My ferret is vomitting

Question
Hello, When I woke up this morning I noticed there was yello vomit in her cage.  When I picked her up I checked if she had a fever. She didn't, her nose was wet and she has been active all day.  But she just finished throwing up again. She still has no fever and her nose is wet and she is dying to come out of her cage to play.  She is eating and drinking as well. I took her food away for now. Please help.


Answer
Hi Elizabeth:

Anytime a ferret is vomiting more than once or twice, you have a problem that needs to be seen by a vet.  Please give your ferret fluids - as much as possible - and even some food if he/she will eat/drink.  Ferrets can and do dehydrate to a dangerous point in a very very short period of time.

Since it's late tonight, hopefully you can get your little one to the vet first thing tomorrow morning. Get fluids in it tonight, even if you have to use a syringe (without a needle, of course) to dribble fluids into it's mouth. Pedialyte (in the baby aisle of the grocery store) is an excellent product for this. My kids like bubblegum and grape flavor most, but know that grape stains if it comes back up :-(  Also, you may need to water it down a little bit - mine don't like Pedialyte straight, but will take it with a little water added.

First thing tomorrow morning you need to be on the phone to a ferret vet close to you and get some IV fluids into that ferret.  Here is a list of vets in case you don't already have one.   IF you can, of course, take your ferret tonight. The longer he goes without fluids, the worse his chance of living thru this.  It could be something as simple as a bout of the flu (which can kill a ferret in 24 hours if they are vomiting and not getting any fluids in them) or as scary as an intestinal obstruction. Only a vet can answer that for you.  Here is a list - find your state and city and get on that phone:


VETS CANADA:   
* http://www.ferretrescue.ca/start.php
* http://tinylink.com/?TlVyYKa6e0
* http://www.ferrets.org/Veterinarian_Listings.htm   (British Columbia)
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html

VETS USA:
* http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
* http://www.ferret-universe.com/vets/vetlist.asp
* http://www.ferretsanctuary.com/vets.shtml
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/

VETS  UK & IRELAND:  
* http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/vetlist.htm

VET INFO/ LIST OF FERRET GROUPS/ CONTACTS IN UK, ITALY, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, NETHERLANDS, GERMANY & DENMARK:       
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-overseas.html (scroll down page to find the one you are looking for)

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your ferret!

P.S.: I got your question from the Question Pool, along with about 10 others. Could you please write back and let me know who you originally asked the question of?  I need to know who is not answering their questions. Thanks so much for your help.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers