mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 12, 2012 20:20:04 GMT -5
Start with giving just one protein for a few days(say 3 for now). Then start adding in another slowly, maybe on a 25-50-75-100 percent ratio of new to old protein. See how that works. If everything is ok, start it over again with a 3rd protein. I can try this when I get back. What protien would you suggest? One of my commercial raws? (Lamb or duck) or just like a chicken?If she DOES need pred, you may not see much change. Pred for what? Sorry I dont understand I wouldnt see change if she was adrenal? And if she IS IBD, you are likely going to have to up the pumpkin to about a tbsp a day. Just so you are aware, if it's IBD, the pred should start showing an effect in a week or two. |
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Post by Heather on Aug 12, 2012 20:32:01 GMT -5
So I just got back from the vet. Got a temp, and waited for the vet. Kyra was wandering around and all of a sudden backed into a corner.... and pooped  So there was my sample for checking bacteria. I was so happy! (this cheered me up after the fact that the thermometer gave her a prolapse). The vet took the poo and will be sending it for a bacterial and sensitivity test. So that will be one more thing ruled out. My vet wants me to take her to the specialist 3 hours away. She is very concerned with the new straining and she said it looks worse to her. She said the whole area looks a bit swollen. Also she said the tip of her tongue is a bit red!? Something she started today is drinking quite a bit. After she drinks she makes a face and acts like she is choking a little (Tongue is working and she hacked once, no puke.) When i brought her home she did the same thing, drank and then acted like she was gonna spit something out. (looks like she tasted something awful or is gonna spit out a bone kinda) This is new. Not sure if that is connected or not. Poor thing. [img src="http://i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h352/JW_2012/Emoticons/ ![]() i1105.photobucket.com/albums/h352/JW_2012/Emoticons/T_T.png"].png [/IMG] (ps. I just changed the water, and thoroughly washed the dish)[/quote] That sounds like an ulcer to me. Not a ghastric but mouth ulcer. Have you had blood work done on her? To see if she's got a mouth ulcer, it takes two. One to hold and scruff and the other to try and see in her mouth and down her throat. Using a small flashlight helps too. It's not uncommon for ferrets with adrenal to develop ulcers but these are usually (not always) gastro-intestinal related. I've had a number of adrenal ferrets who suffered IBD type symptoms or ulcers while fighting adrenal. Loki Bears suffered throat ulcers but he had kidney issues and probably secondary adrenal (he had surgery when he was 4 that removed one adrenal gland) ciao |
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mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 12, 2012 20:49:11 GMT -5
I have not had blood work. This will likely be another thing done when we go to the specialist. I will take a look in her mouth soon. I want to let her rest for a little while... poor thing has been pretty stressed out today. I will be booking an appt on Monday.
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mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 12, 2012 20:52:14 GMT -5
OH - another new symptom I forgot to add to this... gas! She farts now. Once in a while a ferret toots when having a bm but she does everytime and quite a bit. She also has just recently tooted on me (lucky me) a couple of times..... this sounds like it could be part of a gastrointestinal issue....
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Post by Heather on Aug 12, 2012 22:10:17 GMT -5
Hmmm, your little one does indeed have an issue with her digestion. Other than blatant farts in the litter box and some fully loaded fuzzes letting it go I've not dealt with farting fuzzies. Napoleon used to fart after eating a whole egg by himself but that was self inflicted....he always was a bit of a gluton
ciao
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mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 12, 2012 22:37:16 GMT -5
I agree. Now the hardest part is figuring out exactly what kind of gastrointestinal issue we are dealing with...
I struggle with the idea of IBD... because her poops are usually pretty normal.. no crazy diarrhea (the last pic of poop I included is the worst I have seen) and the issue seems to be slowly getting worse. I would expect IBD to be explosive (no pun intended) from the time you introduce a new food...
My vet was wondering if it is the high protein. She said some animals have troubles on a high protein diet (She is a raw advocate, so she doesn't want me to switch, but she is concerned for my little Kyra). This all started when I switched from ultimate 8in1 to Evo can and kitten food. Ultimate was like 40 percent protein I believe. Evo is around 50. I dunno. This is why my vet wants me to see a specialist.
I tried looking in Kyra's mouth with my bf holding her.. I didn't see anything but try to get her to stay still! :-/
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Post by Sherry on Aug 12, 2012 22:51:36 GMT -5
From the way you describe her drinking I'm with Heather. That sounds like a mouth or throat ulcer. Boris was the same way with his. If she'll yawn when scruffed, look for a dark red spot. If there, it will likely be tiny. You can also try her with a small dish of quite warm water to drink. Boris could handle this fine, and was usually thirsty enough to drink quite a bit. If she does well with that, then she likely does have one somewhere.
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Post by darlene on Aug 13, 2012 2:23:50 GMT -5
Just curious if it's a mouth ulcer how is it treated?
