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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 12:47:05 GMT -5
He just pooped and peed, his poop was 1 inch long formed, still a little pumpkin. His pee looked dark, but could be concentrated. And just as I'm writing this he gagged. No puke. Just the cough hack gag and run for towel next to mommy. What the h*ll is going on?
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 29, 2015 13:18:05 GMT -5
Coughing / hacking can just be from hair.
That is a BIG piece of skin. I always make sure to cut chicken skin up small. Things like quail are fine as the skin is thinner but chicken skin can be pretty thick and tough in places. This causes them to "bolt" or swallow it whole. I don't think pedilite is necessary as long as he is drinking. Just keep an eye on him for now (which I know you are doing).
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2015 14:50:49 GMT -5
He's going to be the death of me. Can I give him something to calm his tummy?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 8:46:08 GMT -5
First thing this morning he peed. I offered him some Uncle Jims and slivers of Chicken. He wanted nothing to do with it; but, he is up and around. I will add the Uncle Jims to my chicken pedialite, hopefully the probiotics will begin to restore is tummy to working order. I think I was very lucky I didn't lose him. I now know great increase in weight is just as unhealthy as lost weight.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 30, 2015 9:04:27 GMT -5
They are tougher than you think. When I almost lost Wilma she had barely eaten in 5 days. My mouse order finally came in and she ate 6 at one sitting. Promptly vomited them all back up and then ate them again.
I know vomiting is scary but until you have repeated vomiting, once in a blue moon it isn't really an emergency situation. It isn't "normal" by any means but more of a "better keep an eye on them" kind of thing.
Also, Uncle Jims is horrible stuff. It's basically just powdered kibble you add water to. Just use the soup recipe in our files.
Is he starting to shed yet? Some people have been reporting early seasonal stuff this year such as the start of shedding, decrease in appetite and weight loss. I haven't seen it yet in my two but plenty of people on FB have mentioned it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 9:19:09 GMT -5
There was a lot of hair in their bedding this week, don't know whose. No wonder he stuck his nose up at Uncle Jims. Here I thought it was such great stuff. Shish another lie pitched in the garbage. Last week I stood in Petco and looked at the isle upon isles of kibble. I wanted to scream. I do the same thing in the lotion section, because I make my ow lotion bars, three simple totally organic ingredients. Depending on the proportion of beeswax to coconut and almond oil I can make lip balm, lotion, hand balm, foot care, etc. the ingredients naturally cure, acne, eczema, psoriasis, heal wounds, and so much more. Ya don't need all that commercialism. Just nature.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 30, 2015 10:35:46 GMT -5
How many eggs are they getting right now? If shedding has started I'd be doing two regular sized eggs a week per ferret (each egg on a different day). If you have one that won't take egg then 1 tsp of pumpkin twice a week until shedding is over.
When not shedding, no pumpkin and one egg a week each.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 20:14:39 GMT -5
We have no internet again. Grizzly is about the same. He hates me. I hope we can become friends again ? I tried a little blenderized chicken and water last night. I had to force feed him about a teaspoon. Chicken pedialite goes down with much protest every hour or so. Tried egg, one of his favs, this morning. Nope. He was a poor quality kibble feed for a couple years before we rescued him. I had him on Epigen 90 until 7 months ago. He is 6ish. I wonder if this is his goodbye? He's been my heavyweight, but I have noticed he has slowed down, still gleefully played; just, not like he used to. I will copy this to the forum after tapatalk finishes downloading.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 31, 2015 20:38:46 GMT -5
Has he been to the vet?
Also, keep in mind that by giving him the chicken pedialite you could be filling his stomach.
Skip the pedialite for a day and see if he will take a thicker chicken soup (see our recipe on FB).
The pedialite is not really a food (it is to thin), more an emergency hydration, last ditch nutrition thing. The thicker soup will have much more nutrition in it. You could also try a batch with beef or pork to see if he likes that better.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2015 21:14:30 GMT -5
took Grizzly to the vet today... he is a mess internally. first and worst is enlarged heart second is suspected eosinophilic gastroenteritis. we had a long talk, about his life, his prolonged exposure to kibble, his previous surgery that resulted in a smaller than usual bowel. She agreed the problem was the piece of skin lodged in the smaller bowel area, that in turn, created the inflammation. Unfortunately because of the heart we can't do invasive testing. So basically we decided on comfort (she gave him subcutaneous fluids) and love. When I feel he is in pain, or other symptoms impact his quality of life, she will come to my home and have him euthanized. Sucks. Especially when I'm caring for my parents dealing with similar issues with my parents.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 31, 2015 23:58:17 GMT -5
Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis is exactly what Wilma has!!
What made them come to that conclusion? Usually they have allergic reaction type symptoms (swelling, itching, hives, etc) as well as the digestive troubles. Wilma's condition is easily controlled by knowing her food triggers (absolutely no poultry or beef) and pred. I have been able to wean her down to a small dose every 5 days. My vet said that with a dose that low and that infrequent, I should never see side effects from it.
Her diet consists of whole prey (mice, rats, guinea pigs), rabbit and naturally raised pork.
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Post by bitbyter on Feb 1, 2015 0:01:55 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 0:41:03 GMT -5
Wow, I hadn't thought about the he amount of back rubbing and the occasional smoked wool smell. Right now he smells like fish, not in a good way. I avoid giving him lamb. We did talk about meds and tests (laparoscopic endoscopy???) biopsy of stomach and have a look see. But the chances of him pulling through are slim to none with his heart. If we treat his heart, which wouldn't give us more than few more months, if we treat both we walk a fine line. I just don't want to see him go through the h*ll of giving him meds (he is an absolute hellcat) and all the other intrusive assaults on his body. I'm thinking and researching till Monday. By then she will have results back (what a battle of wills we had keeping him still for blood draw). I'd rather love him and help him cross to a peaceful death. Does that make me a coward? I keep going back and forth.
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Post by bitbyter on Feb 1, 2015 9:19:19 GMT -5
I'll record how I give Wilma her pred today. It's easy. As for the further tests for EG I wouldn't bother if he is showing all the symptoms (you haven't said what symptoms he has or why the vet concluded EG, it's pretty rare as far as I'm aware). As for his heart, Heather might have some input for you to consider. Also, NO you are absolutely NOT a coward. I'm just trying to give you options as the situation might not be as bad as your vet seemed to make it (it very well could be though). Did she even offer drug options?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2015 9:44:41 GMT -5
The reason why I am waiting till Monday is because the vet I saw yesterday is not my normal vet and NOT an exotic vet (I've actually heard her say that in a rather disdainful way). But she was the on call emergency vet, as mine was at a conference. My regular vet whom I love, goes the extra mile for me and my fuzzies.
Yesterday Grizzly had X-ray, blood draws, and fluid under skin. Listening to his heart she could tell the heart wasn't working correctly (I forget what she called it) . Therapeutic response will be determined during my Monday visit, when I have a competent vet working for and with me.
I gave Grizzly pork purée soupie this morning, he took a couple of licks.
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