| Ferret Shaking - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| : : b r i a n : : |
I took my ferret Grey to the vet today to get blood work and x-rays.
This was all from earlier when I thought he felt skinny, very lethargic,
and scratches/nibbles at his skin all the time.
I have to wait for the blood test results, but today there is another
problem. I went in the ferrets' room and found Grey lying on the floor
near the cage shivering. The ferrets never lay where he was, and this
was not the type of shivering like when a ferret first wakes up--he was
shivering a lot, including his head and whole body. It appeared as
though he went to the cage to use the litter box, came out, and laid
down right there; his belly area still had wetness on it.
I held him for a long time, but he wouldn't stop shivering. While I was
holding him I noticed his nose looked pale instead of the normal pink
color. I looked at his gums, and they appeared normal to me.
For the past 20 minutes he's was cuddled up in blankets shivering. His
nose now looks normal, he feels very warm, and he's not shivering.
I am starting to loose my mind with this little guys health! I feel
helpless, and don't know what to do for him. The vet said nothing
besides the scratching/nibbling at his skin *seemed* unhealthy to her,
and this is why I got the blood tests and x-rays done.
Anyone have any ideas here? Maybe all this will spark someone's ferret
knowledge, and have some idea what Grey's problem *might* be. I've
tried looking through the FAQs, but they are fairly useless in the
health area; they explain what an illness is, but not general symptoms
to a ferret would show.
--
Brian
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| Kathouze |
>From: : : b r i a n : : user@127.0.0.1
>I have to wait for the blood test results, but today there is another
>problem. I went in the ferrets' room and found Grey lying on the floor
>near the cage shivering. The ferrets never lay where he was, and this
>was not the type of shivering like when a ferret first wakes up
Have his blood glucose checked,and feed him high protien meals.Chicken meat
babyfood is good.If he does it again,try rubbing honey or something sweet on
his gums.I'm wondering if it might have been a mild seizure,possibly
insulinoma.Could be something totally different,but it's a simple test,and good
to rule out.BTW<how old is he? Here's a good health web site.
http://miamiferret.org/fhc/
Sandy and the Dook City Gang
Tempus Fuzzit
kathouze pictures
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery...ername=kathouze
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| Seaace |
Have you tried feeding him some raw egg and see if he perks up after about
15 minutes (or rub his gums with honey) - could be insulinoma.
I'd get him back to the vet asap!
John
": : b r i a n : :" <user@127.0.0.1> wrote in message
news:WqsKb.52675$Fg.30805@lakeread01...
> I took my ferret Grey to the vet today to get blood work and x-rays.
> This was all from earlier when I thought he felt skinny, very lethargic,
> and scratches/nibbles at his skin all the time.
>
> I have to wait for the blood test results, but today there is another
> problem. I went in the ferrets' room and found Grey lying on the floor
> near the cage shivering. The ferrets never lay where he was, and this
> was not the type of shivering like when a ferret first wakes up--he was
> shivering a lot, including his head and whole body. It appeared as
> though he went to the cage to use the litter box, came out, and laid
> down right there; his belly area still had wetness on it.
>
> I held him for a long time, but he wouldn't stop shivering. While I was
> holding him I noticed his nose looked pale instead of the normal pink
> color. I looked at his gums, and they appeared normal to me.
>
> For the past 20 minutes he's was cuddled up in blankets shivering. His
> nose now looks normal, he feels very warm, and he's not shivering.
>
> I am starting to loose my mind with this little guys health! I feel
> helpless, and don't know what to do for him. The vet said nothing
> besides the scratching/nibbling at his skin *seemed* unhealthy to her,
> and this is why I got the blood tests and x-rays done.
>
> Anyone have any ideas here? Maybe all this will spark someone's ferret
> knowledge, and have some idea what Grey's problem *might* be. I've
> tried looking through the FAQs, but they are fairly useless in the
> health area; they explain what an illness is, but not general symptoms
> to a ferret would show.
>
> --
> Brian
>
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| Lin |
Did your vet consider those heart tests? My Ariel shook a *little* before
her supraventricular tachycardia was dx'd.
Lin, Ariel, Oberon, & Max
"Kathouze" <kathouze@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040106033105.21823.00001344@mb-m19.aol.com...
