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Post by Jackie on Nov 21, 2010 3:06:35 GMT -5
I was feeding the girls tonight and noticed that Pixie was grinding her teeth again. Then she started biting the ramp and the plastic tray, as if she was in pain. Finally, she started pawing at her mouth.
I'm suspecting an ulcer. She is eating just fine (actually, she's eating really good), but her stools have been a bit on the green side, and she is still really thin from her blockage episode. I'm surprised she hasn't put on any weight. I fed some liver yesterday and the day before that, so I can't tell if the stools are dark from an ulceration.
Our vet gave us some metacam (0.15 ml) to give for pain for the blockage. About 15 minutes after the dose, she seemed to feel a lot better, and got up to play for a bit.
I have a couple questions:
Is there a sure-fire way to diagnose an ulcer? Stool samples, blood work?
Is there a homeopathic option for treating ulcers?
Is feeding the freeze dried chicken (wet) okay on her tummy? Should I just blend up some chicken breast instead?
Also, one more thing - Is there a risk of treating it like an ulcer, without testing to confirm it is one? I just don't want to run a bunch of tests if the treatment (antibiotics?) won't harm her.
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 21, 2010 11:29:00 GMT -5
If it's an ulcer, the general treatment would simply be something like carafate, or pepcid, so no, I don't think there's any risk in that. The concern would be if you were treating for an ulcer, and it was something else entirely causing the pain/nausea. I wouldn't imagine the rehydrated freeze dried would cause her any problems. But you might want to give the pain meds with food, just in case that's what has caused it.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 21, 2010 12:59:17 GMT -5
Teeth grinding and pawing at the mouth is a sign of pain and/or nausea.
Ulcer is a possibility. However, hairballs/blockage or insulinoma (low blood sugar) can cause nausea/pain and result in the same symptoms. (teeth grinding, pawing at the mouth, drooling, etc.
I'm thinking a stool sample can be checked for blood. I'm also thinking that if your ferret is showing any signs of lethargy, spaciness, weakness (odd behavior and slowness of any kind), you may want to have blood sugar checked as well. A vet can also "feel" for blockage and/or do an x-ray.
I would islolate your ferret and monitor input/output (Is your ferret pooping enough? eating? Energetic? etc.)
If the problem is an ulcer, your ferret will most likely medication (both anti-biotics and stomach coating meds/ ant-acids, etc.) to get things healed up.)
On that note, you can continue to feed freeze-dried. I also recommend adding a bit of extra virgin olive oil to your ferret's diet. The extra virgin olive oil has proven to reduce /inhibit growth of ulcer-related helicobacter bacteria in lab studies. This would also help with possible hairballs/blockages. If the teeth grinding, etc. continues, you'll want to take your ferret to the vet very soon. Ifyour ferret is not pooping (possible blockage), you have an emergency on your hands, and time is critical. Start laxatone or pumpkin ASAP and get your ferret to the vet.
-jennifer
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Post by Jackie on Nov 21, 2010 15:50:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the info! I'll be getting stool samples (for both Pixie and Trixie) sometime this week (one place does them for $8) so we'll see how that goes. No grinding this morning. Pixie ate fine, stools are well formed, but still slightly green. For about an hour and a half, she was really active (I even took her outside to dig a bit). After that, she just laid down on the floor. I put her back in the cage for some food, and she took a couple licks, then laid down to go to sleep. It doesn't seem to bother Trixie, but it's kinda hot in their room (roughly 78 F (25 C)). I'm working on getting an A/C for them, but with all of Pixie's issues, I haven't had the time. Maybe that has something to do with her behavior? I'm really praying it's not insulinoma On a side note, Trixie decided she likes to chew and eat my shoe laces. I looked at her stools this morning and found shoe lace material in two of them.
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 21, 2010 18:02:17 GMT -5
Sorry about that- shows I shouldn't answer posts before I've had my first cup of caffeine, Antibiotics, from what I understand, sometimes have to be given repeatedly for a month or so to completely clear up an ulcer. And since you've got a little monkey who insists on eating what she shouldn't maybe make pumpkin a regular part of her diet?
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Post by Jackie on Nov 21, 2010 18:04:06 GMT -5
Here's Pixie's latest stool Pumpkin and olive oil (although not extra virgin) are both regular parts of their diet (they actually eat pumpkin by itself. I guess they like it)
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 21, 2010 18:07:29 GMT -5
I could be mistaken, but that looks like blood in there
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Post by Jackie on Nov 21, 2010 18:17:36 GMT -5
That's what I thought, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions What would cause fresh blood in the stool? Could that still be an ulcer?
