From:
"sukiedaviscrandall"
Date: 2010-08-02 15:47:31 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: difficulty passing feces without actual constipation
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Each of his known problems could account for the difficulties he has, and I guess that they could in combination. I guess our problem is that the current actual cause is unknown specifically because there are multiple possible causes with one (kidney problems) being hard to test in ferrets (except for concentrations) since ferrets often do not show "wrong" kidney values even when their kidneys are diseased, so we don't know which or how many are contributing, nor if approaches to treat one may harm other problems -- that sort of thing -- and have not yet discussed this with our vets though we plan to soon.
The colon removes fluid from waste, so anything that slows down the waste enough in the colon results in drier feces and so do demands for more fluid elsewhere.
I guess I should be more clear on that so will attach this as a second post.
Right now unless our vets suggest otherwise we are leaving well enough alone because he is in a careful balance right now and has made it through so much, but are in the learning phase for this and realize that we have to jump if he worsens badly or blocks.
Currently he is somewhat active, though at a walking pace, pretty much what one expects for an old ferret man who has a range of health problems. We want to maintain a decent quality of life for him for as long as possible. (Hilbert and Mornie have both reached the "quality of life" point in their final illnesses, but Mornie's quality of life is higher with her terminal problems gentler so far and very responsive to her Suprelorlin implant, fortunately, so she just dashes around the place still.)
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