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Post by Heather on Jun 6, 2011 22:13:38 GMT -5
Aremis was very sick at this point. He would curl up on this sheepskin and watch Sprite and Fun-Go play. Fun-Go would periodically break off play and curl up with Aremis. At this point Aremis wasn't ready to give up the fight but a couple of weeks later he decided it was his time.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 23:15:09 GMT -5
Beautiful pics, and what a great fuzzy friend. Isn't it amazing how close two fuzz can be? Pixie and Trixie are like that - they groom each other daily, always snuggle together. Share food pieces nicely - makes me smile  I'm glad Aremis had a friend until the end. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 3:35:59 GMT -5
I'm so sad about this news, but dont think it's really hit yet. She just looks so healthy still. She weighed in at 1lb 14oz which is her heaviest  She's started on the pedi pred. The vet meantioned possibly sulcrate as well? anyone do both? I'm hoping the pred gives her back a bit of spunk, and will take how ever much time she wants to stay with us. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 3:41:19 GMT -5
Very sweet pictures Heather!
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Post by Sherry on Jun 7, 2011 8:35:47 GMT -5
The sulcrafate would be to help avoid ulcers from the pred. It's given about 30 minutes prior to the pred.
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Post by Heather on Jun 7, 2011 10:40:36 GMT -5
Yes.....and Sherry's right. I give the sulcrate before the pred. Actually, I give sulcrate, set the timer for 15 to 20 min., when it goes off, feed ferret and then give the pred. This regime seems to work to prevent pred ulcers.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 12:42:56 GMT -5
excellent thank you! I was told an hr before feeding (for sulcrate)  nothing more. |
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Post by Heather on Jun 7, 2011 12:47:34 GMT -5
It is standard for dogs and cats. I've found that waiting an hour seems to be too long for the ferrets speedy digestive tract. Michelle and I disagree on this one. So, it's up to you. According to an article on the FH list an hour is too long but it will still be effective, just not as effective. Some were claiming as short as 15 min. I don't know, I opted for 30 min and it seems to work.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 12:56:16 GMT -5
thx heather.
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Post by joclyn on Jun 7, 2011 17:15:36 GMT -5
carafate/sulcrafate should be given on an empty stomach - at least 45 minutes (60 preferred) after the ferret has eaten. then you wait 20-30 minutes for the meds to get down and through the digestive tract and then feed.
ALL other medications need to be given at least one hour before or after the carafate is given because it coats and will block absorbtion of the other meds and you want to be sure the carafate has cleared the digestive tract before giving other meds so you can be sure they're going to be effective.
i've always spaced out other meds by at least 2 hours (before or after) from carafate - since i take it for my own ibd issues, i'm too well aware how it sits in the system...
when giving pred (regardless of whether it's prednisolone or prednisone) always make sure to give a sufficient amount of food to protect the stomach from the med - it's very rough on the stomach. again, i say that from personal experience as well as i've seen it wreck havoc with ferrets stomachs even with the precautions of giving food...a minimum of 2 tablespoonfuls of food need to be given with the pred. more is, of course, better
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Post by joclyn on Jun 7, 2011 17:24:43 GMT -5
the only way to diagnose lymphoma is by doing a biopsy or taking an aspirate from the lymph nodes...if neither of these is done, no one can be sure that is what is going on.
it's possible she just has an infection - the lymph nodes DO work to fight infections and will enlarge when they are busy attacking something...so, no assumptions!!
she could also have ibd and it's presenting as swollen lymph nodes at the moment - in other words, isn't bad enough yet to be evident by funky poo issues.
i would suggest getting an aspirate done as it would be best to know if there's infection as that would need to be treated with antibiotics and the sooner they're started, the better.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 8:16:14 GMT -5
That would be nice to get more info, though doing the aspirate require a general (in my understanding), and the risks of that, would they be worth it given her age? Dont know if I'm willing to risk that, or can afford that. She does have IBD, though it is under control at the moment and has been for at least a month. The vet did suggest keeping an eye on the nodes seeing if the pred reduces them to see if we are on the right track. If no changes things will be re evaluated. Question about the sulcrafate having to be completely threw the digestive tract before giving the pred, how then does it then protect against the stomach against the meds? thanks for the input. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 8:56:26 GMT -5
I have to say that after two days of pred i'm seeing a huge improvement in her energy. This morning was the first time in a long while she's done a war dance, and she spend 15mins this morning showing Neka (twice her size!) who's boss LOL
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Post by Heather on Jun 8, 2011 14:38:05 GMT -5
Pred can and is a wonder drug at times. I used to try and avoid it, but watching these little ones stretch out their days into weeks, months and sometimes years takes the dread out of using it. If you're careful, make sure you use the sulcrate and give on a full stomach...your good to go
ciao
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Post by joclyn on Jun 8, 2011 20:57:32 GMT -5
the carafate coats everything so, if other meds are passing through while the carafate is still bound enough to be actively coating then the other med will not be absorbed by the body. so, you need to wait long enough for the carafate to have broken down and have worked it's way completely through the digestive tract - then the other meds will be able to be absorbed by the tissues.
repeated flare-ups of infection are common with ibd - i'd go with a course of clavamox for 14 days and i'll bet you see the nodes reducing by day 4 of treatment.
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