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Post by Heather on Nov 21, 2010 20:39:32 GMT -5
Do you happen to have access to culture sticks? I think that's what they're called. You can test for frank blood. I would be more concerned with dark black, tarry stools, this shows bleeding much higher up the GI track. Is this the little one that just past the huge obstruction? She may have something that might be similar to hemorrhoids, these would show redish coloured blood. Despite passing a blockage, your little one is probably going to have to heal internally. You may need to see a vet to get antibiotics to possibly combat an infection or she may indeed have an ulcer. The stress of the blockage is quite devastating and despite successfully passing it, the stress on her body may indeed manifest itself as an ulcer ciao
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Post by Jackie on Nov 21, 2010 21:18:23 GMT -5
Yes, this is the same little one. I don't have an culture sticks, but I might be able to get some of these: www.testcountry.com/products.html?product=1107They are for humans, but I guess they might work for pets, too. Nevertheless, I'm getting a stool sample this week. I'm calling to vet tomorrow to see if he can see her this week and prescribe anything needed.
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odin
Going Natural
Posts: 153
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Post by odin on Nov 22, 2010 10:13:43 GMT -5
When Cassi had her blockage, and had surgery for it, she seemed fine afterwards (this was long before our raw switch) but she never really bounced back to her original appetite. About 5 months later we started seeing her appetite roller coaster up and down and her weight was not good and she would have occasional vomitting. She got so bad that we actually thought it might have been another obstruction, so the vet did surgery again, found nothing and biopsied everything while she was open. That yielded no results. Ultimately we decided that it had to be Helicobacter bacterial infections. It was such a torturous process treating that stuff. Two antibiotics, some crazy max cal wet cat food mixed with heavy cream to put weight back on her and pepsid. it was an everyday fight with her for more than a month. Honestly I think the switch to raw is what really helped her. The digestability of the food helped her gain so much weight back and we haven't had a problem since.
Luckily your baby is already on raw. With tummy problems I would give them the most digestible stuff you can, just to make it easier on them, preferrably moist food like straight up pureed chicken meat, cause then you know they're also keeping hydrated.
I think that there might be something to having a blockage and surgery leading to bacteria load imbalances in the tummy. We are pretty sure that she never was 100% right after the surgery until we battled the helicobacter.
Anyway, good luck and I'm sure you'll have a better run of it then we did on a non-raw diet. Hope they feel better soon!
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Post by Jackie on Nov 22, 2010 11:04:46 GMT -5
UPDATE:
So the vet is making a house call today. I'm hoping we'll be able to diagnose the issue and get her on some meds. I'll let everyone know what's going on later today.
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Post by Heather on Nov 22, 2010 11:20:07 GMT -5
I'm seriously beginning to think that though we may save our little ones from an untimely and painful death when treating them for blockages either through surgery or they do actually pass the obstruction, we are still looking at serious consequences as a result. I think that the obstructions cause serious internal damage and despite our best efforts perhaps we should look at IBD and ulcers being a probable outcome. I know that blockages in humans cause a serious motility issue, usually caused by scarring of the bowel. Usually, the only problem that is dealt with is that we have to be more careful or further blockages that can occur in that particular portion of the bowl. In ferrets because their whole digestive tract is so short, the damage is much more extensive and has much more serious repercussions and their ability to process and absorb nutrients is greatly reduced. This is only an observation on my part, so I'm open to anyone adding their 2 cents worth ciao
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Post by Jackie on Nov 22, 2010 11:56:39 GMT -5
I think you're absolutely right. I've noticed that ever since Pixie passed the blockage, her stools have been slightly green no matter what I do. I have no doubt that there is SOME damage, but to what extent is difficult to assess. There is a good chance she will never be "normal" again. I think the whole ordeal is stressing her "sister" Trixie out, because she's been having occasional stool similar to some of Koda's. Then again, it could just be my shoe laces passing through. Since the vet is coming here, I'm going to sneak Trixie in and try to get him look at her, too
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Post by sherrylynne on Nov 22, 2010 12:11:05 GMT -5
It's odd. When Lucrezia had her blockage(she passed it), she was never quite the same for almost a year afterwards. She used to this amazing zest for life. Afterwards, although she ate, drank, pooped, played, etc, it's like that zest was now missing.
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