HELPPPP!!!!
 
a very kind lady with four ferrets is having trouble with her Banjo (the
ferret not the instrument!!)
 
her ferret has been very sick with a high fever and they are not too sure
what the problem is just yet.
 
- It is a one year old ferret (male).  He has a high fever and was very
  dehydrated.
- A stool sample was taken, nothing wrong there.
- He has a fever ranging from 104-105 degrees and sometime lukewarm baths
  to bring it down for a bit
- The vet ruled out ECE right away.  There is no diarrhea.
- He was going to one vet but became quickly dehydrated.
- He was getting water and not eating--since Friday he was on Pedialyte
  and Duck Soup
 
The soup consists of:
1 can sustacal or ensure
1 can water or pedilite
4 oz food
1 jar baby food - chicken or banana.
vitiams
 
- He is not going to the litter on his own.  He can barely move and sleeps
  all day except when he eats (from a syringe about once per hour or so)
- Over the weekend he needed liquids for dehydration (i am assuming sub-q's
  but i dont know how much)
 
The new vet that has more ferret experience has him on a newer medication
that is supposed to be stronger:
It is : ciprofloxacin and he is taking it every twelve hours.
 
She says that the white count is up and the vet says that shows somekind of
viral infection.  He might have gotten a cold from someone but this sounds
really bad!  She says he likes the duck soup and eats a lot of it but is
still very very weak and unable to stand on his own.  He hasn't lost or
gained any weight yet but I todl her to keep tabs on it b/c ferrets can
lose weight very quick and that is dangerous!
 
She gave me permission to use her name and asked you email her direct.
 
I told her that the FML has some great ideas on possible illnesses and what
to do--please help her if you can!
 
She says he has never been sick before and this is all very new to her!
Her email is : [log in to unmask]
 
Please CC me any info you send along.  I am interested in the outcome.  I
don't have all the answers, but I helped where I could.  ANy Suggestions
from the mailing list would be a great help!!
 
Meg and the three healthy (yippee!) fuzzies in NY
[Posted in FML issue 2668]