Post by PatienceTheVirtue on Nov 26, 2020 10:30:22 GMT -5
I have a veterinary appointment already set up for as soon as humanly possible with the holidays, like I'm talking before-the-sun-is-up appointment times scheduled, but maybe someone can help me know what to ask for in terms of tests? I'm thinking blood work, BG test, and x rays at the least, and I'll bring in a fecal sample in case they want to do testing, but perhaps there's more I can request, expect, or do. Or maybe I'm over reacting.
About 1.5-2 weeks ago my 1 year and 8 month old ferret lost some weight. I thought he had his seasons reversed since he'd been chubby all summer and was slimming down now. He was eating less.
Then he began getting very sleepy. I thought maybe instead of reversed seasons he was depressed due to being in his cage more often as we're packing to move.
NOW he started heaving/vomiting. I thought blockage but he's pooping consistently? One I have a picture of was a large fatty poop from eating a turkey grind, the rest that I also have pictures of have been darker and smaller due to smaller portions of more dehydrated and organ treats. Note that he's also not been out of his cage as often and is constantly supervised due to packing for moving, so there's a very small chance he could've gotten to something he shouldn't have anyway. Unless it was his pine pellet litter?
No pain or lumps to palpation along his entire body either.
I also thought maybe an infection from eating hidden meat that went bad.. but none of his lymph nodes are swollen. Not sure if that means much of anything though.
Could it be an ulcer?
At this point he refuses food most of the day except for like a 1-2 hour window, and if his cage mates try to play he will squeak and run away. Previously he was the play instigator. He does still war dance for like 15 seconds at a time if he gets excited enough.
I hold him up to see his weight and he's straight, his stomach doesn't dip in at all.. But when he walks you can clearly see his spine and it saddens me.
Last time the urge to eat came to him he had some soupie and a chicken heart. He started heaving unproductively 4-5 hours later. If he does throw up anything it's just liquid, no evidence of the food he'd eaten. Usually he just makes the sound and doesn't bring anything up.
I'm syringe feeding the balanced soupie in 2-3mL portions every 1-3 hours to keep his BG up and his system moving until our appointment. If I miss a dose then he starts heaving again, possibly due to empty stomach? He stops heaving when given oil to lick off like if I'd been trimming his nails. I wait 30-60 minutes before giving more soupie from that point in case he's still nauseous.
If he's willing to eat more then he gets to eat until he decides to stop, usually after 10-20mL or whatever chunk of meat he thinks looks juiciest if he's willing to take on chunks.
I also gave him 1.5mg of melatonin in case it has anything to do with light exposure or adrenal. I know it's not a fix like the Des implant, but even if it just tames some symptoms until the appointment, we'd all be happier.
None of his cage mates are showing any signs of anything amiss, so I don't think it's contagious.
Like I said, he has an appointment already.. But what more can I do until then? What do I request of the vet? We got him during COVID shut downs so he hasn't been to the vet in question for his first annual checkup. His previous owners fed him bananas and Walmart brand food, never took him to the vet for a check up or vaccinations. He's been on raw since we got him, MPC grinds for the last two months. Lamb, turkey, chicken, pork, beef, duck. Bone in for teeth cleaning and an organ meal to balance every week also.
Any advice is appreciated.
