Possible partial blockage

[Deleted]

Hey all, I have put this into emergency just because I wasn't sure where else to put it, as I'm not quite at the "quick call the vet!" stage. I am concerned Linus may have a partial blockage as I have just found fluff in his poop from a toy he stashed next to his cage and then tried to drag through the bars. I don't normally let him have those toys in his cage but he found a way. He also managed to untie his litter box and snatch the string that attached it to the cage (I think, I just haven't been able to find it). He is playing normally, has definitely passed poop since then though they do look a little smaller and the only other thing that made me wonder if there was something going on was he was huffing a little.

I have started blockage protocol using pumpkin and egg (he will not touch vaseline, just turns into a demon when I try to give it to him). Do I also try feeding him his normal dinner (chicken wing cut up) or do I wait and see how he is. I'm kind of freaking out a little, I've had a terrible day and now I'm dealing with this alone because no one is at home tonight. I feel like an idiot for letting him get at these things, it's all very overwhelming.

Thanks guys 


Now have given him a little salmon oil also and found a bit of string in the poop after rummaging through the litter (such a glamorous life). He seems fairly well in himself and is still keen to eat. 

[Deleted]

I would just feed him soft foods,his muscle meats. he may not want to eat after filling up on pumpkin and egg. I did protocol once was a little hysterical myself, but as long as he is pooping and not throwing up all is well for right now. Mine was able to pass things---My senior hated vaseline too. I resorted to giving her chicken fat.So if you do that, cut up in little chips--just to make digestion easier.

[Deleted]

Thanks abbeytheferret6 I was quite hysterical at first but I take comfort in the fact he is still eating, playing and pooping, it was the huffing noises that first made me think there might be something funny going on and when ever I think a ferrets sick its the poop I check first lol. I will be keeping a close eye on his demeanour and poop. He hates the pumpkin too so I will try get a little more into him ~2hrs after I gave the first bit and hopefully he poops nicely before bed - otherwise I don't think I'll sleep!

[unclejoe]

A little fluff is a sign he ate something, but not necessarily panic time. Examine the toy and try to figure out how much he may have eaten. Not to minimize the possible harm, but solids are more dangerous than fibers. Keep up the protocol. monitor poops. Try mixing the pumpkin and vaseline with something he will eat, like chicken baby food, or his favorite oils.
Chances are if he's till pooping ok after 24 hours it'll be no big deal. I hope it all comes out well in the end.

[Heather]

Push that vaseline whether he likes it or not (melt it down if you must). The egg will do absolutely nothing with anything other than hair and fur. Synthetic fibres will not be dissolved. There are no substitutes for the protocol. It's the best we can put together. 1Tbsp of pumpkin, 1 tsp of vaseline, one hour apart until you get a pumpkin stool. If he ate that string it's going to cause you loads of grief if it gets tangled up in there add that to the innards of a stuffie...not good. He's still pooping and not vomiting that's a good thing, it means things are still moving.
ciao

[Deleted]

Thanks unclejoe and Heather I will get on the vaseline asap. Should I get up at some point through the night to check him (its about 8.50pm here)?


He has passed a little more poop and I have got some vaseline into him with the help of salmon oil and a little chicken. 

[unclejoe]

yeah you should check for poops tonight. 12-14 hours without a poop is cause for serious concern, 24 hrs is an emergency. The window is short from serious to life threatening.

[Deleted]

Nice big orange poops over night Thanks for your advice and calming words friends

[unclejoe]

anything in it?

[Deleted]

Little bit of string (looks like he cut it up before he ate it) and no more fluff (there was not a lot missing from the toy). He has had his normal breakfast (chicken) this morning and I have also given a bit more pumpkin and vaseline, just to help anything else that might be there. He still seems happy as larry but I'm working from home today so I can keep a close eye on him.

[Heather]

I would keep up the pumpkin for a day longer, just to move the rest of the string if there is any more. You can use it up to 3 days but if there appears to be no further materials passing through, it should all be gone within 48 hrs.
ciao

[Deleted]

Thanks Heather, I have kept up the pumpkin today and have had three more nicely formed poops with nothing at all in it. I will keep going this evening just in case and then feed him his normal chicken wing dinner. Hopefully that all passes without incident, then I'll feel more confident its gone

It's not like him to chew material things so I was very confused as to how it had happened, then I realised he had stashed an elephant toy behind his cage and when I had put him in while I was at work he clearly wanted that toy and tried to pull it through the bars! It's way too big so he must have just kept pulling and pulling until he ripped it and pulled its stuffing out. Poor elephant looked like it had had its throat cut Little monster, he won't be pulling this move on me again!

[unclejoe]

Sounds like a bullet dodged.
All the best from unclejoe and crew

[Klarissa]

My husband left a roll of paper towel beside the cage. Came home to some very expensive confetti.

[Sherry]

Sounds like he has likely passed it