Post by huronna on Oct 25, 2008 7:40:58 GMT -5
Intestinal Blockages
by Lisa (Tashaferret)
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What Causes This?
When free roaming or playing outside the cage, ferrets, being very curious, may chew on, and swallow small objects that attract its attention. These foreign objects have the potential of obstructing the stomach or small intestines. Items to be very wary of are: erasers, rubber bands, sneaker insoles, some fabrics, all foam rubber, soft rubber (Rubber cat toys), nuts, balloons and Styrofoam. Many household items contain some of these materials, which include furniture, stuffed animals, shoes and the contents of cabinets and drawers. Keep an eye on your ferrets when they are playing with plastic bags, bubble wrap, string and cardboard or paper items. Some ferrets will chew and ingest these materials as well.
Another cause of gastrointestinal obstruction are Hairballs. Hairballs
are compacted wads of the ferret's fur, which may develop over time as a ferret grooms itself, and subsequently swallows some of its hair coat with each grooming. Unlike cats, most ferrets will not vomit up hairballs, and these wads of compacted fur will eventually cause gastrointestinal upset. It's important to routinely give lax to your ferrets, especially during shedding season.
What Happens Internally When Blockage Occurs?
Blockages may occur at any point in the digestive tract, from the
throat through the lower intestine, even in the stomach where the object may move around and produce only intermittent symptoms. Signs of gastrointestinal obstruction vary with location of the obstruction within the stomach or intestinal tract. Foreign bodies in the stomach may just sit within the stomach, causing irritation, or may completely obstruct outflow to the small intestine. Due to the narrow diameter of the small intestine, many foreign bodies in this location cause a complete obstruction.
What Symptoms Should I Be Aware Of?
Symptoms may include, lack of bowel movement, constipation, bloating, vomiting or heaving, drooling, loss of appetite, loss of weight, straining when using the bathroom and not pooping or "skinny" stool, weakness, and diarrhea. Your ferret may have abdominal pain and nausea that it shows by increased salivation, grinding its teeth, pawing at its mouth, or remaining in a hunched position. With a partial obstruction the clinical signs may be more subtle and prolonged. If your ferret develops a persistent "cough" or choking that is not accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes, or he begins vomiting, monitor his food intake and waste elimination closely. Put him in a separate cage with measured amounts of food and water, and a clean litterbox. If, you find that your ferret has not eaten or is still straining to poop, or if the stool is very thin, take him to a vet.
How Serious Is It?
Blockages are serious and can be fatal. Left untreated, a stopped up
fuzzy can die. Intestinal blockage is the leading
cause of death in ferrets under 2 years of age. Blockages are one of
the major causes of premature death. Ferrets with blockages can die in a matter of days.
What Can I Do?
The most important immediate concern is to keep your ferret hydrated, which you can do by giving him 5 cc of water every 4 hours from a baby feeding syringe.They can become seriously dehydrated within a day if they are vomiting or not taking any fluids. You can try giving your ferret large doses of hairball remedy every 30 minutes for an hour or two to see if the blockage passes, but if not, take him to a vet right away for an X-ray, barium study, and/or surgery to remove it.
A Visit to the Vet.
The veterinarian should start with a thorough history and physical
examination. On physical exam, hairballs and foreign bodies may or may not be palpable by your veterinarian. Radiographs (x-rays) may or may not show a foreign body depending on its size and physical makeup (rubber unfortunately does not show up on an x-ray). A Barium series may be recommended to outline the intestinal tract and aid in identification of a blockage or foreign body. In the event of a suspected obstruction, surgical removal is advised. Ferrets seldom pass foreign bodies or hairballs, and waiting can increase the risk of death, especially in acute cases.
Daily Prevention.
