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| Irish Jo |
Well, he saw not one, but two vets today - second and third opinions. The
last was kind of a 'holistic' opinion - she provided an acupuncture
treatment (hey - it worked for Kiwi!), but she's also an accredited vet,
just not a ferret expert. But the first was a very good ferret vet. Both
discouraged surgery. They're leaning neurological, even if it is caused by
a tumor of some kind (which they both suspect). But his complete paralysis
makes recovery from surgery difficult - they have to go through the belly,
unless we send him to the nearby vet university, but that's iffy and
outrageously expensive. Neither feels the risks are worth the slightly
possible benefit. We learned how to help him urinate through massage - he's
not incontinent, just 'overflowing' because he doesn't want to pee himself
:-(. If we can help him take care of that, then he'll feel a lot more
dignified. Heavy meds - she doubled his pred, added Chloramphenicol
Palmatate, Nystatin, and Carafate to protect his tummy. Both feel he could
continue in present condition for a long time (or not). We can deal with
that, once we figure out living arrangements and mobility. John's already
building a new 'cage' (box) for him, with a 'sunken' litter box he can cross
over it without having to turn or climb. Now we wait and see. Seamus is
our good 'bubba' - takes his meds like a champ, still cheerful and alert.
Joanne
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| swamp |
On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 21:23:32 -0400, "Irish Jo" <irish16@alltel.net>
wrote:
>Well, he saw not one, but two vets today - second and third opinions. The
>last was kind of a 'holistic' opinion - she provided an acupuncture
>treatment (hey - it worked for Kiwi!), but she's also an accredited vet,
>just not a ferret expert. But the first was a very good ferret vet. Both
>discouraged surgery.
Not a big fan of holistic stuff. Lots of talk and few results from the
way I see it. No sense in throwing good money after bad.
>They're leaning neurological, even if it is caused by
>a tumor of some kind (which they both suspect). But his complete paralysis
>makes recovery from surgery difficult - they have to go through the belly,
>unless we send him to the nearby vet university, but that's iffy and
>outrageously expensive. Neither feels the risks are worth the slightly
>possible benefit. We learned how to help him urinate through massage - he's
>not incontinent, just 'overflowing' because he doesn't want to pee himself
Well, treat as you will Jo, but all ferret surgeries are through the
belly. You pretty much open them up. Shouldn't be that expensive out
your way...
>If we can help him take care of that, then he'll feel a lot more
>dignified. Heavy meds - she doubled his pred, added Chloramphenicol
>Palmatate, Nystatin, and Carafate to protect his tummy.
The antibiotics and steroids will control the problem but won't cure
it. If he's dying of old age you have no choice. Otherwise...
Pred is a temporary patch. You use it to help them along while you
find the reason why they need it. Could be anything... you keep
looking for the cause. I'm guessing Seamus's dripping pee (dysuria)
indicates adrenal, but I could be wrong and your vets are probably
right. Aint for me to say from 2000 miles away.
>Both feel he could
>continue in present condition for a long time (or not). We can deal with
>that, once we figure out living arrangements and mobility. John's already
>building a new 'cage' (box) for him, with a 'sunken' litter box he can cross
>over it without having to turn or climb. Now we wait and see. Seamus is
>our good 'bubba' - takes his meds like a champ, still cheerful and alert.
I don't like gainsaying vets, other than the "holistic" and "fear of
surgery" parts. In my experience, most good ferret vets can't wait to
open them up.
>Joanne
swamp
--
"Who me officer? What's a ferut. These guys?? No, they're Polish cats."
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