|
Post by unclejoe on Aug 22, 2019 16:47:55 GMT -5
I did scruff, but I found that as soon as i released, they would shake their heads and the meds would go flying. Dar24 still scruffs to get it done quickly, but I try to avoid scruffing. Plus, working with the elderly I have become more patient with older ferrets, lol
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Aug 22, 2019 18:10:00 GMT -5
peacexlovexpets I was initially, but he came alive like a writhing snake once the meds touched his lips and I was scared he’d wreck his neck. The burrito has worked better! I still scruff to clean ear funk and cut toenails (he pays no attention to the oil-on-belly trick), but he won’t thrash for those, just squints angrily. For the meds, he thrashes.
|
|
|
Post by peacexlovexpets on Aug 22, 2019 18:17:27 GMT -5
peacexlovexpets I was initially, but he came alive like a writhing snake once the meds touched his lips and I was scared he’d wreck his neck. The burrito has worked better! I still scruff to clean ear funk and cut toenails (he pays no attention to the oil-on-belly trick), but he won’t thrash for those, just squints angrily. For the meds, he thrashes. That's too bad, but at least the burrito is working! I tried to burrito my boys once to check CRT (capillary refill time on their gums - checks dehydration level more accurately than skin tent) and it did not help all that much as I wasn't able to get the burrito tight enough to keep them from lifting up their front legs and wiggling away.
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Sept 12, 2019 14:13:49 GMT -5
Blood glucose of 77, two and a half hours after eating today. He was boarded at the vet’s for four days starting this morning for a short vacation because none of my friends wanted to come by twice a day to medicate him (boo). I’ll see him again soon!
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Oct 11, 2019 11:51:04 GMT -5
Blood glucose of 70 today, five hours after eating. Vet said he’d bump the amount of prednisolone up at readings around 60 or if his behaviour becomes sluggish, whichever first, does that jive with your experiences?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Oct 12, 2019 13:11:12 GMT -5
For insulinoma, a five hour fast is not a good idea. He should still be a bit more stable on the meds however. How often is he eating?
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Oct 12, 2019 18:48:35 GMT -5
I feed him twice a day at twelve hour intervals, what I give him used to last him a long time (same amount but he grazed) but since a week or so after the meds started he began inhaling everything in front of him at one sitting. I guess I should divide it more? How often should I go?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Oct 13, 2019 7:41:37 GMT -5
Winter appetites are also kicking into high gear. So he likely needs the amount of food increased by at least half. Also, you may want to consider hand feeding a small meal mid day if at all possible. Even with raw fed ferrets, the max you want them going without is about 6-7 hours when they have insulinoma.
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Oct 13, 2019 16:53:11 GMT -5
I fed and medicated him previously at 7:30 AM and PM, closest I can get to halfway between those is around 3:30 when I get off work most days, then meds and snack at 7:30 again, and dinner before I go to bed at 9:30. Days I’m off I can do five feedings, 7:30 11:30 3:30 7:30(med snack) 9:30.
I do kinda want to fast him for the monthly blood tests though, so I know closer to how low he goes overnight when I’m asleep.
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Oct 15, 2019 11:51:57 GMT -5
Haha, he’s pissed at me, he believes all his meals should be the size they were when I fed him twice a day and is mighty disappointed! He was eating an ounce and a half total and I upped it to two total. This food is very dense, I was feeding him probably two and a half to three ounces of frankenprey based only on him finishing it all and he automatically maintained a good weight, and when I thought I could just switch 1:1 I was shocked at how fast he gained. It’s Better in the Raw for ferrets as a reminder, and the mixer I use is ground beef chuck. Unsure of the fat content, think it’s around 15-20%.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Oct 20, 2019 8:07:59 GMT -5
They do get ticked when something changes
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Nov 6, 2019 11:14:46 GMT -5
Today his glucose reading was 91, three and a half hours after food and meds. Vet says his insulin release pattern is spurting instead of steady.
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 10, 2019 8:26:05 GMT -5
Not sure what the vet means, but 91 is a good reading.
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Nov 10, 2019 20:50:19 GMT -5
Sometimes his pancreas is dumping unusually high amounts of insulin, and sometimes it’s functioning at a more normal pace and his numbers are able to climb back up. It also explains the week on, week off appetite problems that led me to bring him to the vet to figure out what was wrong in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Nov 30, 2019 13:52:07 GMT -5
Reading of 78 today, four and a half hours after food and meds. No further updates of note.
|
|