From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2010-04-24 23:32:28 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Mystery Poop Problem
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Kelsey,
Were the stool samples sent out for culture or just examined in-house? What medications were they given?
There are a number of different things this could be, some of which require more than a stool culture - some examples, a biopsy is required to diagnose eosinophilic granulomatous enteritis; several samples examined over time to confirm coccidia; or colon swab/biopsy for proliferative colitis, which older ferrets can also get, etc.
I can tell you that given my personal experience with a ferret diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatous enteritis (EGE), the stools were green mucous blobs. It is foruntatly, a rare condition and the odds of having two ferrets in the same household with a diagnosis of EGE would be astronomical. It is not an infectious disease.
Whereas, it does sound like this might either be diet related, perhaps the types of treats they are getting or too much Ferretone; or it is one of the infectious agents.
A note on EVO, I have always fed Innova EVO to all of my ferrets and have never had an issue with the GI problems others have described. The only thing I can think of is that I always buy bags small enough that I can refrigerate them after opening because EVO does not contain preservatives and its possible that the instances of it causing GI upset have been because it spoiled.
If you can't bring a fresh stool sample into the vet with you, bring several photos of the stools in question.
Tressie
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "kelsey josine" <kelseyjosine@...> wrote:
>
... I just want others opinions on how to describe it to the vet and if it actually looks "bubbly". I read that gassy and bubbly looking poop can be a sign of eosinophilic enteritis. Also, sometimes the poop is much darker and it looks almost...piecey. Like there's pieces of poop all together instead of it being smooth.
>
> Ok this wasn't short and sweet but I'm getting worried about this so if anyone can give me an advice or opinions I'd appreciate it, thanks!
>
>
>
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