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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 6:51:33 GMT -5
Since we brought him home from the Ark a year ago, Tom has just been losing weight and generally looks unhealthy. We've noticed he gets nauseous a lot and for a time had seizures which is why we believe him to have insulinoma, but our vet never diagnosed it. I should note that Tom is not on any medication. In the past few weeks, he's become nothing but skin and bones. He's not even pooping or peeing much due to feeling nauseous and I assume his belly has shrunk so he can't consume as much as he'd like to. He really is looking like a skeleton with some fur over it, it's awful to see. He lost all the fur on his tail starting at the tip, so has rats tail. I don't think he's adrenal because he's not losing fur anywhere else. The little fella seems very happy and content aside from feeling sick when drinking water. Tom has been fed chicken necks and mince meat with all the bones and guts mixed in, but this isn't enough for him to gain weight. The Ark suggested we put him on a mix of Ferret Complete and Hills Science Chicken cat food, which we have. It's early days, so we're waiting to see if this helps put on weight. He'll be seeing a vet to get a quick check over and be wormed but I have a feeling they'll be horrified at his weight. Tom is estimated to be 8-9 years old, and is a single ferret as his brother died a year ago and despite attempt to pair Tom with other ferrets, he always attacks them. (He's blind). Can anyone suggest what to do? I really want to get him on his feet and it's not his time to go yet. You can tell he's still fighting, and fighting hard at that. ive included a picture of Tom in the first few months we had him compared to yesterday. (He was trying to sleep bless). i61.tinypic.com/107ktgm.jpg
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Post by RedSky on Mar 9, 2015 7:01:24 GMT -5
Can you order some carnivore care made by Oxbow, many order from amazon. It will take a few days to get there but I've heard great things about perking up and getting weight back on with poorly ferrets. I think it should be one of those must haves in ferret first aid kits.
I hope the vet can help with diagnosing what is going on and he feels better soon.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 7:04:15 GMT -5
He needs medication. It definitely sounds like at least insulinoma to me, and that can't be left untreated. Ask for a blood glucose test when you go to the vet.
In the meantime, I'd give raw soup or baby food(chicken or turkey). I'm not sure of what ferret complete is, but I know hills science diet isn't good for ferrets.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 9, 2015 7:12:25 GMT -5
Mandi has a good point, if he does has insulinoma then the last thing you want to be giving him is anything with carbs or sugar. I'd stick with making him whatever he really likes, raw meat soupies is often a favourite, if you use the soupie recipe you can be sure it's balanced too, just keep an eye on his teeth if he's on it long term.
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Mar 9, 2015 8:54:52 GMT -5
From your description of his behavior it does sound like he has insulinoma and looking at his picture I'd say adrenal disease as well. He needs to be treated for both. Is your vet experienced with ferrets?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 9:10:01 GMT -5
I would personally take him to an emergency vet, because being so skinny and sick may have his body give up any moment. My Ozzy died because insulinoma all within a week of starting to lose weight, one day before the vet appointment. I would strongly suggest you to go to a vet as an emergency, not wait for an appointment in a few days, because he needs urgent treatment, and ask for a BG test. In the meantime, I'd agree with the posts above - the diet the vet put him has carbs, which would make everything worse. I would switch to raw soup and carnivore care if you can get your hand on it.
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Post by ferretbrah on Mar 9, 2015 9:31:28 GMT -5
Tiake him to the emergency vet asap and put him on meds for insolunoma and adrenal today.
Also be prepared to hand feed every few hours
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 9:37:30 GMT -5
Poor guy, I hope you can get him to a vet this morning. I'm surprised, with the seizures and weight loss, your vet did not diagnose him with anything? I don't know about Ferret Complete and Hills Science Chicken cat food so I can't put my 2 cents in on that, but it sounds like he needs high protein (raw soup, meat baby food at the least). He's at the age where you cannot wait and see how it goes. You know your ferret, but if you weren't worried you would not have asked (sniff)
Tell the vet this is an emergency. He's losing weight, does not feel well, not eating, AND has a history of seizures. I hope the vet can get your little guy feeling better today :thumbsup:
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Post by Heather on Mar 9, 2015 12:53:08 GMT -5
This ferret is very ill. He needs some serious vetting. It is beyond the scope of the forum to help him. He appears to be both insulinoma and adrenal (though untreated insulinoma can cause hair loss). One of the diseases that piggy backs on adrenal is also ulcers. This ferret is very sick and in need of immediate medical attention. This is not a wait and see. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 14:38:28 GMT -5
I understand this is hard, and how much we love our fuzzers makes it so much harder, but he needs a vet visit, he needs a Blood Glucose test, if it's under 90 mg/dl (I suspect it will be much lower) then have your Vet write a prescription of Liquid Prednisolone. Start him on a good food, I can tell you right now whole-heartedly without a doubt that a raw diet DOES HELP. More than you could ever imagine, it is GOOD for them, it's what they need. And if this is Insulinoma, it really will help. Even if it isn't, raw will give him the nutrients he so desperately needs in his condition.