> >From: : : b r i a n : : user@127.0.0.1
>
> >I have to wait for the blood test results, but today there is another
> >problem. I went in the ferrets' room and found Grey lying on the floor
> >near the cage shivering. The ferrets never lay where he was, and this
> >was not the type of shivering like when a ferret first wakes up
>
> Have his blood glucose checked,and feed him high protien meals.Chicken
meat
> babyfood is good.If he does it again,try rubbing honey or something sweet
on
> his gums.I'm wondering if it might have been a mild seizure,possibly
> insulinoma.Could be something totally different,but it's a simple test,and
good
> to rule out.BTW<how old is he? Here's a good health web site.
>
> http://miamiferret.org/fhc/
>
>
> Sandy and the Dook City Gang
> Tempus Fuzzit
> kathouze pictures
> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery...ername=kathouze
>
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| Melissa |
Do you have the test results yet? Did the xrays show anyting? And (the
question I always ask) is your ferret vet a specialist in ferrets or
just someone who sees ferrets from time to time?
-Melissa
PS: When he scratches and nibbles at his skin, what part is it? His
ribs? Stomach? Feet? Underside of his belly? Ears?
In article <WqsKb.52675$Fg.30805@lakeread01>,
: : b r i a n : : <user@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> I took my ferret Grey to the vet today to get blood work and x-rays.
> This was all from earlier when I thought he felt skinny, very lethargic,
> and scratches/nibbles at his skin all the time.
>
> I have to wait for the blood test results, but today there is another
> problem. I went in the ferrets' room and found Grey lying on the floor
> near the cage shivering. The ferrets never lay where he was, and this
> was not the type of shivering like when a ferret first wakes up--he was
> shivering a lot, including his head and whole body. It appeared as
> though he went to the cage to use the litter box, came out, and laid
> down right there; his belly area still had wetness on it.
>
> I held him for a long time, but he wouldn't stop shivering. While I was
> holding him I noticed his nose looked pale instead of the normal pink
> color. I looked at his gums, and they appeared normal to me.
>
> For the past 20 minutes he's was cuddled up in blankets shivering. His
> nose now looks normal, he feels very warm, and he's not shivering.
>
> I am starting to loose my mind with this little guys health! I feel
> helpless, and don't know what to do for him. The vet said nothing
> besides the scratching/nibbling at his skin *seemed* unhealthy to her,
> and this is why I got the blood tests and x-rays done.
>
> Anyone have any ideas here? Maybe all this will spark someone's ferret
> knowledge, and have some idea what Grey's problem *might* be. I've
> tried looking through the FAQs, but they are fairly useless in the
> health area; they explain what an illness is, but not general symptoms
> to a ferret would show.
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| : : b r i a n : : |
Melissa wrote:
> Do you have the test results yet? Did the xrays show anyting? And (the
> question I always ask) is your ferret vet a specialist in ferrets or
> just someone who sees ferrets from time to time?
>
> -Melissa
> PS: When he scratches and nibbles at his skin, what part is it? His
> ribs? Stomach? Feet? Underside of his belly? Ears?
>
>
No. For many different reasons I do not have the results of the blood
work--I will get them tomorrow.
A plain old x-ray was taken of him from the side, and top. The only
thing she could tell from the pictures is a some-what enlarged spleen.
Before she did it, she told me there are a lot of things that can not be
detected from doing an x-ray. True? False?
I couldn't tell you exactly where he scratches. I'm going to say his
belly area, but I will have to watch him closer. He gets little red dot
looking spots on his skin, I'm guessing those are the areas he scratches at.
I don't think she's a specialist, but she sees them more than "from time
to time". She only sees "exotics", and see ferrets all the time.
--
Brian
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| : : b r i a n : : |
Lin wrote:
> Did your vet consider those heart tests? My Ariel shook a *little* before
> her supraventricular tachycardia was dx'd.
>
I just got your information to her today. It's quite a drive to the
vet, and to be honest with you... I had lost the information you sent,
but I found it last week.
His heart seems to be normal on the x-ray. I'll fax that information to
her tomorrow.
Grey was shaking *alot* the other night. I have not seen him do it
since, and he's been pretty active lately.
--
Brian
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| Melissa |
In article <BcqLb.56456$Fg.45589@lakeread01>,
: : b r i a n : : <user@127.0.0.1> wrote:
> Melissa wrote:
>
> > Do you have the test results yet? Did the xrays show anyting? And (the
> > question I always ask) is your ferret vet a specialist in ferrets or
> > just someone who sees ferrets from time to time?
> >
> > -Melissa
> > PS: When he scratches and nibbles at his skin, what part is it? His
> > ribs? Stomach? Feet? Underside of his belly? Ears?
> >
> >
>
> No. For many different reasons I do not have the results of the blood
> work--I will get them tomorrow.