Hairball remedy has been recommended every other day during heavy
shedding. Brush regularly and change bedding frequently to decrease the amount of loose hair in the environment. Again, keeping potential foreign articles out of the ferrets reach and monitoring playtime will help control inadvertent ingestion of a foreign body. You can prevent hair balls by brushing your ferret regularly during shedding seasons, bathing them during shedding seasons and giving them a one half inch ribbon of hair ball treatment every day during shedding seasons, and a few times a week during non-shedding periods. The best way to prevent blockages is to supervise your ferret and ferret-proof your home to the best of your ability. No home can be completely ferret-proofed all of the time, so supervision is the key to a blockage free ferret. Similarly, many people give their ferrets a small amount of a cat hairball remedy such as Laxatone or Petromalt on a regular basis. This can help them pass the styrofoam, rubber bands, and such that they seem to love to eat, as well as helping to prevent hairballs from fur swallowed during grooming. Be sure to give your ferrets the hairball treatment at least one hour after they eat. Don't give your ferret hairball remedy right before he or she eats a meal.
Other Forms of Intestinal Blockage
Bladder Stones:Bladder stones varying in size from grains of sand to large stones can lead to cystitis and bloody urine. Treatment often requires surgical removal of the stones and a change of diet.
Adrenal Disease, Lymphoma and Insulinoma.
Urinary tract stones:
The most common cause is due to feeding commercial dog food, low
quality cat food or low quality ferret food. Signs include straining to
urinate, blood in the urine, or inability to urinate.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research Credits and thanks to: Ferret FAQ, Everything Ferret Ten Tips to Help Keep Your Ferret Happy and Healthy!, The Ferret Owner’s Manual By thingy Bossart, Ann Davis ACME Ferret Company, Jean Wardell DVM, Pathology of the Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo L.) Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP Department of Veterinary Pathology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Peter G. Fisher, DVM Pet Care Veterinary Hospital Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Ferrets. Gastrointestinal Blockages Gastrointestinal Disorders in Ferrets (GI blockages Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM., Columbia Animal Hospital Hawthorne Professional Park, Wellsboro Veterinary Hospital & Reptile & Bird Clinic
by Lisa (Tashaferret)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What Causes This?
When free roaming or playing outside the cage, ferrets, being very curious, may chew on, and swallow small objects that attract its attention. These foreign objects have the potential of obstructing the stomach or small intestines. Items to be very wary of are: erasers, rubber bands, sneaker insoles, some fabrics, all foam rubber, soft rubber (Rubber cat toys), nuts, balloons and Styrofoam. Many household items contain some of these materials, which include furniture, stuffed animals, shoes and the contents of cabinets and drawers. Keep an eye on your ferrets when they are playing with plastic bags, bubble wrap, string and cardboard or paper items. Some ferrets will chew and ingest these materials as well.
Another cause of gastrointestinal obstruction are Hairballs. Hairballs
are compacted wads of the ferret's fur, which may develop over time as a ferret grooms itself, and subsequently swallows some of its hair coat with each grooming. Unlike cats, most ferrets will not vomit up hairballs, and these wads of compacted fur will eventually cause gastrointestinal upset. It's important to routinely give lax to your ferrets, especially during shedding season.
What Happens Internally When Blockage Occurs?
Blockages may occur at any point in the digestive tract, from the
throat through the lower intestine, even in the stomach where the object may move around and produce only intermittent symptoms. Signs of gastrointestinal obstruction vary with location of the obstruction within the stomach or intestinal tract. Foreign bodies in the stomach may just sit within the stomach, causing irritation, or may completely obstruct outflow to the small intestine. Due to the narrow diameter of the small intestine, many foreign bodies in this location cause a complete obstruction.
What Symptoms Should I Be Aware Of?