He's very sick, and he needs to be on something. This sounds like Insulinoma and Adrenal Disease. In which case he needs to be taking Pred and either get a Lupron Hormone injection or (preferably) implanted with Deslorelin. At his age, don't look too much into the future, look into the now, give him the best possible life he can have because right now is what he sees and what he knows. And right now he knows he doesn't feel good, and he shouldn't feel bad. Get a vet visit, get him on some meds, and cherish every single second of his life.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 15:05:06 GMT -5
At petco, you can get this I called the phone number on back she said 1% or less in carbs. You can mix this with a little warm water and mash. They r soft, but frozen cubes. It can be found in their fridge.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2015 15:07:56 GMT -5
The forum soupies made with the chicken thigh is a good idea. So very sorry.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 7:37:41 GMT -5
Thank you all for your suggestions and help! Tom went to the vet today, the vet gave him an anti-nausea shot (like he always does every time Tom is at the vet) and took bloods. The same as usual - high white blood cell count. and following the usual, the vet suggested they open him up to see what's going on. I said no as Tom, being 9 years old and in the condition he's in, would die on the table. I'm beginning to lose patience with my vet. He sent me on my way with some Canin kitten wet meat type of food, and said to book a follow up appointment.
I haven't booked one and will be taking him to a different vet to see if they'll help, clearly my vet is a load of rubbish! Any idiot can see he's very very sick, and it makes me furious to know all my vet will do is run bloods and send me on my way. Hopefully Tom will be seeing another vet on Saturday. As much as I want to book an emergency appointment, I'm only 17 and don't pay the bills, my parents do, and at the moment we're struggling financially (a lot of our pets are having one problem after another recently so vet bills are still being paid off with broken claws and life time medication for our young cat with renal failure).
I'll keep you updated on what happens. I'm hoping for the best, and doing everything I can to comfort him and help him eat and drink in the meantime.
Just an edit: Tom has been on a raw diet since I suspected him to have insulinoma. However once changing to a raw diet, this is when he started losing weight gradually (6 months ago). Only recently has there been a dramatic change, hitting 650g on the scale! At the moment I'm doing everything I can to get calories in. He's chowing down on some rabbit and chicken mince meat from Natures Menu.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 10, 2015 9:04:07 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear that going to see the vet was a waste of time and money, poor Tom. Did you ask them to do a blood glucose test? I can understand finances being tight, they always get ill at the worst time don't they.
Food wise I would try get him eating or drinking as often as you can, at least once every 4 hours even during the night. Might be hard if you're at work or school during the day but he could really do with it. If you are using the natures menu blocks then be aware it only contains muscle meat and bones, he still needs heart, kidney and another organ. If you want to stick with the natures menu then I'd chuck it in the blender with some heart and organs too to make sure he is getting everything he needs. I'd personally add in some more fatty meat, I always thought rabbit was quite lean. Try getting some mince lamb/mutton from the supermarket, that's always quite fatty or the basic beef or pork. Good luck and keep up posted.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2015 9:20:54 GMT -5
He gets a mixture of Nature's Menu products Stuff like their lamb hearts and poultry necks as well as the mince. I've just made him some duck soup with skin still on chicken thighs and egg yolks (deboned obviously). He's not feeling too peckish right now since he only ate about two hours ago and is tired. Hoping he'll like it, I've heard good things about it. I'll definitely be setting alarms during the night, thanks for the suggestion! I'm not in education or work right now so it won't be a problem. As for the vet, we couldn't get a word in sideways with him. He was one of these "I know everything, you know nothing" @**holes. Excuse the French.
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