older.
For approximately the last 3 months he has chronic vomiting. It started when we bought him food which turned out to be expired, and he's throw up a few hours after eating it. We only found out it was bad about two weeks after the vomiting started. He also then started refusing to eat.
We went to the vet and got him anti biotics which he was on for about two weeks. We also got him medical food by 'Hills'. The problem is that the treatment was supposed to last 3 weeks but we only did two because he seemed to be doing alot better.
Then two weeks after that he started throwing up again. So we started giving him the whole list of meds as in the beginning but he didn't get better.
So we went back. This time the doctor changed one of the antibiotics and kept on giving him what we did before. However he had a bad reaction the most of the meds and would spit them out and would even throw up right after receiving one of the antibiotics. It came to the point that when he saw the syringe in my hand and my mum held him the way we do when we give him the meds, he immediately threw up.
We tried to keep giving him the meds but it became impossible. He lost a lot of weight since he started puking again. He got an ultra sound and xray and everything seems fine. Hes extremely week and barely eats anything, and if he does he vomits a very short time after that.
For the past to days we have been trying our regular vet (the one that deals with our dogs and cat). Yesterday he gave him some liquid IV and injected him with an antibiotic and steroids. He gave us some to give him at home.
Today he gave him another IV, steroids, antibiotic and vitamins. He has been sleeping all day and sometimes wakes up and throws up foam. He isn't as lively and barely eats.
I have no idea what to do because the vet which specializes in ferrets insists on giving him antibiotics orally, but after over 2 months of antibiotics his stomach must be destroyed. The regular vet might not be an expert but seems to agree with more natural methods. (like trying to feed him so rice water/goo)
By the way he also claws at his mouth when he has these puking episodes. Id really like so suggestions as to why he does this.
Sorry for the long post but I desperately need help!
[Moderator:
It is essential to give antibiotic for the FULL
COURSE unless a medical reason (such as
allergy to the med) prevents it. Otherwise,
the bacteria which remain can wind up
antibiotic resistant and then there is a huge
mess to deal with.
You will already have learned that, but others
here may need to learn it so with your
experience you may be helping save their
ferrets. Thank you for doing that!
I am sure that list members will tell you how
to reduce ulceration risk and how to treat
when those happen, also about medication
combinations.]
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