>
> A plain old x-ray was taken of him from the side, and top. The only
> thing she could tell from the pictures is a some-what enlarged spleen.
> Before she did it, she told me there are a lot of things that can not be
> detected from doing an x-ray. True? False?
True. :)
Sometimes an ultrasound can show things xrays can't, and sometimes the
only way to really know is to diagnose based on symptoms and do
exploratory surgery -even if nothing is visible on xrays and ultrasounds.
> I couldn't tell you exactly where he scratches. I'm going to say his
> belly area, but I will have to watch him closer. He gets little red dot
> looking spots on his skin, I'm guessing those are the areas he scratches at.
Not necessarily. Depends on the dots. They could be little mast cell
tumors which are often benign. Or they could be some kind of rash that's
*causing* the itchiness (as opposed to the scratching causing the dots),
and it could also be a sign of adrenal. Could be lots of things.
> I don't think she's a specialist, but she sees them more than "from time
> to time". She only sees "exotics", and see ferrets all the time.
That's probably good enough :)
I'm looking forward to hearing what the blood tests say. If all else is
normal, I'd lean towards possible insulinoma/adrenal or both. Not
because it's clear cut, but because *some* of what you describe fits
those, and he's the right age, and if nothing else explains the symptoms
it's a decent guess. Hopefully your vet will have more conclusive
information. If you have the money, you might want to spring for an
ultrasound next if it's do-able. Non-invasive for the ferret and might
tell you more. They could even look at the heart (if you still want to
rule that out). But ultrasounds are expensive and still may not show
enough. Still, sometimes if it does yeild answers you can avoid surgery
altogether (rarely in my experience, but it's happened), or at least
going into surgery you feel confident knowing it's exactly the right
thing to do.
-Melissa
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| Lin |
Ariel got little reddish-brown scaley-looking spots on her upper back area,
& our vet suspected adrenal (this was 2 yrs ago). He did an ultrasound, &
did see something in there. Turns out, her left adrenal had to come out.
Lin, Ariel, Oberon, & Max
"Melissa" <nospam@nospam.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:05zLb.4793$6y6.135652@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> In article <BcqLb.56456$Fg.45589@lakeread01>,
> : : b r i a n : : <user@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
> > Melissa wrote:
> >
> > > Do you have the test results yet? Did the xrays show anyting? And (the
> > > question I always ask) is your ferret vet a specialist in ferrets or
> > > just someone who sees ferrets from time to time?
> > >
> > > -Melissa
> > > PS: When he scratches and nibbles at his skin, what part is it? His
> > > ribs? Stomach? Feet? Underside of his belly? Ears?
> > >
> > >
> >
> > No. For many different reasons I do not have the results of the blood
> > work--I will get them tomorrow.
> >
> > A plain old x-ray was taken of him from the side, and top. The only
> > thing she could tell from the pictures is a some-what enlarged spleen.
> > Before she did it, she told me there are a lot of things that can not be
> > detected from doing an x-ray. True? False?
>
> True. :)
>
> Sometimes an ultrasound can show things xrays can't, and sometimes the
> only way to really know is to diagnose based on symptoms and do
> exploratory surgery -even if nothing is visible on xrays and ultrasounds.
>
> > I couldn't tell you exactly where he scratches. I'm going to say his
> > belly area, but I will have to watch him closer. He gets little red dot
> > looking spots on his skin, I'm guessing those are the areas he scratches
at.
>
> Not necessarily. Depends on the dots. They could be little mast cell
> tumors which are often benign. Or they could be some kind of rash that's
> *causing* the itchiness (as opposed to the scratching causing the dots),
> and it could also be a sign of adrenal. Could be lots of things.
>
> > I don't think she's a specialist, but she sees them more than "from time
> > to time". She only sees "exotics", and see ferrets all the time.
>
> That's probably good enough :)
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing what the blood tests say. If all else is
> normal, I'd lean towards possible insulinoma/adrenal or both. Not
> because it's clear cut, but because *some* of what you describe fits
> those, and he's the right age, and if nothing else explains the symptoms
> it's a decent guess. Hopefully your vet will have more conclusive
> information. If you have the money, you might want to spring for an
> ultrasound next if it's do-able. Non-invasive for the ferret and might
> tell you more. They could even look at the heart (if you still want to
> rule that out). But ultrasounds are expensive and still may not show
> enough. Still, sometimes if it does yeild answers you can avoid surgery
> altogether (rarely in my experience, but it's happened), or at least
> going into surgery you feel confident knowing it's exactly the right
> thing to do.
>
> -Melissa
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