From:
Susan Jones
Date: 2011-11-23 23:29:39 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Torn cruciate ligament
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Ah-ha! My ferret Cody had surgery on both knees back in the mid nineties
for the ACL tears...how in the world do ferrets get football knees? He
recovered nicely and we did physical therapy after both surgeries. He was
not on anti-inflammatories so I cannot give advice there. I just knew that
was a once in a million medical condition. Hope all goes well.
- Susan Jones PS. I have heard of meloxicam (metacam) being used in
ferrets.
[Metacam as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), in combination with any of the steroids, e.g., pred, does not as a rule, mix very well. Metacam is known to cause GI issues, as do steroids. The two are generally contraindicated.
However, having said that I have had a ferret on both while we attempted to sort out an effective pain management program for her. My vet and I worked with a ferret expert from the U.S. (Diplomate in small exotic mammals) and an anesthesiology vet resident in the Netherlands who published a paper on managing pain in ferrets, to come up with a suitable protocol. While we tried different combinations, at one point she was started on a teeny dose of metacam i.e., 0.1mg/kg for 1 day, 0.05mg/kg q24 for 3 days, 0.025mg/kg for 3 days, etc., once every 24 hours, together with Tramadol every 12 hours, famotidine once a day and her regular dose of prednisolone. It took about 2 1/2 weeks to find a combination of medications that worked with minimal side effects.
Sometimes it takes patience, persistence and professional input from experts, a vet willing to accept that level of input from more knowledgeable colleagues, and an owner remaining open-minded to professional input and complying completely with the recommended treatment protocol. - Moderator (TD)].
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