To Amy and Dave: >Now, on to more sober matters. Speaking of the 7+ year old ferret, >Elektra, I would like anyone with any experience or detailed knowledge to >*please* give me information on stomach ulcers. Elektra and her fuzzy family >went on "vacation" a few weeks ago (while we did the same) and she had >been eating fine. When we got back, we were surprised to see she had >gotten up to a pound (she usually weighs about 14 oz.). From then on it >was all downhill. >She stopped eating and drinking anything. Not even duck soup. Now she's >been a finicky eater the past couple of years - doesn't eat for a while, >then suddenly does - but she would *always* eat duck soup. I got to the >point where I was force feeding her several times a day just to keep her >alive. When we went to the vet on Tuesday, he put an IV in her to get >fluids going but bascially gave us the impression that we should have her >put to sleep. >I think she's had ulcers for a while (grinding of teeth) but they never >seemed to bother her that much. Now suddenly, she wasn't even moving >around. We put her on amoxicillin, and she is showing a tiny bit of an >appetite now, but she's still not eating enough. Also, her teeth are >really covered with tartar (it's hard to get into that tiny mouth to >scale teeth - she fights too much and there's no room). So my question >is...could it be the ulcers or the teeth? We don't know what to do. Amy - here's what you have to do - 1) Amoxicillin 20mg/lb twice daily. 2) Pepto-Bismol 1cc three times daily or 1/6 of a Sucralfate tablet (the easier option) three times daily. 3) Chicken baby food (Gerber's second meals) - initially you may have to force feed, but she should soon develop a liking for it... 4) Relieve stress - easier said than done - but at least lots of love and attention. 5) As soon as she starts feeling better - get the teeth cleaned by your vet. Trying to pry her mouth open to do it yourself only stresses her out further and stress is a major factor in the development of ulcers. The other factor is Helicobacter mustelae infection, a common inhabitant of ferret stomachs. Bruce Williams, DVM Department of Veterinary Pathology [log in to unmask] Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (202) 782-2600/2602 Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 Any information anyone could give us would be great. [Posted in FML issue 0980]