|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 21:52:07 GMT -5
So Sunny just came home the other night but my friend ( his previous owner) mentioned that he was having some problems. I am trying to schedule a vet appointment sometime later in the week , but for right now it doesn't seem too serious. Sunny is about 2 years old and recently started to become lethargic. My friend has been nursing him and giving him some pepto bismol, and he seemed to be doing better. However, it seems he got a little better but his appetite is light and he has started grinding his teeth. His stool is runny and he is still lethargic. He still plays but not as long as he use too. He is no longer eating his dook soup but still taking vitamins and his hard cat food. I am about to try and switch them over to raw but I am afraid with sunny's current state it is inadvisable. Any help would be much appreciated. It is not too serious currently, but I am afraid of it progressing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2011 21:59:10 GMT -5
Grinding teeth is a sign of pain. I would take him to the bet asap. What do his stools look like? How old is he? It could be a lot of things and ferrets go down quickly. I'll pray for your baby.
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2011 22:00:38 GMT -5
This is serious and needs to be dealt with now, before it becomes something that is life threatening. You've discovered a series of symptoms that are describing a number of things but the biggest that comes to my mind is a possible ulcer....ulcers are usually symptoms of other issues...stress. I find they go hand in hand with adrenal. So I would be getting a wellness check done asap on this one if he was mine.
I also question the use of Pepto...it used to be a standard tummy med but my understanding was that they've changed their concoction (recipe) and it now contains things that are less ferret friendly. I would be trying to get something like sulcrate or the like
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 22:04:50 GMT -5
That is what I am afraid of, his stool is somewhat half and half. Excuse the description but when he first goes to the bathroom it starts out relatively firm and then turns runny. The color is predominantly brownish but some do have a little green to them.I believe he is about 2, though the exact date is unknown. I am having issues finding a vet that is open this weekend but I hope to get him in Monday. The lady who owned him before has had ferrets for quite a few years and thinks he is alright for now but he is under around the clock watch over here.
He is eating and drinking, but I have started to give him a little bit of pedialyte because I fear he will become dehydrated. He is eating relatively normal, but not as much as usual, but she had been trying to get him to gain weight to no avail
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Apr 16, 2011 22:08:55 GMT -5
Definitely stay away from the pepto. It's got Bismuth subsalicylate, which is NOT good for them. It can actually CAUSE an ulcer, if I remember correctly, because of the aspirin base.
|
|
|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 22:12:38 GMT -5
Oh my, well I will discontinue the use of it immediately. She thought it was also an ulcer but didn't seem to think it was urgent. Apparently, I am naive in believing so as well. I will switch it right away. He is a possible adrenal case but she brought him to the vet a month or two ago and the vet said it was highly plausible but he was in the clear for now. Could it have changed that quickly?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Apr 16, 2011 22:18:13 GMT -5
Unfortunately, yes it can. And even if it is just an ulcer- that can also be lethal if untreated, unfortunately  Because of the tummy pain, they start refusing food, which makes them nauseous, which makes them refuse food, etc. It's a really vicious cycle. |
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2011 22:18:55 GMT -5
Yes, Yuri went within 48 hrs. He just stopped eating. I fed him and he started vomiting. It can be that fast and when they do go, you have to react fast. He's doing better today (he got his ulcer meds yesterday and the last Des shot that I ordered)but still not eating on his own. He was up and about, he even was feeling well enough to terrorize Minion for sleeping in his favourite sleepy spot. He is still very lethargic.
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 22:19:55 GMT -5
So if it is an Ulcer what should be my plan of action? I believe a vet visit is a complete must, but I have yet to find a vet clinic that will be open tonight or tomorrow. Is there any way I can tide him over till then?
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Apr 16, 2011 22:21:59 GMT -5
If I remember correctly, you can give him pepcid. Dissolve it in some water, and give him 1cc or so(please correct me if I'm wrong on the amount, someone!). Also, give him some chicken baby food or soupies. You might have to syringe feed it, but it gets some nutrition and fluid into him.
|
|
|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 22:27:40 GMT -5
Okay, I will do so. I also heard that amoxicillin from the vet will be necessary. I have been reading up on it and they said anything related to pepto bismol ( a stomach protectant should be used). In this case however, without the pepto. I know they have been moved about a bit, with my house being the last place. My friend is currently about to be homeless and has been living with her mom and the shift has been difficult. If there any way to reduce some of the stress?
|
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Apr 16, 2011 22:33:06 GMT -5
RR (rescue remedy) is one of my favs for this type of changes. It's a standby in my first aid kit.
ciao
|
|
|
|
Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 16, 2011 22:54:45 GMT -5
Take 1 tablet of pepcid and dissolve in 10 cc's of water. Give .25 cc's every 12 hours. I suggest you get some carafate liquid from your vet and have his blood glucose checked on a 4 hour fast. if bg is normal then I would bet its an ulcer. carafate is given every 8 hours I believe .25 to cc's. It coats the stomach and makes like a mesh that will protect the ulcer from stomach acids allowing the ulcer to heal. The pepcid will reduce stomach acidity. Feed him soft foods (soupies) no kibble and nothing that is hard on the stomach. Baby food (turkey or chicken) is good but I make a soup out of kibble. Soak kibble in water til it is soft mash well & add water until a thick gravy.
|
|
|
|
Post by selantra on Apr 16, 2011 23:10:32 GMT -5
Would it be okay to make a soup from raw food or will this just cause more stress?
|
|
|
|
Post by miamiferret2 on Apr 16, 2011 23:20:59 GMT -5
If he is having stomach issues now it may not be the best time to make a drastic diet change. It is important to figure out what the problem is first. If it is an ulcer hard kibble will make it worse. Buy some EVO ferret or cat kibble and make soup out of it. Mix it with the food he's on now and then gradually reduce the amount of the old kibble. Once he's eating EVO kibble soup, start mixing in ground up raw slowly. If he has low BG (almost sure sign of insulinoma) I'd start him on raw ASAP. Freeze dried is good thy take to it a lot faster.
|
|
