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Post by lgvereor1 on Aug 5, 2014 8:04:12 GMT -5
I urgently need help, our ferret is really sick, he's barely eating, barely pooping, he's acting clumsy and lethargic. He's gotten extremely skinny and most of the time just stares like he's not there anymore. It's making me sick seeing him like this, and the vet assures us he doesn't have a blockage despite my insistence it is.
I live in a rural area with few vets that can handle ferrets and fewer that are reliable, the one I'm seeing acts like she doesn't know anything, and even if I had a good vet, I'm not sure I can afford what will come next, what's the cost usually when it's a blockage?
To make matters worse, I'm not the legal owner, another person in the family is, and he's stubborn and unless told by a vet (which she won't do) that it is something he can help, he assumes it's simply that he's old and dying, as he's 5 years old. Despite the vet telling him only a month ago that he's one of the healthiest she's seen at that age. So, putting him up for adoption at some shelter for them to pay the bill, which considering his age already isn't very promising, isn't even an option.
I need help, firstly what you think it might be, how much it would cost to have him treated, etc, please respond.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 9:00:50 GMT -5
He needs a vet asap. Not eating much and not pooping can get dangerous fast! It may not be a blockage, but something is going on that needs addressed. Please tell the owner it is not fair to dump the ferret at the shelter to have them take care of the problem. It sounds like you've had this baby for the 5 years of his life so he's realy depending on you (and the owner) to take care of him! To determine what is causing him to have these symptoms, he really needs a vet. It could be something serious like a blockage that, I'm sure, could be very expensive. Or maybe he has a cold and an antibiotic could clear that up. But not doing anything will only make it more expensive and could cause the ferret his life. Obviously he is in pain and needs help. I hope by the time you read this you have found a vet and are on your way. Please keep us posted!
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Post by Sherry on Aug 5, 2014 9:06:56 GMT -5
Take him in and have the vet check his blood glucose. He can do it with the same glucometer he would to check cats and dogs for diabetes. He should be at 90-110. If he is below 70 he will need to go on prednisolone twice a day as he does sound as though he has insulinoma.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 5, 2014 9:07:43 GMT -5
As for a blockage, has he done an X-ray? Better yet would be a barium X-ray.
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Post by lgvereor1 on Aug 5, 2014 9:39:55 GMT -5
No X-Ray was done, the vet gave us medicine called Clavamox Drops and said if he doesn't improve he would be X-Rayed, this was a week ago I think. The vet also told us to feed him some liquid baby food, the name escapes me though right now, Pedialite maybe, we did that as well. The owner claims he will call the vet from work today, which he left for 6 hours ago, and schedule an emergency appointment hopefully for later today.
Also, I forgot one bit of information, he's vomiting nearly every time we feed him or give him medicine, which is why I thought blockage. The vomit is white and foamy. I even tried to give him some Almond-Coconut Milk from that Silk company, unsweetened mind you, hoping it would be easier for his stomach and at least get something in his system, but even it caused vomiting.
I'm losing my mind here, I don't have money to care for him and the owner is taking his time with everything, I can't stand seeing animals in pain.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 10:23:06 GMT -5
I'm so sorry that the little one is going thru this. The staring off into space, makes me think insulinoma. The vomiting sounds like a reaction to the Clavamox. My Ponce reacted that way to the Clavamox and we switched him to Baytril. We live in a very rural area also and had trouble finding a Vet, who understands ferrets. Alot of vets who only see dogs and cats, will see a ferret, but they aren't really familiar with ferrets and have treated ferrets with the common diseases of Insulinoma or Adrenal, or even IBD. We have a vet list by State and Country, take a look at it and see if you see anyone closer to you. All the vets have been recommended over the years, by our ferrents. They are ferret docs, and that's what you need. holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/13638/I understand how frustrating it is, this little one isn't yours. Hopefully, you can convince his ferrent to get the little guy some help. Please keep us updated and if you feel more comfortable, you can pm me or another staff, with your location and we will see what help is available in your area.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 5, 2014 19:33:24 GMT -5
If he is vomiting every time he is fed he needs a barium X-ray, and likely surgery.
