Sheldon -
 
Gastric ulcers are not uncommon in ferrets, especially those under stress.
They can cause a prolonged GI problem, such as your ferret is undergoing, or
can die quickly, if the ulcer invades a gastric blood vessel, and the animal
can bleed out in 2 minutes.  Or there can be chronic bleeding and anemia.
 
Tarry stools is something that should never be ignored, not for one minute.
It means there is low-grade bleeding into the stomach, and is highly
suggestive of gastric ulcers.  Grinding teeth is a sure sign of abdominal
pain, and is a sign that something is definitely wrong.
 
Gastric ulcers may also occur in conjunction with Helicobacter infection of
the stomach, which is very common in ferrets.  These ferrets have decreased
acid production in the stomach, and may show lack of appetitie, vomiting, or
diarrhea.
 
From your discussion of your pet's condition, there is little time left.  I
would suggest you put your pet on 20 mg/lb Amoxicillin, and 1/8 tablet
Sucralfate three times a day.  You have to get food and water into it, also.
I would suggest feeding Gerber's 2nd meals chicken baby food (which most
ferrets tolerate pretty well) as well as about 2-4cc's/hour by eyedropper.
 
As far as liver or kidney failure, that's not the problem.  Ferrets that
don't eat for 12-24 hours will have elevated liver enzymes, and many
ferret-unknowledgable vets jump on hepatic failure, and ignore the basic
cause.
 
Your ferret has a gastric ulcer, and most likely a good case of
Helicobacter.  You had best switch the treamtment to address this problem.
CefaDrops and Nutrical won't help.
 
Bruce Williams, DVM
[log in to unmask]
(202) 576-2453/2454
 
[Posted in FML issue 0789]