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Post by RedSky on Jun 8, 2015 14:19:22 GMT -5
Thought I'd rename the post. Hope it doesn't confuse anyone, but it's not so much just a sore willy anymore.
I hope it's okay that I'm making another post about Mako. I'm hoping a new post will get more views and I really need help.
Bit of history, feel free to skip: Mako is disabled in that his back legs have little to no feeling, he no longer moves them at all and he's started dragging himself on his stomach rather than flipping his legs to the side like he used to.
He doesn't seem to have much/any control over toileting, I express his bladder usually 3 times a day (started with 2 but it didn't seem enough).
Vet gave us some antibiotics (baytril @0.2ml once per day) after expressing his bladder and dipping a test stick. This was over a week ago.
He went to the vets again last Thursday and when I mentioned his penis getting sore her suggestion was a plaster or bandage to stop it from rubbing. We all know this would end up as a blockage so I continued with him wearing a sock while under supervision. But he can slip out and I don't really like him unsupervised wearing it (and his harness to try keep it on longer).
The problem:
Mako drags his back end and is causing damage to his penis. Mainly the 'opening' but it's now swelling up a lot.
It's been bleeding on and off and I've been cleaning him up and putting on sudocrem a few times a day. This seemed to help at first but now it's getting much worse.
I'm not sure if maybe Bolin is licking off the sudocrem (Bolin happily eats it!) or if it's just a continuation of the friction as he walks around. Or maybe he's having a bad reaction to the sudocrem.
Korra has to go back to the vets on Thursday so I could take him along too, or call in the morning and take him in tomorrow... I can go back and forth as much as needed. Any suggestions, any ideas, anything to discuss with the vets?
On the up side it seems he has little feeling in the area so he's still happily running (dragging himself) around, playing, eating, drinking etc. Trying to keep him still is pretty much impossible.
Also hopefully his wheelchair will be here soon, I can try to get him used to it ASAP and then hopefully using it a few hours a day to give his nether rejoins some time to heal.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 8, 2015 15:37:46 GMT -5
Beyond keeping that area well covered not sure what else you can do. Hopefully once he gets his wheels he will be better.
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Post by RedSky on Jun 8, 2015 16:34:54 GMT -5
Thanks. It's really swollen and bleeding again. Going to call the vets first thing and take him in for another look. Must be some cream or advice for him. I'm worried he's infected or something more is going on. It seems worse after I've expressed his bladder. Not sure if it's just irritation from the urine causing it or something else.
I'm really worried and upset about it all so probably just over reacting.
Thanks again
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Post by FireAngel on Jun 8, 2015 19:14:27 GMT -5
I don't think you're overreacting at all, if it is swollen and bleeding there is something obviously irritating it somehow. And if he is incontinent of urine and that is getting in there, it is very possible for it to get infected. Having it looked at is the right thing to do, not overreacting.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2015 20:43:17 GMT -5
I would definitely leave off the cream for a while--in case he has a sensitivity to it.
Can't go wrong with just warm water and a pat dry at least until vet makes a determination.
I do hope he does get better bless his little heart
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Post by mjbez on Jun 8, 2015 23:01:08 GMT -5
Poor Mako, I wish I had some advice but I really am just wanting to send you and your little guy some good wishes. Hopefully his wheels come soon and he heals up. *hugs for Mako*
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Post by RedSky on Jun 9, 2015 3:41:59 GMT -5
Expressed him late last night and there was a bit of blood around his penis and it was still very swollen. The first drop of urine was obviously mixed with blood but after that the urine was the normal colour.
Just got up and expressed his bladder again, all I got were big drops of blood, as far as I could tell no urine. His bladder is quite big (like it always is first thing) and I was struggling to get anything out.
Of course nothing but blood has set alarm bells ringing, so I called the vets for an appointment. We will set off in just under an hour, so he's got time to eat.
Thanks everyone. I'm sure a mess right now, I'm terrified that the vet is going to say there isn't much she can do. If that's the case there is another vet I will take him to before making any decisions. He's so bright and happy, it's all his back end that is falling apart.
I think tonight I'm going to get up midway through and express his bladder. If I have to do it every 6 hours or less that's fine, as long as he's comfortable.
I've taken a picture of the blood he passed, we use puppy pads so it's easy to see. I think there was probably just over a teaspoon full (maybe less??? It's hard to tell).
I'm not sure if there is something else going on inside him.
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Post by RedSky on Jun 9, 2015 6:08:30 GMT -5
Just got back from the vets. Our lovely vet has said it's most likely a popped blood vessel in his bladder. I'm not 100% convinced as it didn't look like watered down blood but just plain blood. That said obviously I was panicking a lot.
I showed her the photo and she was shocked but when she expressed his bladder it was normal urine... So at least we know he's not bleeding to death internally... which was my biggest worry.
He still seems bright, happy, plenty of colour (should have been a clue to calm me down but clearly I wasn't thinking straight). He seems to quite like his trip out to the vets now, it's become that frequent. I thought after we lost our dog (he went weekly) that we would hardly ever go... They want to prove me wrong clearly!
