|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 28, 2019 6:47:47 GMT -5
My ferret kanga is having trouble keeping her balance. Shell be walking and just tip over and it doesn't look very good when I watch her walk. And I can shes depressed from losing her bonded partner this month. I'm just worried about her because shes my only one now. But I just dont have the money right now from having 2 expensive vep Bill's from my other 2 ferrets that passed. Just not sure what to do right now
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Nov 28, 2019 8:35:30 GMT -5
Could be low blood sugar- if she gets very unsteady again (or is still right now) rub some honey or corn/karo syrup on her gums. If she straightens up within a few minutes she’s most certainly having a blood sugar low and likely needs insulinoma treatment. This involves a blood sugar test for diagnosis which should be about $30 and then monthly refills of a med called prednisolone that should be about $10 -$15 each refill. Not too expensive. These are just estimates based on vets in my area and yours may vary, just wanted to give an idea.
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 28, 2019 11:09:13 GMT -5
Could be low blood sugar- if she gets very unsteady again (or is still right now) rub some honey or corn/karo syrup on her gums. If she straightens up within a few minutes she’s most certainly having a blood sugar low and likely needs insulinoma treatment. This involves a blood sugar test for diagnosis which should be about $30 and then monthly refills of a med called prednisolone that should be about $10 -$15 each refill. Not too expensive. These are just estimates based on vets in my area and yours may vary, just wanted to give an idea. I got some Karo syrup. How often and how much do i give it to her? i gave alittle on her gums and shes still unsturdy or does it take while to help
|
|
|
Post by Corvidophile on Nov 28, 2019 16:39:21 GMT -5
It should be within minutes, ten at most. If it has no effect then it’s probably not low blood sugar. Keep it in the house for the future if you need to revive a weak/fainted low blood sugar ferret in the future, but don’t give it regularly, it’s just to get them up on their feet in an emergency. It can’t be used to regularly raise the blood sugar because of an automatic body response to then produce more insulin at the introduction of sweets, which will lower the blood sugar again. Like a rollercoaster.
|
|
|
Post by unclejoe on Nov 28, 2019 17:14:49 GMT -5
I agree. Don't keep giving her karo. If she has BG problems, it could make it worse. But as corvidophile suggested, if it didn't make a difference it's probably not insulinoma. And if you do take her to the vet, as you know you should, it would throw off the BG test results. Talk to your vet to see if she needs to fast before going in. I would not fast her more than 4 hrs in any case. Apply for care credit if you need to.
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 28, 2019 17:38:11 GMT -5
I agree. Don't keep giving her karo. If she has BG problems, it could make it worse. But as corvidophile suggested, if it didn't make a difference it's probably not insulinoma. And if you do take her to the vet, as you know you should, it would throw off the BG test results. Talk to your vet to see if she needs to fast before going in. I would not fast her more than 4 hrs in any case. Apply for care credit if you need to. I've maxed out my care credit for these vet Bill's and cant get anymore and what's BG?
|
|
|
Post by unclejoe on Nov 28, 2019 18:53:30 GMT -5
blood glucose. Low BG (hypoglycemia)can be caused by insulinoma, where the pancreas may produce too much insulin. it can cause the wobbles you described, loss of appetite and weight, and seizures which can be fatal
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 29, 2019 3:17:22 GMT -5
blood glucose. Low BG (hypoglycemia)can be caused by insulinoma, where the pancreas may produce too much insulin. it can cause the wobbles you described, loss of appetite and weight, and seizures which can be fatal So with the BG, by giving her the karo syrup it wouldnt of helped her. Shes had the unsturdyness, hasnt ate as much as she used to and has no interest in playing , she just wants to sleep. What's the treatment plan for ferrets that have hypoglycemia?
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 29, 2019 6:55:25 GMT -5
Frequent high protein meals, and prednisolone twice a day. Also get a glucometer when you can for home testing.
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 29, 2019 15:43:44 GMT -5
Frequent high protein meals, and prednisolone twice a day. Also get a glucometer when you can for home testing. I got her an appointment with the vet on monday, it was the soonest I could get an appointment and today shes even more unsturdy and just tripping over when she does try to walk.
|
|
|
Post by unclejoe on Nov 29, 2019 22:31:03 GMT -5
try to make sure she's eating. chicken baby food with a syringe, if you have to. the pred isn't very expensive, but the vet needs to test blood (~$20) and calculate pred dose by weight. if that's the problem. Good news: I have 2 ferts on pred for 2 years and they're still going.
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 30, 2019 9:18:07 GMT -5
try to make sure she's eating. chicken baby food with a syringe, if you have to. the pred isn't very expensive, but the vet needs to test blood (~$20) and calculate pred dose by weight. if that's the problem. Good news: I have 2 ferts on pred for 2 years and they're still going. Shes been eating more of her food now
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Nov 30, 2019 10:24:59 GMT -5
Since she can't get in for a bit, make sure she is eating every four hours around the clock until she is on meds.
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 30, 2019 12:53:47 GMT -5
Since she can't get in for a bit, make sure she is eating every four hours around the clock until she is on meds. Shes now just dragging herself around. Not wanting to stand up and when she does she tips over. I'll get her chicken baby food. The ingredients are chicken water and cornstarch, is cornstarch okay for them to digest? And do I feed just that to her every 4 hours? And about how much until? I get her to the vet tuesday
|
|
|
Post by jamien18 on Nov 30, 2019 16:33:23 GMT -5
I took her to an emergency vet, they tested her BG and it was normal. They dont know what's going on, so blood and urine is getting sent to a lab for testing.
|
|