Symptoms may include, lack of bowel movement, constipation, bloating, vomiting or heaving, drooling, loss of appetite, loss of weight, straining when using the bathroom and not pooping or "skinny" stool, weakness, and diarrhea. Your ferret may have abdominal pain and nausea that it shows by increased salivation, grinding its teeth, pawing at its mouth, or remaining in a hunched position. With a partial obstruction the clinical signs may be more subtle and prolonged. If your ferret develops a persistent "cough" or choking that is not accompanied by a runny nose and watery eyes, or he begins vomiting, monitor his food intake and waste elimination closely. Put him in a separate cage with measured amounts of food and water, and a clean litterbox. If, you find that your ferret has not eaten or is still straining to poop, or if the stool is very thin, take him to a vet.
How Serious Is It?
Blockages are serious and can be fatal. Left untreated, a stopped up
fuzzy can die. Intestinal blockage is the leading
cause of death in ferrets under 2 years of age. Blockages are one of
the major causes of premature death. Ferrets with blockages can die in a matter of days.
What Can I Do?
The most important immediate concern is to keep your ferret hydrated, which you can do by giving him 5 cc of water every 4 hours from a baby feeding syringe.They can become seriously dehydrated within a day if they are vomiting or not taking any fluids. You can try giving your ferret large doses of hairball remedy every 30 minutes for an hour or two to see if the blockage passes, but if not, take him to a vet right away for an X-ray, barium study, and/or surgery to remove it.
A Visit to the Vet.
The veterinarian should start with a thorough history and physical
examination. On physical exam, hairballs and foreign bodies may or may not be palpable by your veterinarian. Radiographs (x-rays) may or may not show a foreign body depending on its size and physical makeup (rubber unfortunately does not show up on an x-ray). A Barium series may be recommended to outline the intestinal tract and aid in identification of a blockage or foreign body. In the event of a suspected obstruction, surgical removal is advised. Ferrets seldom pass foreign bodies or hairballs, and waiting can increase the risk of death, especially in acute cases.
Daily Prevention.
Hairball remedy has been recommended every other day during heavy
shedding. Brush regularly and change bedding frequently to decrease the amount of loose hair in the environment. Again, keeping potential foreign articles out of the ferrets reach and monitoring playtime will help control inadvertent ingestion of a foreign body. You can prevent hair balls by brushing your ferret regularly during shedding seasons, bathing them during shedding seasons and giving them a one half inch ribbon of hair ball treatment every day during shedding seasons, and a few times a week during non-shedding periods. The best way to prevent blockages is to supervise your ferret and ferret-proof your home to the best of your ability. No home can be completely ferret-proofed all of the time, so supervision is the key to a blockage free ferret. Similarly, many people give their ferrets a small amount of a cat hairball remedy such as Laxatone or Petromalt on a regular basis. This can help them pass the styrofoam, rubber bands, and such that they seem to love to eat, as well as helping to prevent hairballs from fur swallowed during grooming. Be sure to give your ferrets the hairball treatment at least one hour after they eat. Don't give your ferret hairball remedy right before he or she eats a meal.
Other Forms of Intestinal Blockage
Bladder Stones:Bladder stones varying in size from grains of sand to large stones can lead to cystitis and bloody urine. Treatment often requires surgical removal of the stones and a change of diet.
Adrenal Disease, Lymphoma and Insulinoma.
Urinary tract stones:
The most common cause is due to feeding commercial dog food, low
quality cat food or low quality ferret food. Signs include straining to
urinate, blood in the urine, or inability to urinate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research Credits and thanks to: Ferret FAQ, Everything Ferret Ten Tips to Help Keep Your Ferret Happy and Healthy!, The Ferret Owner’s Manual By thingy Bossart, Ann Davis ACME Ferret Company, Jean Wardell DVM, Pathology of the Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo L.) Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP Department of Veterinary Pathology Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Peter G. Fisher, DVM Pet Care Veterinary Hospital Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Ferrets. Gastrointestinal Blockages Gastrointestinal Disorders in Ferrets (GI blockages Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM., Columbia Animal Hospital Hawthorne Professional Park, Wellsboro Veterinary Hospital & Reptile & Bird Clinic
