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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2014 21:02:53 GMT -5
Completely agree with Heather, I've seen the worst and the best of Pred, over dosing is not pretty and it's not something to take lightly, not saying you are, you're doing very well, just for others to read also. Just tell your Vet that you don't think her scale is accurate, bring your scale and let them weigh her on yours so they can see it, they won't be able to get her dosing right if they don't have the correct weight and being almost 1lb off is bad and I wouldn't give her meds with her weight being off like that.
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 17, 2014 21:09:01 GMT -5
I agree with Heather. It sounds like you found a vet that will work with you. I've had 2 vets that didn't se many ferrets but took my lead and did the research needed to help our fuzzies. We've actually use prednisone 5mg pills at 1/4 pill per dose to start. The pills we've used are so small I can't imagine trying to cut them into 1/8s and getting an accurate dose. It sounds low to me, anyway. We've had a half dozen insulinoma cases so it works for us. We have a pill cutter which makes it easier.
We have a prednisolone liquid script for Jaffa and he will be on that when the pills are gone. The liquid is much easier to work with and measure accurately, and it's supposed to be easier on the organs, as the prednisone needs to be converted to prednisolone by the liver anyway. It's not expensive, so I would ask your vet to put Bella on it.
You definitely want to keep your vet informed about any changes and clinical signs. You may need to change dosages every so often. That said we've had a couple cases where their BG never got back to normal levels even after a year on pred. They can and do adapt, but you want to monitor BG levels so you know what their new normal may be so you don't give more pred than needed. Once Kahlua started on it, her BG never got above the 40s, but she lived our her life till she was 8.
The only ferrets I've ever known of that were healthy at under 1 lb. are "micros." They privately bred nad not Marshall's. I agree with Jules. Bring your own scale, or if you call the vet to get liquid pred, let her know what you weighed her at, at least, since dosage is calculated by weight. I'm sure you'l get it worked out.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2014 21:21:17 GMT -5
How do you all weigh your babies? When at the vet what type of scale does your vet use? Do they use the big one that they use for large dogs or a smaller one?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2014 21:23:37 GMT -5
My Vet has a smaller scale they use for Cats, Ferrets and small Dogs. But I have a kitchen scale, I put a bowl on it, turn it on, put some salmon oil on their ferrets tummies and put them in (and go for the highest weight when it goes back and forth, hehehe). I think it's odd if they don't have a smaller scale.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2014 21:27:57 GMT -5
Thank you Julesalot, unclejoe and Heather. I will contact my Vet tomorrow. Thanks again
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 17, 2014 21:45:01 GMT -5
Thank you Julesalot, unclejoe and Heather. I will contact my Vet tomorrow. Thanks again Our vet sees exotics. They use a smaller scale for the ferrets, I guess the one for cats. We have a digital food scale at home that goes to 10 Kg. It reads in lb/oz and grams, an had a liquids setting as well. I found it at an Aldi store for $10. A couple ferret moms I know use a digital fish scale. You have to put them in a harness to use it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2014 22:33:19 GMT -5
Sounds just like the scale I have unclejoe. I put a bowl on it and then put them in the bowl. It has the tare weight option so I make sure to zero the scale after I put the bowl on it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 0:20:27 GMT -5
Well just a quick update on Bella...she has impressed me tonight! She was more active than I've seen her in a quite a while! She got up quite a few times and walked around the room and seemed more alert. She didn't eat as much as yesterday, so far only 1oz. Mia is just pigging out! lol She has had 4.1oz! They must love the rabbit because this is the new batch of food that I made this morning with a mixture of chicken and rabbit.
I weighed them both today and Bella is at 1.7 lbs and Mia is at 1.13 lbs!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 0:28:57 GMT -5
Awesome! And raw will do wonders to help also. Amazing how much some meds can help our babies, keep it up Bella!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 4:16:05 GMT -5
Glad to hear she's had a good night! I weigh my ferrets in a cloth bag that cinches, one that came with some shoes. I coax them in and set them on the kitchen scale. They curl up like they're in their hammock if I weigh them after they've been playing. If i try right after waking them up it is impossible! I am soo glad you got some news! It's heartbreaking that she's got this, but I'm so happy for her! Bella found a great mom to love her and get her the help she needs! Now she gets the chance for a better life!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2014 9:11:09 GMT -5
Awww what a nice thing for you to say ladybee! Thank you so much, you've just made my day.
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 18, 2014 9:48:48 GMT -5
The bowl and oil method for weighing works here, too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 14:54:24 GMT -5
Well today is not a good day for Bella! She is barely eating, not even worth weighing She is drinking. This morning I had to put her medication far back in her mouth in order for her to take it as she would barely eat a bandit treat. Her prednisone is a low dose...she's on 1.25mg/day and she is allowed up to 4mg. I just called the Vet and the tech is going to speak with the doctor and call me back. I'm so worried right now...I'm going to go try and feed her with a syringe. Please keep your fingers crossed that my baby is going to be ok.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 15:09:38 GMT -5
I just fed Bella 0.3oz by syringe...still waiting for the Vet's office to call me back. I have requested the pediapred or at the very least prednisolone in liquid form. The tech told me that the prednisolone is done by injection?? I told her that I have friends that use it and they get it at Walmart.
We'll see what they say.
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Post by Desiree on Dec 19, 2014 15:12:05 GMT -5
I'm sorry Bella isn't feeling well. Getting food in her should help.
Not sure if you were told but make sure she has something in her tummy before giving her the meds. It'll help her tummy. Have you tried enticing her with oil of some kind to see if she would eat?
My predinisolone is in liquid form and I got it from my vet. Rebel gets .15ml twice a day. She weighs 1lb 11 oz.
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