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Post by Jaclynn on Aug 13, 2012 4:34:29 GMT -5
Antibiotics and maybe metro. Rachel dealt with this with her fuzzy Remus. You might be able to google that thread.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 13, 2012 12:59:15 GMT -5
I actually used Colloidal silver for Boris'. Since it was visible in his mouth I put some on a qtip end and dabbed it on the ulcer 3X a day. It cleared up in about 5 days.
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Post by Heather on Aug 13, 2012 14:53:12 GMT -5
With a human you'd say gargle ;D...with a ferret...you can put CS in the water but remember like any antibiotic 10 to 14 days on, then take her off. You should see results in 24 to 48 hrs if not you will have to treat allopathically. Mouth and throat ulcers are often hard to see, you almost have to know what you're looking for.
One thing to consider...if you're feeding processed foods (canned cat foods and kibbles) the high protein level may indeed be working against you. Most raw meats don't hit the 35 to 40% range (strangely enough...I though protein was protein until I discovered that is not the case) What she needs is a level of digestible protein. High proteins in kibbles and canned cat foods are often attained by using vegetable (often soya) proteins. These are not easily digestible and in fact cause digestive issues in carnivores. It's just a thought
ciao
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mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 13, 2012 17:20:54 GMT -5
I tried to look into Kyra's mouth but I did not see anything. She is very stubborn and wont even yawn if she doesn't want to!  I am taking her to the specialist this Thursday (and will be taking Mika as well to check on her adrenal). Fingers crossed we figure something out! Heather- She has not been on a kibble for a couple of months. She is completely raw fed. This all BEGAN when we switched from one kibble to another. Evo caused a prolapse in 2 of my 3 ferrets so I very quickly switched to raw. Mika's prolapse went away, Kyra has been battling hers ever since. This morning I put some sudocrem on Kyra's bum and put her in the cage (after a little snuggle) and there she went... licking it off!  I said No Kyra and picked her up to look and her bum looked so sore and even had a little spot that was raw to the point it had blood (like a pin point, not alot) so I put a little more on and held her. her back legs were just shaking...  poor thing it broke my heart. I cuddled and then got her interested in food, wishing the cream to do a little soothing... She ate...then layed down and licked the cream!  honeslty! Sudocrem is supposed to taste awful! At least my vet said it isnt dangerous if she licks a little.  |
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Post by Sherry on Aug 13, 2012 18:22:54 GMT -5
Start with giving just one protein for a few days(say 3 for now). Then start adding in another slowly, maybe on a 25-50-75-100 percent ratio of new to old protein. See how that works. If everything is ok, start it over again with a 3rd protein. I can try this when I get back. What protien would you suggest? One of my commercial raws? (Lamb or duck) or just like a chicken?If she DOES need pred, you may not see much change. Pred for what? Sorry I dont understand I wouldnt see change if she was adrenal? And if she IS IBD, you are likely going to have to up the pumpkin to about a tbsp a day. Just so you are aware, if it's IBD, the pred should start showing an effect in a week or two. Sorry- missed this somehow! If you are going to go on the premise of IBD(depending on what the vet says), leave chicken out of the equation for now since that's a fairly normal trigger. And the pred would be given for a diagnosis of IBD, not adrenal. |
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Post by miamiferret2 on Aug 13, 2012 22:28:08 GMT -5
Sounds like ibd. Feed only one protein for a few days and see how she does. Keep a diary. Then move onto another protein for a few days. My Lemmy had gas with his ibd!
You feed commercial raw? What kinds?
Try natures variety freeze dried raw. They have lamb chicken and another type.
The clay in it can help funky stools like this.
Have you tried reishi mushroom capsules? Lifeshield from new chapter organics. 1/4 capsule per day in food.
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mjbez
Adolescent Member
Raw Feeder
Owned By 4 Ferrets :)
Posts: 299
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Post by mjbez on Aug 14, 2012 12:58:56 GMT -5
Sounds like ibd. Feed only one protein for a few days and see how she does. Keep a diary. Then move onto another protein for a few days. My Lemmy had gas with his ibd! You feed commercial raw? What kinds? Try natures variety freeze dried raw. They have lamb chicken and another type. The clay in it can help funky stools like this. Have you tried reishi mushroom capsules? Lifeshield from new chapter organics. 1/4 capsule per day in food. I feed carnivora (local) duck, and Natures variety Instince Raw lamb. I do not have freeze dried raw because I brought home a sample and Kyra acted like I was trying to kill her! I think there is clay in the raw lamb though. I never buy the commercial chicken, beef etc when that is something I can buy from the grocery for Much cheaper! (and I can only fit 2 different types of commercial raw in freezer at a time, I only have the one above my fridge for me, bf and ferrets!) I havent tried reishi mushroom. Can all 3 of my ferrets have it? Obviously all of them share food, so I'm not sure the best way to only give it to Kyra. I think the Reishi was also suggested for her mast cell tumor (i think that is what it was, it was a red dot that flared up, tured to a scab and went away twice). Doesnt reishi need to be continued thought her lifetime if I start it? or was that something else I was thinking about? That kind of concerns me.. :-/ |
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