Post by Sherry on Feb 19, 2011 11:41:32 GMT -5
miamiferret.org/treatment.htm
Excerpt:
*Insulinomic ferrets may just act a little tired, lethargic. The only symptom our ferret Miska showed in 1995 was a little increased flattening. Their back legs may wobble. They may seem "out of it" and stare at nothing. They may feel nauseous. Some let you know by pawing at their mouths. More severe symptoms include seizures or comas, which are life threatening, of course.
If an Insulinomic ferret is comatose, having a seizure, can't use its back legs or is very wobbly, quickly rub karo syrup on the gums. Honey may be substituted if you don't have karo syrup. Use a q-tip to avoid being bitten if the ferret is seizing. Many ferrets will become alert and act normal within a minute.
Follow the karo syrup with a high protein meal (kibble or duck soup without sugar) to help stabilize the blood glucose. Contact a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian.
Caution: KARO SYRUP OR HONEY IS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE ONLY, NOT A TREATMENT.
Karo syrup is preferable to honey; it can be utilized more quickly. When you give an influx of sugar - in this case karo or honey - it will quickly raise the blood sugar and the ferret may feel much better, but what goes up must come down, and the blood sugar will soon fall back to its previous level - or lower. Using karo or honey as ongoing treatment means that preferred treatments are being withheld from a sick ferret and the ferret may be suffering needlessly.*
Excerpt:
*Insulinomic ferrets may just act a little tired, lethargic. The only symptom our ferret Miska showed in 1995 was a little increased flattening. Their back legs may wobble. They may seem "out of it" and stare at nothing. They may feel nauseous. Some let you know by pawing at their mouths. More severe symptoms include seizures or comas, which are life threatening, of course.
If an Insulinomic ferret is comatose, having a seizure, can't use its back legs or is very wobbly, quickly rub karo syrup on the gums. Honey may be substituted if you don't have karo syrup. Use a q-tip to avoid being bitten if the ferret is seizing. Many ferrets will become alert and act normal within a minute.
Follow the karo syrup with a high protein meal (kibble or duck soup without sugar) to help stabilize the blood glucose. Contact a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian.
Caution: KARO SYRUP OR HONEY IS AN EMERGENCY MEASURE ONLY, NOT A TREATMENT.
Karo syrup is preferable to honey; it can be utilized more quickly. When you give an influx of sugar - in this case karo or honey - it will quickly raise the blood sugar and the ferret may feel much better, but what goes up must come down, and the blood sugar will soon fall back to its previous level - or lower. Using karo or honey as ongoing treatment means that preferred treatments are being withheld from a sick ferret and the ferret may be suffering needlessly.*