To Cindy Sooy - > My son's 1+ year old hob has developed a prolapsed rectum. His stools >are normal and he's fine otherwise. It's not really bad, it's just beginning to >protrude. I've been putting Panalog ointment on it which my vet had prescribed >for a shelter ferret that had the same problem. It didn't really work for her >and it doesn't seem to be doing much for him either. I read somewhere, and I >think it was probably on the FML, about putting sugar water on it to reduce the >swelling and relieve the soreness. Does anyone know anything about this or have >any suggestions? What causes this condition in a healthy ferret? I could see if >he had diarrhea for a while but his stools are normal. Can breeding cause him >to strain and put pressure on it? He has entertained a few females quite >recently. Cindy Sooy Actually Cindy, most prolapsed rectums are due to gastrointestinal difficulties, not breeding problems (although I suppose that anything that exerts internal pressure in the abdomen of the animal could cause this.) Prolonged diarrhea can cause a prolapsed rectum, or straining during defecation. A problem with abnormally hard stools, or scar tissue resulting from an improper descenting procedure can also cause difficulties in eliminating waste, and subsequently cuase a mild rectal prolapse. Most mild cases are self-correcting after a few weeks. Panalog ointment at least keeps it moist until it can self correct. Sugar water, while it will have beneficial effects if in the right proportions is a thought, but is difficult to get the exact concentration. Ask your vet about urea cream - this is an older formulation that is often used in large animals to take the swelling out of prolapsed uteruses in cows (which is a real problem for cattle vets). It is a standard concentration that you can apply when the animal experiences prolapse and irritation. Bruce Williams, DVM Department of Veterinary Pathology [log in to unmask] Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (202) 576-2453/2454 Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 [Posted in FML issue 0816]