Question:
Dorie threw up last night in her carrier and her first poop in my house was
runny, but no greenies. (She has ECE) Her last poop at the shelter was
solid. I expected stress from her moving into a new environment with
everything else she's been through. I've set her up in the bathroom first
with her cage open and bedding (including some of her stuff from the
shelter) all over the floor so she starts out with one room all her own and
she can feel incontrol of her environment with out interference from Vinnie.
Besides lots of love, what else can I do to make her transition as smooth as
possible?
Answer:
Sounds like stress to me.
Keep an eye on her.
Talk to your vet, sometimes a drop or two of
Pepto can help with the upset tummy and diarrhea,
unless she's already on something like that for the ECE.
Just time and love and patience, she'll settle in.
She's probably just especially delicate
because of her illness.
You mentioned that she was ECE positive.....I don't know what meds. your vet
has her on, but the following is one of the accepted treatments and will also
help with any shelter shock.
Amoxi-drops...(sometimes in conjunction with Biaxin).....1/2 cc. of
amoxi-drops every 12 hrs.
Carafate (Sulcrafate) liquid....1/2 cc. at least a half hr. AFTER the
amoxi.... up to 6 times daily. If you give it before the antibiotic it can
interfere with it's absorption. This is for impending or existing ulcers or
any stomach distress, generally accompanying digestive disorders.
A good high protein duck soup....1/2 hr. after the Carafate...
Make sure the ferret is not dehydrated, and drinking plenty of
water...I usually float some Ferretone on top of a dish of water to
encourage them to drink on their own. If they won't drink, and are
dehydrated, then sub-q fluids should be administered by your vet...
I give Carafate a lot of credit for how well Booger came thru ECE. He
had an ulcer in the top of his mouth when we started giving it and two
days later it had cleared right up.
I took you advice about mixing the bedding and it really seems to be
working. Dorie and Vinnie seem much more comfortable with each other. I
also took your advice about looking in her eyes and talking to her. The
first night I did this she closed her mouth around my nose, but without
force. Now this is the same ferret that at the shelter literally and truly
pierced my nose...clean through. Tonight I got kissies. She's sleeping on