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Post by Heather on Aug 5, 2014 22:26:09 GMT -5
I"m sorry but this little one needs vetting ASAP. A barium xray would indeed be beneficial. I think your suspicions are correct unfortunately. It does indeed sound like a blockage. ciao
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Post by Thérèse on Aug 6, 2014 7:12:40 GMT -5
I urgently need help, our ferret is really sick, he's barely eating, barely pooping, he's acting clumsy and lethargic. He's gotten extremely skinny and most of the time just stares like he's not there anymore. It's making me sick seeing him like this, and the vet assures us he doesn't have a blockage despite my insistence it is. I live in a rural area with few vets that can handle ferrets and fewer that are reliable, the one I'm seeing acts like she doesn't know anything Am just going to address what I see as urgent with this ferret While a lot of this sounds like insulinoma, which Sherry suggestion of a blood glucose test for is good (shouldn't cost much either). I suspect this ferret may have problems associated with not eating and that may be the problem rather than a blockage, although a blockage is also possible. I think this ferret needs some sub-Q fluids and to be put on a drip to be stabilised before the real problem/s can be addressed. Even a non-ferret vet should be able to arrange that. Check the ferrets gums if you can, are they white or very pale, this can indicate that the ferrets organs are shutting down, which could happen if it is in distress from problems from not eating or from problems associated with a blockage. If they are pale or white then stabilising the ferret is urgent. From the sound of things, until he is stabilised, even if there is a blockage, he would not survive surgery. Most blockages tend to be urgent and if not treated (a barium x-ray, will not only show some blockages that a normal one won't, they can sometimes push the blockage out if it is in the right place and moveable) will cause the death of the ferret. However ferrets, like cats can suffer problems with their livers I think if they go too long without eating (am talking quite a while, like several days), especially other problems can occur if the ferret has insulinoma (often shown by looking blank, hind end weakness and lethargy). If the ferret was finding food made him feel ill, either because he was blocked or insulinomic and the food was such that it was triggering episodes) he may have stopped eating and now is such that eating is actually causing distress, hence the drip. While the barely pooping does usually indicate a blockage, if he is not eating, then he has nothing to poop. Try to find a vet who can stabilise the ferret and then hopefully then the problem can be diagnosed. If it is a blockage you are probably on borrowed time already but if it is anything else, once stabilised, you should have time to find a diagnosis and then treatment. Best of luck, things can be hard when you know help is needed but cannot find it.
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Post by lgvereor1 on Aug 6, 2014 20:06:54 GMT -5
He was taken to a new vet who also refused to do an x-ray because she didn't believe he would survive sedation in his current state. She gave us medicine for insulinoma and said that if he doesn't improved in a few days to a week she thinks it might be cancer or a tumor.
His gums are not pale from what I see, but I never paid attention before this. His back end is extremely thin and weak like he's emaciated, and we have been force feeding him duck soup mix but can't feed him that much at a time or he will just vomit it out.
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Post by RedSky on Aug 8, 2014 4:11:38 GMT -5
Others will know better, but I thought duck soup (assuming it's the Uncle Jim's I've read about) is full of sugar and other rubbish??? If I'm right this will not help your little ferret feel better especially if he has insulinoma. I would either suggest feeding the usual kibble (crushed and mixed with warm water), meat only baby food or making some of the raw soupies.
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Post by raynebc on Aug 8, 2014 12:19:30 GMT -5
The ingredients in the Uncle Jim's duk soup are:
Not as nutritious as a raw meat, organ and bone/shell powder soup, but it doesn't appear to be that terrible. The most questionable ingredient may be garlic, but there doesn't seem to be any concrete knowledge on how much is a harmful dose. Small amounts of garlic supposedly have some beneficial effect.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 8, 2014 22:26:03 GMT -5
Actually garlic is toxic over time to obligate carnivores. I'd not be using this.
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Post by raynebc on Aug 9, 2014 1:44:56 GMT -5
It really does depend who you ask. Wysong indicates that small enough amounts are not toxic (http://www.wysong.net/pet-health-and-nutrition/garlic.php) and Wysong is a well known anti-establishment pet food company founded by a respected scientist and veterinarian.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 9, 2014 8:24:37 GMT -5
Why risk it if you don't have to? These guys are little cancer factories to begin with, so adding anything unnecessary is not a good idea.
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