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Post by Gg on Mar 24, 2018 13:34:37 GMT -5
Just an update, Mo is still fighting me on eating. He’ll have literally a spoonful and push me away. I couldn’t leave him for 6 hours on an empty tummy so I got the syringe and was able to get two more spoonfuls in him but then he whimpers to break free. I don’t want to traumatize him and force him to eat but I had to scruff him slightly to get him to eat from the syringe. I don’t like doing that at all and it breaks my heart but I’m at a loss. If it’s not a quail wing, he doesn’t want it. Even grinds. It doesn’t seem like he’s able to lick as hard as appa so I’m guessing he gets tired of eating the thick soup.. but even then, that doesn’t explain why the syringe wouldn’t work.. and he can’t live off quail wings. His appointment for the vet is on Tuesday at 2. I really hope his tests come out okay.
Another update.. he just pooped and he made a whimper sound. His poops are looking firmer and bigger than the ones he was making earlier which were small and after a while turns black. Does that sound normal? So now he's barely eating and whimpering when he's pooping. I've been feeding him every 2 hours since I've gotten home at 8:30 tonight and it's 1:30. He eats more every time so I will continue to do so. I know his appetite is building up but these symptoms are showing to be more serious. I'm going to call the vet to see if I can bump up his visit date.
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 25, 2018 7:37:54 GMT -5
Sorry I did not get on yesterday, yes Loki is a bit on the smaller side and often has no appetite. Loki eats Stella and chewys FDR because even I was too scared to complete a switch to frankenprey for him with his sugars always running so low and I work 12 hour days so def not home to feed him all day if he chooses not to eat. There are also times he refuses to eat for anyone but for me. Oh the joys of insulinoma!
The poops though, they are concerning me now. One like that every once in a while can be a fluke but it sounds as if he might be developing an ulcer or is stressed about something for sure. Getting him to the vet soon would be a good thing.
What is the base of the soup they are currently eating? We may seriously have to try and eliminate chicken to make sure he is not developing a food allergy or sensitivity, if the vet clears him for everything else.
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Post by Gg on Mar 25, 2018 10:30:47 GMT -5
Aw when he’s not eating, do you syringe feed him too? Idk what is the point of torture lol. So after feeding him every two hours last night he’s gained an appetite again but he’s now used to eating in so many incraments, I’m going to try every 4 today and see how that goes. We switched it back to chicken this round because Appa wasn’t eating the red meat mix. The chicken allergy would make him cry when pooping? He’s making small dark poops and they definitely look better than yesterday morning. I read that it could be an enlargement Spleen. When I go in, I asked for a full panel test.. is there another specific test I should have them do?
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 25, 2018 20:26:42 GMT -5
A food allergy can cause upset stomach and even bloody stools. An enlarged spleen will cause general abdominal discomfort , that is easily palpatated though. Do you leave food for them all the time or only at specific times?
Thankfully when Loki is having eating issues he will eat from a spoon for me. The only time I have had to actually syringe feed him has been after his surgeries.
instead of changing the whole base try using a half ounce or an ounce for the first batch and then increasing it a little each time.
How are the chunks going?
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Post by Gg on Mar 25, 2018 21:52:02 GMT -5
I leave the soup out all around the clock for them but they dont approach it. Once in a while I'll catch Appa helping himself but that's really a rare thing. I don't know why or how it happened because they used to eat so much that I couldn't keep up. That was back when we first started in october and along the way those weasels have gotten spoiled rotten! The chunks are still dismissed by Momo with his situation and now also the chicken wings. I got the fd minnows finally and they both didn't know what to do with them lol we're trying round two tonight! Appa is taking the chunks at a littler bigger than finger nail clippings and with half soup and half slivers! Once I help him get started, I can walk away  One down. Would he need surgery if his spleen was enlarged? And given his situation, do you think he's in shape? He's gaining weight but it doesn't seem like a healthy weight if that makes sense. He's frail in his upper body. I noticed that he couldn't climb on top of his box he likes to sleep on. It's always better when mom feeds you! He's a mommas boy lol another update: Momo is eating more now and getting back to the weight he was at! He still feels frail but I see him having more energy with every day. We finally get to go see his doctor tomorrow! I'll keep you updated  |
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 27, 2018 19:52:50 GMT -5
How did the appt go?
Pred puts weight on everyone but it is mostly belly weight and not a good kind either really.
Yes it def sounds like they are spoiled. If appa eats on his own I would stop trying to feed him when you put fresh out. He will eat when he is hungry. Because of the insulinoma Mo is a bit trickier.
Yes if the spleen is very enlarged they may suggest taking it out. Only you and your vet can know if he is a good candidate for that.
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Post by Gg on Mar 27, 2018 22:01:11 GMT -5
We did xrays and a blood test which we'll find out what that panel will show tomorrow.. the xrays showed his spine getting pushed together near the tail which is making his legs weak. I was hoping it was something medicine could cure but it's just aging I guess. Have you seen any ferrets in a wagon for their back legs?
As for his lack of appetite and play.. he either has pneumonia or a tumor in his lung. So he's basically depending on one lung for now. The vet sent us home with an antibiotic called Orbax at .33 ml once daily to help get rid of the infection if that's the case. Then in a week and a half we're going to do another xray and see if it helped. If not, then the doc suggested surgery. I'm worried because I don't have that kind of money. He said it would be around 2000 and I just spent more than what I was hoping today so I'm really hoping it's something we can fix with these antibiotics.
