>Actually Roger... it is my understanding that a fecal exam does show
>that there is a high number of bacteria present..thus meaning
>helicobacter. Our vet has found it that way every time and has
>treated it with the following:
 
Well, my vets (one of them very ferret experienced) would disagree with
you, but an article by Dr. Bruce Williams would seem to agree with you.
(http://miamiferret.org/fhc/helicobacter.htm)  Of course helicobacter
infections most often cause or accompany gastric ulcers, so digested
blood in the stools is a good sign, too.  (Black, tarry stools are a
definite giveaway.  Normal looking stools may also have blood that can be
detected by microscopy or occult tests, though.  Search the FML archives
for this year for sources of occult test strips.)
 
>V.A.L syrup with chioramphenicol and metronidazole
>Pill form (though you can get it mixed too):  sucralfate/carafate
 
V.A.L.  syrup is an iron supplement, which is good for ferrets who have
bleeding - it helps them rebuild red blood cells.  Chloramphenicol is
interesting...that's not one of the common ones used for helico, but
it is an antibiotic like Biaxin (clarithromycin) or amoxicillin.
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is part of the older protocol - it works, it just
tends to stress out a lot of ferrets with its awful taste.  If you can
give it successfully, without the ferret fighting it, more power to you.
(I'm able to give metronidazole pills by hiding chunks of it in Nutrimalt
etc., but I've had no success with the liquid.)
 
>But of course you should check with your vet for their recommendation
 
Absolutely!  Good advice!  Also don't be afraid to discuss newer or
alternative treatments with your vet - but be prepared to give them
the chance to research them and make up their own minds.
 
roger
[Posted in FML issue 4490]