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Post by Heather on Feb 5, 2011 0:13:15 GMT -5
It does indeed sound like a blockage. I would be getting the little one to the vet asap. I wouldn't be blaming yourself either. You've not had this little one very long. These rolling blockages can carry on for quite awhile, with symptoms appearing and disappearing. Her previous person might actually be as easily at fault as you. Please keep us posted ciao
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2011 0:53:20 GMT -5
Just try to get fluids in her, maybe some lax and pumpkin. Jinx will be in my prayers.
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 9:44:45 GMT -5
She's being x-rayed right now. Cross your fingers everyone.
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 10:41:30 GMT -5
They said they didn't think they saw anything on the xray but r sending it to california just to be sure. They r currently going to take some blood to check n see what that has to say.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 5, 2011 11:46:33 GMT -5
Did they do a barium xray? If it's something soft like foam, that will NOT show up on a normal xray.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2011 12:10:15 GMT -5
Yeah, it needs to be barium. Fingers crossed for Jinx.
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 12:32:46 GMT -5
Well things are not going well. No it wasn't a barium xray but she's had no access to anything foam or similar as she's never been unsupervised and nothing in her cage has been chewed nor of that material. The vet things it's ECE or proliferative bowel disease. He shwoed me the xray and said that it looked like her intestine/colon walls were thickening. He's given me antibiotics that she has to take every 12 hours. They also said I have to give her fluids sub Q every 4 hours, but when I look in the bag they handed me I do NOT see the IV type fluids they showed me how to use. So now I'm worried because that vet is over an hour away and they are closed...so can I give her plain water sub Q? or do it orally or....? Also he wants me giving her food via syringe obviously, but gave me hill's a/d wet food. It has something to do with helping with renal problems, but I really dont like hill's and it's supposedly cat and dog food which is alarming... shhould I just make some dook soup and give her that? And maybe mix some of this food with it? I wonder how on earth i'm supposed to give her sub q injections without help
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Post by Sherry on Feb 5, 2011 12:46:03 GMT -5
Here's a link on sub q's: www.ferretuniverse.com/health/sub_q.aspCan you call another vet, just to talk? They might be able to walk you through it. Yes, certainly go with the soupies. It's bound to be better than the hill's.
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 12:54:00 GMT -5
Vet just called me and said he would drive the hour here to drop it off. That was nice of him.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 5, 2011 12:56:42 GMT -5
While he's there, have him walk you through it again, just to be sure. And yes, that is VERY nice of him!
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 13:05:23 GMT -5
I'm just meeting him at the exit on the hwy cuz I kinda live in the boonies.
So I've got chicken that's thawing, this a/d wet food, chicken baby food, ferretone, her dry food, anything else that I should put in this soup? Pumpkin? And does it really matter how much of each? And the chicken doesn't need to be fully cooked?
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Post by taratee on Feb 5, 2011 15:11:39 GMT -5
maybe crushed up eggshell? pumpkin should work similarly to solidify the poo. i usually feed chicken raw, everything i feed the ferrets is raw. id be careful with the ferretone, if i remember correctly it can have adverse effects in large amounts. i think a tsp is a serving for one ferret of the pumpkin, but thats for maintenance 1 tbsp is recommended for trying to pass something :/
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Post by Heather on Feb 5, 2011 15:44:02 GMT -5
I'm sorry that it could be ECE though not uncommon with the farm ferrets. Some actually have developed a resistance to it. At one time Marshals fuzzies were considered carriers of this dreaded disease and if tested were often positive for ECE though the virus wasn't active. Marie would be one to talk about an excellent interim diet as she has just dealt with a particular virulent type of ECE with her business. It almost sounds like your little one is now in the later stages of the disease (they are infectious up to 1 yr after getting this virus). ECE is transferred from one ferret to another, so unless she's come into contact with an infected ferret since coming into your care, she became infected before she was handed over to you. The problem with this disease in it's later stages is that it will lay dormant until stress re activates the disease. The bonus is that if recognized early on it can be treated and the ferret will not be endangered. Dehydration and malnutrition is the problem with this disease. The thickening walls of the intestine means that the ferret isn't able to utilize and absorb it's food and liquids properly (the reason why you're giving sub q fluids). I will light a healing candle for your little one. Take care, give her a big hug and please keep us posted ciao
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 15:53:32 GMT -5
there's another blizzard occuring right now. I have no idea if the vets even going to be able to get to me to get the sub q fluids. She's still drinking on her own when I offer her her water bowl, but she's becoming extremely resistant to being syringe fed. Her poor neck is all shaved underneath Anyone have any tips how to make this syringe feeding easier? I feel like I'm really stressing her out which is NOT what she needs right now, but she wont eat voluntarily. I also dont want to start making this soup and have the vet call me to meet them so I've been waiting. Have gotten some of the a/d food in her as well as some pumpkin.
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Post by kristinb on Feb 5, 2011 15:57:42 GMT -5
She does this twist and roll thing when I try and scruff her to insert the syringe, and it's nearly impossible to hold onto her.
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