I'm to give him metacam again to help with the inflammation and I've got some more Baytril (antibiotics) so I can continue the same dose for a while longer. Hopefully it will help.
In the mean time I am limiting his out of the cage time (just until his wheels get here) but giving him things to do and swapping toys around lots so he's not having to move far to play. He's not too pleased about it but is enjoying his tunnels and ball pool at the moment. Rice dig box and tents this afternoon. Might take him out in the garden to watch the birds and squirrels later. I'd imagine grass would be more gentle than carpet but I plan on mainly holding him anyway.
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Post by FireAngel on Jun 9, 2015 8:11:00 GMT -5
Awww I hope that his wheels come really soon!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 9:20:46 GMT -5
Bless his little ferret heart--still enjoying life despite his illness.Good luck at vet.
You are very brave. I would be so terrified to have to express bladder(can't even cut nails). May he find some pain free hours today.
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Post by RedSky on Jun 9, 2015 10:22:15 GMT -5
This is the part that keeps me so concerned. The vet has warned that typically with cats and dogs you just keep them going for as long as they are comfortable and any 'side effects' are controlled (bladder infections, sores etc). He's such a happy chap and has so much spark (his nick name is actually Sparky) throughout all of this.
I've had pets all my life and some have needed a lot of care. I also used to work at a small petting zoo type place so picked up lots of stuff there about care and what not. New things do worry me but once I've got the basic hang of it and seen it work I'm content to go about doing it regularly. I once had a guinea pig whose teeth grew into his jar rather than up, the only option (other than PTS) was to have the teeth removed but it would have to be from the outside of his mouth... Basically he had a whole in the side of his face that I had to flush out a few times a day and put honey on. Our vet then was beyond amazing and I will admit I had a crush on him (I was only early teens!).
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Post by Sherry on Jun 9, 2015 11:53:59 GMT -5
Hoping he continues to be a happy boy, and that he doesn't suffer from too many bladder infections poor lad!
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Post by crazylady on Jun 9, 2015 12:38:18 GMT -5
Hi Redsky if your worried about the sudocreme try a little vasaline that will keep the urine off his skin and act as a barrier have you thought about tubigrip ? you could get the small size cut out holes for his back feet and tail and slip it on like a pair of trousers ( you can even sew in a pocket on the inside where his penis is and pop in a little cotton wool this will give him extra padding when dragging around preventing him from taking off skin )because tubigrip is slightly elastic its not as easy to slip off ( pound land have it for one pound along with vet type self grip bandages which could act like a belt lol)good luck he is lucky to have such a loving mum take care bye for now
Bev
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2015 12:52:58 GMT -5
Poor Mako :C One of my chinchillas has the same situation, I had to bandage his genital area because he would drag himself over it even when it bled and made him scream in pain. I ordered a wheel chair for him from the vet and it has to arrive next month. I hope Mako gets better soon  |
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Post by RedSky on Jun 9, 2015 16:10:06 GMT -5
Thank you all for your support. It really does make such a difference to know I'm doing right by Mako. He's the first ferret I've owned and never had a disabled pet before, had lots of poorly pets but not actually disabled. The few people I've talked about him with or have seen him have asked if it wouldn't be better to let him 'go'. I know they mean well and I've thought about it, especially since he's not getting better but he has so much spark and brightness. He's still Mako, he just can't do much with his back end.
Bev tubigrip is a great idea. I did have some kicking around here somewhere, I'll have a look, if not I'll nip to Boots in the morning. Poundland is a little too far for me to drive, I have back problems too! Seems a running theme in my house. Definitely worth a try, and the cotton wool idea! So simple and easy! If anyone see's a brain laying around it's probably mine, it seems to have up and left the building. I have some of that vet bandage stuff that sticks to itself, not sure if he will try to eat it. I can always try. He's so tolerant of me doing all these things to him, he's such a love. I keep saying that if it was Korra I think we would have had to give up on her as she would be so stressed out and upset at being manhandled all the time. Shows how much I really need to get her on my side, I'd hate to lose her because I haven't done enough work with her. Anyway enough of me feeling miserable!
His wheelchair should have been put in the post yesterday, but it's got a fair way to come.
On the upside I've ordered some tickets to a local agricultural show which is having a ferret show. They even have a disabled class, and today their playpen came that I plan on using for the show. Mako and Bolin will love all the attention. Of course if Mako isn't feeling up to it that day I won't take him, but he loves people and being out and about so I think he will enjoy it. It's about a 5 minute walk too, no need for the car so if we get there and have a problem he can come back home pretty quickly. Korra won't be attending. She doesn't like new people, seems really nervous outside and doesn't like loud noises. She's not too bothered about the boys most of the time either so I'm sure she will be fine on her own at home. I'll give her a special meal (mice - their favourite) and let her enjoy it without the boys stealing it from her!
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