hairball?

Question
My ferret Becky is about one year old and healthy. Her last poop was small and a little seedy and that is why I am here. I am worried that she has a blockage. I gave her some hairball remidies and it got a little better but I am still a little worried.

Answer
Hello Madeline,

Birdseed-like poops mean that food is moving through the system way too quickly. Becky isn't getting all the nutrients necessary.

I would recommend a course of treatment with something called 'Vetasyl'. It is the pet equivalent to Metamucil and it is a psyllium powder. It will bulk up her poop and hopefully that will catch whatever could be blocking the tract. With the Vetasyl treatment, though, you need to remember that it could actually cause a blockage so if you are feeling hesitant about it, your little girl should see a vet.

With the Vetasyl treatment, you should give it to her at least three days in a row (just once a day). You should take 8 ounces of water and mix in about a teaspoon of Uncle Jim's Duck Soup (http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?familyid=10504&Ntt=Duck%20SOup&OneResultR...). You should mix enough water in to make it the consistency of a pretty thin gravy. After you mix that in, you should heat the mixture up just until it is a little warm (not too hot) and then you should mix in the Vetasyl (*****just ONE capsule and don't put the actual capsule in: break the capsule open and pour the powder in and then discard the capsule*****!). There are two important things to remember with this treatment : one is that you need to make sure they drink as much as they can and two : (and this is the most important!!!) they need to have A LOT of water(which is why the "mixture" should be a thin gravy sort of consistency). They need to be drinking a lot of water during this treatment because if they don't, that bulk forming laxative will cause a blockage in their system. You want to give the treatment every day for at least three days and if their poops aren't bigger or at least back to the size they normally are, you should either continue with the treatment or you should see a vet. With this, you should be watching their poops because you may see some pretty amazing things come out. When they use the bathroom, you should pick it up and put it in a plastic bag with water in it and squish away. I know, that sounds utterly disgusting, but you want to make sure that the treatment is doing its job if there is a blockage there. Also, when you are giving the mixture, make sure that you keep stirring it because if you don't, the bulk of the Vetasyl could sink to the bottom and it would be useless. Also, something else to remember with this treatment: only give it if you are going to be around your ferret for the next few days that you give the treatment just in case it does cause a blockage and she needs to be taken to the vet. Otherwise, I wouldn't suggest this treatment for you.

You could also keep using the hairball remedy, but I have found that they aren't as effective as Vetasyl.


I hope this helps and I hope Becky starts feeling better soon! If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews