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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 0:33:59 GMT -5
So, I don't know if I have an emergency on my hands yet or not, but I'm getting rather worried about Bandit again. He had been doing well for so long, but this past week he started showing his unusual symptoms again. He is visibly not feeling well - his eyes are watery and dull, he has been having a bit of a hard time breathing, he's been doing his unusual breathing pattern again, a couple of days ago he starting coughing again, and now today he is feeling really hot like he might be running a fever and he is having a hard time walking around like he REALLY doesn't feel well(however, he has been able to climb up into his large cage to every level - it's coming down that is the challenge and he mostly just falls/rolls down the ramps). He is eating mostly normal and he is peeing and pooping (although his poopies are looking sickly as well). I don't think he is sick enough for an ER visit, but I don't know if and when I should take him into the vet. Unfortunately, I work a large portion of the day tomorrow and won't be here to watch him. I'm wondering if I should take him to the vets just so they can watch him until I get off of work, but I don't want to stress him out either (he has been at the vet so much the past couple of years that I'm sure he really fears the place). I've not dealt with a fert with a temperature before. Is there anything I can or should be doing for him??? What is odd though is that even though he feels really hot, he keeps getting under the covers like he is cold and really sick. Any ideas anyone???
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Post by acodlin on Jun 3, 2013 1:24:01 GMT -5
I would drop him off at the vets for observation. It does sound like something is going on
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 1:28:08 GMT -5
agreed! take him to the vet. he doesn't sound good. Observation by a vet is better than leaving him alone for the day.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 1:38:11 GMT -5
Yeah, even though I know he's gonna hate it I feel the same. I'm thinking I'll get them all up in the morning for our usual routine then drop him off. The only thing that sux is that my ferret vet doesn't typically work on Mondays, and when he does he works out of a different office than I and Bandit are use to (I don't know any of the people working at the other offices so I don't feel as comfortable with them - AND they are farther away). Poor Bandit.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 3, 2013 1:48:55 GMT -5
Oh no I was so hoping he was past this
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 3:11:10 GMT -5
Me too Sherry. I knew regardless of everything we have done he was simply going to be a permanent sicky, but I was hoping it would be mild. This episode did start out mild last week but has definitely progressed to something much worse than I'm use to seeing in him. I just don't know what we can do for him. He is absolutely miserable right now. I feel so bad for him. I've even starting thinking bad thoughts that I really don't want to consider. How do you know when enough is enough??? Bandit is only 4 and I know he has so much life left in him. But I hate to see him like this. Tough thoughts.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 7:18:39 GMT -5
So I'm torn. As thought my exotics vet is off today, so here are my options - I can leave Bandit with a very experienced ferret vet at the ER for the day which will cost a TON, I can leave Bandit at my normal vet's office with UNexperienced ferret vets for the day for a few hundred I'm guessing, or I can leave Bandit home and take him in tomorrow to see our ferret vet who will then be available. The reason this is a tough decision is because I can tell that Bandit is still rather sick, however, he doesn't feel as hot this morning, he doesn't appear to be dehydrated, he readily ate and ate well, he is still peeing and pooping, and he is alert (he limped/waddled over to the bedroom door like he does every morning to be let into the 'big ferret' den. He is still sick and I can tell he doesn't feel well and he still can't walk very well, but he has a bit of his old demeanor. And I know that if I leave him at a vet's office (especially the ER) he will be really stressed out, which would just make matters worse. I will need to leave very soon if taking him to the vet so I'm hoping I can get some opinions here from anyone on.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 3, 2013 7:40:35 GMT -5
I wouldn't do the ER vet. I'd probably just wait & see his normal vet tomorrow. But ultimately you know how you'll feel if something happens while your away. I just not sure a non ferret vet would be productive.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 3, 2013 9:15:41 GMT -5
