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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2015 19:29:15 GMT -5
Hi,
As some may have read, I have recently adopted an adrenal boy (~5y/o). He just received his DES implant a week or so ago.
His skin still itches and he's half bald now so I don't want him to scratch to blood.
Does anyone have experience with anything natural that can help with the itching? Or anything else I can request from my vet?
He'll be going back for a checkup in avout a month (or 3 weeks), when I will ask for the melatonin as well, to help out with his fur growth. We'll discuss about a professional cleaning for his teeth, and vaccines +microchip+passport.
I was recommended primrose oil (not essential oil) from another ferret vet, and I remember there was someone here that has used that before with adrenal ferrets, I just can't find the thread on my phone. If anyone has used that - how much do you give/day? Also, just oral or on the skin as well? He absolutely loves the taste but I don't want to give him explosive butt.
Any other advice will be helpful. He's eating well now, managed to put on a little weight already and is fully converted to raw (all within a week! - i have to brag a little as I'm so proud of him)
Thanks in advance!
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Post by Heather on Sept 21, 2015 19:46:26 GMT -5
If you're not using melatonin either as an implant or orally I would suggest this. I've had a lot of success with it treating coat issues and the severe itchies that come with it
As far as Evening primrose it's often used to treat hormonal issues. The warning about this drug is when ingested it does have the potential to manifest as temporal lobe epilepsy. Now it can be used to help treat psoriasis, so this might be the idea behind the vet's advice in using this. Like many herbs it has the power to help or hurt depending on how it's used and how much is used. At one time it was suggested to only use as a topical as ingesting it may cause tumours.
ciao
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Post by Desiree on Sept 21, 2015 20:02:59 GMT -5
As a temporary fix, oatmeal soaked in water is a great skin soother. It relieves itching, helps dry skin and protects the skin. I use old pantyhose and put the oatmeal in there and swish it around the water.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2015 20:13:55 GMT -5
Heather Wow, I think I'll ditch the primrose oil in this case, I gave him a few drops but it sounds like the risks outweigh the benefits... i will ask for the melatonin as soon as possible. If I just order online to give oral, what dosage do I choose? I noticed there are tablets and liquid, I found them for human use Desiree And the oatmeal bath sounds like a great idea, it should help him for the moment. I'll go buy some tomorrow and do it
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Post by Heather on Sept 21, 2015 20:40:41 GMT -5
Instead of the primrose oil, I'd be tempted to give him some fish oil of some sort. I use herring but there' salmon and small marine fish oils too.
If you're going to do oral melatonin you have to be able to give during a very narrow time period. It has to be given daily 7 to 9 hrs after sunrise. As far as dosage, it depends entirely on the strength of the melatonin. When I first started using it, it was in 1mg and 3mg strengths. Now it's everywhere from 1mg to 10 mg. What the dosage is depends entirely on the strength. I use a liquid, berry flavoured. Don't get citrus...they hate it. It's bad enough with the berry but the citrus causes frothing and gagging. Watch what the sweetener that is used as swell.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 2:25:29 GMT -5
Yep, he does get salmon oil  I found both all options in pill version so it wouldn't be föavoured - but how many mg/ferret? and do they have to be actually exposed to sunrise ? ( they may be sleeping in their dark place). Also I live in a place when sun doesn't really rise all year round, in the winter we have a semi-sunrise around 11am and goes down around 3pm the latest. In the summer it rises around 1-2am and goes down around 11pm.. of course I see the oral melatonin as a temporary solution. Sorry for all the questions, ot does sound a bit more complicated. I just felt like taking this option because I'm not sure if my vet will have the implant |
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Post by Heather on Sept 22, 2015 11:06:34 GMT -5
No, they don't have to see the sunrise. Chances are if they were free roam they would as my brats always greet the sun, the ruckus they raise at that hour is unreal...but I don't think it's sun that actually gets them awake. Hmm, I wonder what the hours would be when the sunrise is that radical...The same I'm going to guess. As to dosage...they can have 1 to 3 mg per day. So if you buy 1mg to 3 mg tablets then you could just dissolve that into some oil and give it to them
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2015 11:57:01 GMT -5
Perfect, I'll check the pharmacy here or otherwise order online. They are free roam so they do have their own rhythm, and wake us up at 3am in the summer:) i will check the sunrise exact time online and give according to that
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2015 15:56:00 GMT -5
Update : snoopy is starting his melatonin tomorrow. Hopefully we'll some improvement. He's eating well, playing well how long does it usually take to see results? (Or to know if it's needed to up the dosage?) We're starting with 1mg daily. I know sleepiness is a side effect so I'll try not to panic, but is there anything else to watch out for? I just saw some pics with him from the time he was brought to the shelter - he had fur! Thinned, but he did have. Can one month do so much damage if untreated?  i feel so frustrated, I've begged the shelter to implant him or let me do it from the day he arrived... Oh yeah, one thing that surprised me - he never smelled. Not even before the implant. I kept hearing about that burnt-sock-rubber terrible smell adrenals have, but he doesn't smell at all different. That's quite odd |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2015 18:58:12 GMT -5
Try not to fret.... your r doing the best you can, and life is so much better for the little fellow,now that u have him. Just as long as he is happy and full---what more can a ferret ask for?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2015 15:42:30 GMT -5
thanks abbeytheferret6 i've never given meds without vet prescription so i am a bit paranoid about it I bonded so fast with this little guy it's unbelievable, and he chose me, my husband said he's agitated when i am out for the whole day and waits for me. and the moment I get home he jumps on my lap and naps for a little bit while I cuddle him at night he sleeps on a little pillow next to my side of the bed |
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