Is there any additional supplements I can give Mo for his bone strength other than bone meal? I know too much will cause constipation.
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 28, 2018 8:46:56 GMT -5
Those little wheel things are great. Euel makes them custom and at a fantastic price. Ferrets seem to adapt really well to them.
Praying the antibiotics work for him and surgery is not needed. Your vet believes he is a good candidate for surgery?
His bones are not weak the compression causes the muscles to not get the right signals and so they do not work as well. You could try hydro therapy to help counter that. Fill the bath tub with ferret comfy temp water and let him swim for a few minutes everyday. He may hate this and he may love it but it will help keep the muscles strong.
Hoping the blood work results are consistent with an infection.
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Post by Gg on Mar 28, 2018 10:42:13 GMT -5
I couldn’t find his site for the wagons but I found this! www.google.com/amp/www.instructables.com/id/The-FerretMobile-DIY-Ferret-Wheelchair/%3famp_page=trueI’ll try the bath once we get his other lung working again. Luckily he’s never minded bathtime yeah the doc said he’s done many surgeries for this but this is also the same clinic that appa had the anesthesia reaction at. It’s the “best” exotic clinic in town but they still make me nervous. I’ll keep you updated on the blood work. For the meantime, mo has his appetite back and getting his em every back but the doc said to limit play time. Appa is eating chicken slivers at a little bigger than fingernail slices now. He threw most of those out of the bowl lol we’ll try again. |
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Post by Gg on Mar 28, 2018 13:51:44 GMT -5
On a sidenote, I’m going to be moving from Nevada to Ohio. I remember there’s a link on this website that has the vet list for all the areas but I can’t find it. Do you know where that is?
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 28, 2018 20:24:16 GMT -5
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Post by Gg on Mar 28, 2018 23:13:13 GMT -5
I got a call back from the other exotic vet there and she said that the liver count was outrageously high again in the 400's (his first reding in september was also high) and there is an obstruction in the GGT which is his gal bladder. She wants me to come back to so an ultrasound to get a better vision of his liver. At this point she thinks he's borderline diabetic which she's never seen in ferrets. I asked her if the deslorin implant could be reading higher numbers and she said adrenal wouldn't affect the sugar levels but I remember sherry mentioning that it throws false readings. The vet also mentioned it could be due to stress so I'm holding off on moving for the time being.
She wants me to do either one dose a day of prednisolone instead of 2 (at .4ml) or do .2 ml in the morning and at night.
That way the liver wont have to work so hard. (please give me your input on this. I don't want to cut his meds in half without getting a second opinion.)
She wants to rule out pneumonia but still treat him as if he has it with his antibiotics daily just in case but she feels the cancer has spread throughout his body. She also noted his digestive tract is pushing low near his butt but she can't tell whats causing it. Maybe fat or swollen lymphnodes? It's dis-aligning his lower stomach, though.
She's leaning towards cancer in his lung (which the last doctor said he does those surgeries but she said they don't being risky- also don't do chemotherapy there also- -also not sure I would even want to put him through that..)
And the only way he would have a chance is to take him to a university out of state.
Thank you for the info. I hope even still that she overlooked something and its just a fluke reading. She said if he stops eating and his back legs completely stop then I should consider letting him go.
She recommended liquid milk thistle to give to him also.
Do you think his readings are so high from a nutrition packed meal and from eating every 4 hours? I did feed him shortly before they read his levels..
There was a lot said over the phone so I'm sure I'm missing information but I'll let you know asap if I remember something!
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 29, 2018 10:45:18 GMT -5
Wow how overwhelming for you, I am so sorry. If it is cancer that has spread my personal experiences have led me to say do not put him through the surgery, split the dose of Pred is fine, it will actually keep his level more consistent. There are pain medications you can give him to he keep him more comfortable and keep his quality its of life for a while. If it has spread there will be no way they can get all of it. They may want to put him on a special wet food because of liver functions.
No one is sure why blood sugars seem to be elevated in untreated adrenal disease but there does appear to be at least overwhelming anecdotal evidence of this. I'm at work today so will not be home. I'm so sorry you have to face some of these choices. I will try to check in but sadly urgent care is more like an ER today.
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Post by Gg on Mar 29, 2018 11:37:37 GMT -5
 I never thought it would happen so quickly. I don’t want to think about loosing him to this battle. He wants to follow me around the house and play still so it’s very hard to think of how much pain he must be in although I can see his little chest trying to catch up with breathing vs how much movement he’s making so I stay with him til he sleeps. What pain meds are you thinking? Is it something I can buy from the store or order online? You’ work in a hospital? No wonder you’re so knowledgeable! I hope you have a good day at work. I’m fine over here, just spending as much time as possible with this little weasel. Is there a specific brand of milk thistle that's best? |
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Post by FireAngel on Mar 29, 2018 13:53:17 GMT -5
It would be prescription pain meds and what kind depends on the cause of the pain does will be based on weight of course.
I used to work in a hospital but now I work at a stand alone urgent care walk in clinic, sadly many people do not realize there is a difference and will come her for things that should not like chest pain. We can do many things but not everything.
Ferret health and people health are a bit different but being a nurse does give me a good basis lol.
Ferrets are super stoic which is why it can seem like something progresses overnight with them, in reality it has probably been going on for a very long time and they have just hidden it.
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