Message Number: FHL11802 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Tressie"
Date: 2010-07-08 22:15:10 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: How much water for sick ferret?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

I have several senior ferrets (6+) and find the opposite. Their skin is quite loose everywhere.

I think what you are seeing is a sign that he is dehydrated if the skin tents and goes down slowly.

I was advised by a ferret expert vet (can't use name here) to give between 12 - 15mL/ cc of fluid with sub-q hydration at one time because more is simply too uncomfortable for the ferret. However, I have had vets administer considerably more in several locations in the back area, which is fine when done by a vet.

My understanding from veterinary guidance is that once a ferret is hydrated via sub-q fluids then drinking 'additional' water is not as important. Key is that they are sufficiently hydrated. Do the pinch test regularly to see if he is still dehydrated and needs additional fluids by mouth or sub-q hydration.

Tressie

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "truthberry101" <ruthnrob2@...> wrote:
>
>.... When you pinch up on the skin on his back between the shoulders it goes back very slowly, but I wonder if that's all dehydration or if age might make skin less elastic and we could end up harming him by giving him too much fluid at some point(his skin there was kind of wrinkly when he was healthy, but I never pinched it up so I don't have a baseline to compare it to). My questions:
> 1. How accurate is the pinch test for dehydration?
> 2. Can he get too much fluid and how will I know?
> 3. How much should he be drinking?
> 4. Should I adjust subcutaneous fluids based on how much he drinks?
> 3. How much ferretvite and chicken baby food do I need to make sure he eats so he doesn't starve?
>
> [You will find this useful:
> http://www.petcarevb.com/wordpress/ferrets/feeding-the-sick-ferret/
> and if you look to your right on that site you can pull up
> other articles in their Library
> --Moderator]
>




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