From:
"Jeff"
Date: 2011-06-01 23:21:37 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] insulinoma - Annabelle
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Mixing the carnivore care with some Hills A/D and some water and making a soup will get her the nutrition she needs and keep her hydrated. Heat it in a microwave until warm, not hot, and she should love it. I would also suggest that you add some probiotics to the soup AFTER heating, once daily. Her stomach is already in a bad state because of the ulcers, and the antibiotic will further reduce her ability to digest properly. Adding the probiotic (Forti Flora is what I use) will aid in her digestion and in the absorption of the nutrients that she needs.
I am surprised the vet told you to stop the pred while treating ulcers. That would not be good for an elderly ferret with insulinoma. I have treated both simultaneously more than once and been able to cure the ulcers in 4-6 weeks while never reducing the pred. You need to give the amoxicillin diligently twice daily for 2 weeks (it loses it's potency by that time, anyway), and you need to give carafate diligently approx. 30 minutes before meals. The pred must be given with food to avoid any further stomach irritation, so I would give that right after the soup. If you can give pred three times daily, every 8 hours, I've found it to work better than if given twice daily, every 12 hours.
Her continued hind end weakness could mean that she needs a higher dose of pred, but a blood glucose test would be needed to determine this. Remember that insulinoma is a progressive disease, so over time more pred is needed. It could also mean that she is still dehydrated and/or malnourished, which should improve with continued feeding of the soup. I would try to feed her every 4-5 hours if that's at all possible, as she seems to not be eating on her own, and after that time period, there's probably not much of anything left in her stomach.
Jeff
In Loving Memory of Neo, Trinity, Morphy, Possum, Pip, Pop, Sabrina, Minnie Mouse, Hunny, Misty, Frodo, Baggins, and Mr. Parker
Caring for Luna, Baby Girl, Dozer, Boomer, and Zoomer
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