From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2010-03-14 21:43:31 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: New to group: sick kit, Qs on being very vocal
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Danielle
While there may not be any ferret expert veterinarians near you, there are a number of specialists who will consult with your vet.
Where are you located?
My vet has consulted with ferret expert veterinarians thousands of miles from where I live.
Pedialyte can cause more problems if not given correctly, for example, do not give it with anything else, including food or water. To be safe, I wouldn't give it at all unless you know you are giving it correctly.
If you can get some Hills Prescription Diet A/D from your vet, you can mix it with some warm water and give it to him every 4 hours rather than canned chicken. Alternatively, soak some high quality ferret kibble in water until its soft, then whip it into a paste with a fork and mix with either A/D or pure chicken baby food (no veggies, noodles or anything other than broth in it) and warm water and give him that every 4 hours.
What are his stools like? Is he vomiting?
Do not worm him again, that is rarely an issue for ferrets of any age and may also make him sicker. It is more likely a virus of some kind as already suggested in which case an antibiotic would not have been effective unless he had developed a secondary bacterial infection. While there are new veterinary antibiotics available that work with one shot only, I don't believe there are any that have been developed for use in ferrets. Generally antibiotics for ferrets are given regularly over a period of time, for example, twice a day, for 10 - 30 days.
Keep him away from your other animal companions and wash your hands before and after handling him until you know what you are dealing with.
In the interim keep the little guy as comfortable as possible by providing him with a cage where he won't be bothered by the other animals, plenty of soft blankets to cuddle in, fresh water and finger feed him every four hours with a soupy nutritious gruel made as suggested above (i.e., let him lick it off your finger)and provide lots of TLC from his new human mom ; )
Hopefully it is a more common viral infection that with time and care will pass. However, I would encourage you to request your veterinarian to consult with a ferret specialist just in case it is something more serious.
Were any of the other kits in the pet store ill?
Email me privately and I can send you a list of ferret knowledgeable/expert veterinarians who may consult with your vet.
Tressie
[Also of great use are lists of recommended veterinarians such as
http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
which is one of many resources that can be found by using
the FHL Files and Links sections.
--Moderator]
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Danielle" <dmayes236@...> wrote:
...
> I have panacured him (wormed), given him around the clock pedialyte, and canned chicken. I do have soaked feed out for him too. Is there an antibiotic that he should get PO (orally) or do you think the one antbiotic shot should be enough? I have looked online and the only thing I see is to take it to your vet. Well we do not have any vets in this area that know anything about them. So please help. We have become very attached to this guy.
>
> Thanks,
> Danielle
>
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