From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2010-02-18 02:58:51 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Young ferret with bladder control problems.
To: fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>, leanneb39@sbcglobal.net
You really have to consider that this ferret may have a history
of uroliths and then you MUST know what TYPE. The diet
MUST be adjusted specifically to the TYPE of urolith. If you
can not find out the type then at least have that urine pH done.
This really sounds like this could be a male who had a PU and
if so then that says that there could have been a life-threatening
urolith problem earlier. That may indicate a genetic vulnerability
in which case cystine uroliths may come up higher on the list of things
to consider as possibilities.
Struvite uroliths require more animal products in diet and there
are meds. Calcium oxalate requires eliminating as much plant
matter as possible. Cystine uroliths require keeping total protein
low, for many no more than 35% of the diet will work but there
ARE meds for those for whom that is not sufficient.
Read the urolith resources given earlier in this conversation.
Some PU refs for ferrets:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1467
(which goes into several surgical approach diseases such as
insulinoma, adrenal disease and more before getting to PUs)
See the section on
Obstructive urolithiasis
with the PU section beginning
> Many ferrets with obstructive urolithiasis can be managed with
> cystotomy and
> anterograde flushing of the urethra. If the distal urethra can not
> be cleared of stones or if
> the ferret has recurrence of obstruction, a perineal urethrostomy
> (PU) may be indicated.
and then it goes on to well describe the procedure in good detail.
If truly female does amputation of the vulva by an overly aggressive
novice mother match
with what you are seeing? I've certainly seen ones whose mothers
removed toes that way
and heard of at least one tail.
Also Vulvar Atresia is a malformation that is encountered at times in
mammals, so could
be a female with that. There are websites on female urogenital
malformations which may
help even when for different species.
This is the sort of thing that would not be immediately obvious to
most people.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
HAPPY: http://www.6footsix.com/my_weblog/2010/01/high-fives-for-happiness.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/