Blockage or ill??

[Deleted]

My Neka is not acting right. I'm treating it as a possible blockage. Tell me pls if I"m missing anything.

First thing I noticed wrong is he curled up to go back to sleep about 10mins after coming out of cage, this was last night. For him this is WEIRD he can be out for HOURS and never go back to sleep LOL So this is odd for him, but the kids had been away a few day, got back that morning, and they all play for a long time, running chasing etc. SO thought maybe it could be just that.

This morning I noticed not enough poop in the litter, not enough as normal for both boys. As well more food left over then would normally be.

Offered breakfast, he refused to eat. (again not like him he eats everything in sight). Offered a few things I know he loves (heart) and he refused as well. By 10:30 still had not eaten and energy seems down, I made up some pumpkin, he refused it. I added olive oil and tried the other two to make sure there was not something about the mix he didn't like and they ate it up! Had to force feed him some of the mix, and he would back up and do anything he could to get away from it.

I plan to try again in a little bit, and repeat till he poops.

THe only other thing that could be added to these symptoms is possible vomiting. First I have to explain the routine here... what ever the ferrets dont eat gets added to the dogs breakfast.... so this morning there was extra to add to the dogs food, and it included some pumpkin from yesterday, and I do have a dog who pukes more then the average dog.....
So I found puke by the door that looked like pumpkin mixed with something. SO I"m not sure if that was Neka or the dog.

After the next attempt to get him to eat pumpkin I'm going to cage him so I'll know for sure.

Am I missing anything? Does this sound like a blockage to you all?

[Deleted]

Is he pawing at his mouth, shaking, grinding teeth?

If you think there could be a blockage, treat it like one. Give a bit of Vaseline. Try to keep him hydrated. I'd make some yummy soup and spoon feed him.

[Deleted]

Tried some soup with the pumpkin this time. Still did not want it. Hate forcing him. Got a bit into him, more on me.
Never tried vaseline, will he take it willingly normally??

It's been about 20 mins no vomiting.

[Deleted]

no he's not pawing at his mouth or anything like that.

[Deleted]

I would definitely be pushing the pumpkin and lax...having a fuzz that is a great eater refusing to eat worries me. You may have to water the pumpkin down a bit and syringe it to him so that he gets it into him and poo's... Has he been drinking water?

[Deleted]

not that i have noticed no.

I tried the vaseline didn't like but got some in him. going to try the syringe now.
thx

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 12:34:16 GMT -5 @3kaw said:

not that i have noticed no.

I tried the vaseline didn't like but got some in him. going to try the syringe now.
thx

be sure he is urinating & deficating- if not - he is blocked!!! & needs vet care immediately-he obviously is NOT well.. Please do not wait on the observations..

[Deleted]

Yeah that's probably your best bet....water down some pumpkin and syringe feed him that way you know for sure that he's gotten fluids and pumpkin in him. There should be a thread bookmarked on how to syringe feed a fuzz if you haven't done it before

[Deleted]

He is peeing, just has not pooped.

I have syringed feed before, though she was very sick and didn't fight so much... i'm covered in pumpkin. He took about 2 syringes.

waiting to hear back from vet, she was going to see if the vet can fit him in tonight, otherwise have to wait till morning.

[Deleted]

Keep us posted - if you get to the vet have them do a barium x ray.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2011 12:44:47 GMT -5 @rarnold18 said:

Yeah that's probably your best bet....water down some pumpkin and syringe feed him that way you know for sure that he's gotten fluids and pumpkin in him. There should be a thread bookmarked on how to syringe feed a fuzz if you haven't done it before[/quot

I need to sing off back at work and the kids are getting up from nap....I'LL Be checking back in around 530 est. I messaged sherry to see if the syringe feeding post can be found and stickied here i know it was on the old forum. I can't do links from my nook here at work. Praying for Neka!

[miamiferret2]

that sounds like an emergency. any time a normally active ferret is not eating or drinking and lethargic like it is NEVER good.
please take him to the vet asap.

[Deleted]

Sherry is at work right now, but I've left a note about this thread for when she comes home.

We almost lost Lucrezia to a blockage. A tiny piece of rubber -- and we STILL don't know where it came from, we checked all over -- two or three vet visits in less than six hours, and besides the pumpkin & vaseline, we also used toniclax. It has a malty flavour that the ferrets don't seem to mind.

I hate to say it, but a blockage is urgent, and if it isn't passed very quickly, it will become fatal not in days, but in hours.

Best of luck.

[Heather]

Please get that ferret to a vet ASAP. She's very sick and you don't have time to play. Most blocked ferrets don't make it through the first 24 hrs. The longer you think about this and stall the less time she has, because even if she does live she still has to be in some kind of shape to pass the surgery.
ciao

[crazylady]

Hi I second all that has been said you need a vet ASP your ferret will need a barium x ray to tell if its a blockage ( normal x ray wont do the trick ) this is no wait situation because if the blockage is in a place where the bowel can kink the bowel will die and then your looking at a serious chance of septicaemia and the bowel dieing please please please take your baby to a vet asp please let us know how things work out take care bye for now
crazy lady