From:
Mike
Date: 2010-03-08 14:40:26 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Sprout Update
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, F M L <ferret-L@listserv.ferretmailinglist.org>
Our vet=A0just called with the results from Sprout's biopsies.
=A0
The Cyst was actually a Lymph node.
=A0
Basically he had ECE which seems to be gone now,=A0no signs of it but it ha=
s caused a lot of scarring in his intestines.
=A0
He said young ferrets tend to get ECE and get over it fairly quickly, older=
ferrets get it and it it hangs on and causes a lot scarring.=A0 The ferret=
needs to get a lot of supportive care.=A0=A0=A0
Force feedings and give them antibiotics, pepcid, and pred.
=A0
When I think of force feeding I think of getting the food (duck soup, chick=
en baby food, etc) and putting it into a syringe, scuffing the ferret and s=
queeze it into the back of their throat.=A0 This seems a lot like torture, =
I know it isn't but it feels like it.
[Moderator's reminder:
FHL member veterinarians have regularly asked us to be sure to
remind people to learn syringe feeding from HANDS ON TRAINING
BY A VET OR VET TECH. Done incorrectly forced feeding or syringe
feeding can cause aspiration pneumonia.
Finger feeding is usually recommended to be tried first.]
=A0
Since Sprout has not stopped eating completely can this force feeding take =
the shape of giving him chicken baby food (if he'll eat it) three times a d=
ay?
=A0
Sprout usually weighs about 2 lbs 5 ounces.=A0 He went down to 1 lbs 13 1/2=
ounces before surgery.=A0 Now 7 days after surgery=A0he is at 2 lbs even.=
=A0 He still moves around but is less active than he usually is, he stretch=
es and by the way he acts it looks like he is feeling good.=A0 He still eat=
s but I'm not sure how much he is eating.=A0 We try to give all our ferrets=
some duck soup every couple months or so to get them used to it so when th=
ey do get sick they will eat it.=A0 Sprout seemed to like the duck soup the=
n more than all the rest.=A0 He usually would be the last one to leave the =
dish and a lot of time it was because there wasn't much if any duck soup le=
ft.=A0 Now he'll eat it for about 20 - 30 seconds and then goes and lays do=
wn or goes to explore.
=A0
What would you recommend?=A0 Scruff and syringe (duck soup or chicken baby =
food, duck soup or chicken baby food without syringing?=A0 Other ideas?
[See above message on how to learn to do syringe feeding
safely enough
--Moderator]
=A0
The only time we've had a ferret who wasn't eating, were ferrets who were t=
rying to cross the bridge and nothing seemed to help them.=A0 So when it co=
mes to force feeding I really have no idea (well not much of one) what to d=
o and how to do it.=A0 I would appreciate any advice I can get.
=A0
Sprout is still alert and sweet as always and he is eating kibble on his ow=
n but I'm not sure if it is enough.=A0
=A0
Do we keep checking his weight and if it starts to go down force feed him.
=A0
Thank you
=A0
Mike
=20=20=20=20=20
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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