joclyn
Going Natural
Posts: 159
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Post by joclyn on May 5, 2010 0:55:39 GMT -5
i basically agree with heather. at this point, the only blood value that's of import right now is the pcv. doing a full blood panel isn't going to tell you there's a tumor somewhere - an xray or ultrasound will. white cell counts do not always increase when tumors (malignant cancers) are present.
my percy never had high white cell count - ever; not even within less than 24 hours of when he died (and he turned out to be full of lymphoma - literally completely covering everything).
if kidney values are off, you need to keep up on fluids. liver values can go off when something is going on (like major infection) and they can clear up once the issue is resolved.
fluids are always a must when they're ill so, that should be being done regardless because the kidney values are invariably going to be off when something is going on and the same with the liver (so why waste funds on a panel to tell you what is already evident? ).
if he's not eating enough, then bg levels would be the other thing to really worry about at the moment.
and, as a complete opposite to what i've said above, there was something on boo's bloodwork that made me think the issue was infection (when paired with other things like long term prolapse, runny poo, etc). i can not find that paper work though. have my own issue with a sick little one...
anyhoo, i'll find it - hopefully in the next day or so. or i can call and have the vet resend it.
for the meds, i can't find the box from the clavamox to give the dosing. pretty much what is the norm though.
biaxin was 250 mg 15 ml mixed with 11 ml water and given as .3 mls every 12 hours.
prednisolone 15/5 in doses of .67 every 12 hours.
he also had prilosec. prescription strength, not the otc stuff. and i can't find that container either. contents of one capsule mixed in 10 cc (i think) of water and given all at once. that was just once a day.
never did start with carafate because it turned out that he improved and the pcv was going up steadily and once it hit over 40 he was weaned off the pred (so, no need to use the carafate to protect his tummy).
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Post by goingpostal on May 5, 2010 10:04:21 GMT -5
Bloodwork I'm mainly concerned about the pcv and doing a blood sugar check to find out if he is insulinomic as well, xray I think will be a good idea too, see what's going on in there.
He was actually up and moving around a bit when I got up this morning, couple hours before his pred dose, he's not super steady on his walking but getting up on his own and showing some spunk is a big improvement.
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Post by Heather on May 5, 2010 12:25:46 GMT -5
It's good to hear that he's getting up and moving around on his own. I hope that you continue to see improvements with him. Keep us posted ciao
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Post by goingpostal on May 14, 2010 20:56:40 GMT -5
Well Blackie has been steadily improving, eating on his own, running around, still slight leg weakness. Went back to the vet today and while he is 3 ounces lighter than the last visit, his PCV is up to 42% and his blood sugar was 138 and the vet said he fought them like mad to get a blood sample, not suprising as last tiem they shaved and poked 3 different spots attempting to get some, he knows the drill now! She wants to continue the pred as it seems to be working and doesn't recommend surgery right now as he's doing well but not 100% and it might just set him back.
The other 3 I brought for checkups checked out good, I had Koda's BG tested as well and it was 126, Craven was such a pill they couldn't get blood, which the vet said is probably a sign he's doing just fine, my female is also pretty full of energy and a bit younger so I didn't test her. I got out of there for $224 so not too bad.
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Post by mustelidmusk on May 14, 2010 22:27:22 GMT -5
Sounds like life is improving......it's amazing how these little guys can rebound. While pred. is not particularly healthy, it can work wonders under the right circumstances. Sometimes weakness ca be due to a less efficient use of insulin and blood sugars even if there is no actual disease. Weakness may be helped (so may the anemia) with a little extra liver in the diet and a small amount of olive oil. Obviously, you don't want to overload on liver but a few extra nibbles on a daily basis may improve strength - it's the healthiest source of chromium yo ca offer your ferrets.
-jennifer
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 3, 2010 20:58:44 GMT -5
Relapse, he's not been eating his soup with nearly the gusto, still eating some but he was a huge pig about it before and today I had to pull him out to get him to eat some before his pred. He's also lost weight, I can feel his spine again and back to low energy, hard time moving around. Not sure if he's anemic again or what the deal is, next Thursday is the soonest I could bring him back to my vet and I don't know if he will even make it that long, it seems like he's going downhill. I'm going to go back to feeding him and supportive care because I would bet he's not feeling well enough to eat on his own anymore. Should I bump the pred a bit and see if it helps?
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 3, 2010 21:37:53 GMT -5
After checking his gums I'm sure he is anemic again, they are very pale and he is breathing heavy, didn't want to be cuddled but fell over as soon as he got out of my lap and doesn't have any spark in his eyes.
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Post by Heather on Jun 3, 2010 22:39:11 GMT -5
Sounds to me like you have an emergency. Try and get your little one to a vet asap. These little ones can bleed out so fast. A healing candle is lit, please keep us posted ciao
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 4, 2010 7:37:00 GMT -5
Unfortunately the vet in town is seriously useless when it comes to ferrets, he doesn't know anything about them. I can bring him in and have him pts but that's about it and last time I used this vet for that I got second guessed and treated like crap because "she didn't seem that sick", all because she lifted her head to examine new surroundings.
He's lost back leg usage, very weak and pottied on the floor last night, on himself this morning, I told my b/f to feed and check on him every 4 hours, I have to work all day today.
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Post by Heather on Jun 4, 2010 12:49:17 GMT -5
I'm sorry. Poor wee thing. I hope that you can do something for him. Please know that we're here, for what it's worth ciao
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 4, 2010 19:17:09 GMT -5
I am so sorry! Can the vet you normally use give you any recommendation for one to get to in the interim?
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 4, 2010 20:11:46 GMT -5
I'm a bit isolated up here, there's a vet across the river but they will straight out tell you they can't handle a sick ferret, go to Duluth, there's one other vet in town whose about 100 years old and won't treat them at all, and the crappy vet. The above vets treat the neighboring towns as well. It took a ton of calling around and internet searching when my first girl was adrenal to find my vet, next option is the twin cites which is 6 hours away. I have money, I just cannot get off work, everyone is on vacation. I am going to bring him in to the crappy vet to be pts in the morning I think. I just don't know what else I can do. It's so frustrating.
Unfortunatly vet care wasn't top of the list when we bought our first ferret, I just assumed all vets would be capable of treating them and didn't have any idea of their potential health issues. And with ferrets, there's always an emergency. To be honest, I probably won't get any more ferrets unless the vet situation up here gets better, even checkups and shots are difficult, borrowing a vehicle that can hold a cage, having an extra $100 for gas and food, paying someone to take out the dogs while we are gone all day, etc. Ok, rant over, just feeling depressed, stressed out and helpless.
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Post by sherrylynne on Jun 4, 2010 22:00:55 GMT -5
{{{{{hugs}}}}}
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Post by Heather on Jun 4, 2010 22:18:45 GMT -5
Sooo sorry for your frustration and disappointment. A healing candle is lit for you too. May you find a solution for both you and your little one. Good luck ciao
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 4, 2010 23:09:29 GMT -5
Oh, gosh, I do understand where you're at. I'm lucky enough to have a good vet, but he was out of town during one of our boys' big crisis....when end up with a PTS situation on our hands. That was with my last brats. I swore off ferrets even with a good vet around after my first two. I made it a year and a half without ferts. Then i babysat two young unaltered hobs. I was looking for litters that Spring. My vetis close to retiremet and hs cut back hours. After these kids, i will need to re-evaluate. Anyway, Im sendng good thoghts and ferret prayers your way -jennifer
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