Given your choices, I also think I'd let him stay at home today. ER is way to expensive. Other vet doesn't know what to watch out for anyway. And you've said he IS starting to feel a bit better?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 11:54:30 GMT -5
I hope he feels better soon
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Post by Heather on Jun 3, 2013 11:56:01 GMT -5
Given your choices, I'd be leaving him at home. He's going to be less stressed than at the vets and you're probably not going to be any farther ahead by leaving him there with an inexperienced vet. If he's eating and eliminating I would be very tempted to make sure he was comfortable, with his friends and at home ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 21:43:04 GMT -5
So after Bandit ate his breakfast he got worse. He became very lethargic, his eyes glazed over, he started shaking, he felt really hot again, and his breathing became labored again, so I opted to take him to the vet. As it turns out, there was an intern at my normal vet today (he is a vet, but is interning at multiple locations to get exotics experience) that is comfortable treating ferrets. He actually saw a couple of my boys when he was working at the ER here. Anywho, I'm not saying I'm in complete agreement with him on everything, but after I dropped Bandit off and he had a chance to look him over he said that Bandit was very sensitive to palpation, he did in fact have a temperature of 105.6, and his lymph nodes were extremely swollen yet again. He wanted to do bloodwork, xrays, and aspirates of Bandit's neck lymph nodes. The bloodwork didn't reveal too much, just that Bandit's white blood cell count is up and he seems to be slightly anemic (his liver values were a bit off). The xrays revealed swollen lymph nodes thruout his body and something off with his lungs (I guess). And I'm not sure about the aspirates. But the vet initially suspected either another infection of some sort like the massive strep infection Bandit had 5 months ago OR aspirated pneumonia. By the time I went to pick Bandit back up the vet had decided that his best guess was the pneumonia. We were sent home with 2 days of Metacam and Clavamox and we are to bring Bandit back in to see our normal fert vet in 2 days time.
SOOOOOO, again, something new for me. If this is indeed pneumonia, how do we handle this? What should I be watching for? Is there anything further I can do for Bandit other than homecare and meds? ANy advice in this department would be highly appreciated. Also, if you feel like something else entirely could be going on with these symptoms don't hesitate to bring it up. THanks!!!
EDIT: Also, with Bandit having a high temp, what can I do for him? They gave him something at the vet to bring the temp down, and it did come down to 104.3 by the time I picked him up, but I don't know how to deal with a temp. They advised me to get a rectal thermometer and check Bandit regularly, but being that I'm by myself for the next couple of days that may be a bit difficult.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 22:03:55 GMT -5
It does sound like an infection for sure. With pneumonia, you obviously want to keep an eye out for breathing difficulties, as that would require emergency care since pneumonia causes a build up of fluid in the lungs.
As for the temperature, if you lube the thermometer up with some lubricant (KY jelly is what vets use), scruff with one hand and stick it in with the other, that might work. Vets usually do it without someone holding so it is doable.
As for cooling him down, the best thing I can think of it to freeze some water bottles and wrap them and put them in the cage. You can put a fan on too, but remember to put some kind of water or moisture in front as dry air does nothing for ferrets because they don't sweat. I have also draped moist towels over the cage to cool them down in the summer time.
I hope this resolves with the antibiotics.
Also for the congestion (if it is pneumonia), you can run a hot shower and hold the ferret in the bathroom (not In the shower) so that he can breathe in the steam.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 3, 2013 22:05:58 GMT -5
Tepid water bath. Not cool as that would be cold for a ferret with a healthy temp. But body temp for humans. That will cool him down. Pneumonia? I've not had to deal with it myself, but as with any illness keep him eating, drinking.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2013 23:08:14 GMT -5
Also, today Bandit's urine has been VERY dark yellow and when he pees it is a lot. Could this be a result of the meds they have him on, the sedation, any vet related things - or is this possibly a sign of something else? I don't normally worry over pee potties too much, but the few times Bandit has gone since he's been back home it is just so dark yellow and almost thick-like.
As for the temperature issue - how high is too high for a fert? How long can he stay at a temp between 104 and 105 before it becomes a problem?
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