My ferret has hyperammonemia. Should I give antibiotics?

If Nibbles was being treated with the antibiotics for diarrhea and the diarrhea has not improved or resolved, it could be that he needs a different antibiotic. I would recommend contacting the veterinarian who prescribed the antibiotics to let them know about the lack of improvement, and they may recommend switching the antibiotics. Additionally, they may recommend collecting a sample of the feces to evaluate it under the microscope, and potentially culturing a sample to see what bacteria grows. I hope that helps to answer your question, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It is advised to have a veterinarian perform a decal exam to try to pinpoint the cause of diarrhea. Albion is a reasonable option given the presence of specific parasites. However, if the diarrhea is caused by bacterial overgrowth or different parasites, then you’d need another medication. So it’s always best to give any medication under the direction of a veterinarian.

It is definitely concerning that Luna is vomiting. While this may be caused by antibiotics, which commonly cause nausea and/or diarrhea, it is important for other things such as foreign bodies or intestinal parasites to be ruled out. I recommend letting your vet know what is going on, and holding off on giving the next dose of antibiotics until speaking wrote your vet. I hope this helps and that all is well with Luna!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to conditions such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion and obstruction, among other possibilities. I suggest other diagnostics are performed at this point such as abdominal ultrasound and labwork. It is crucial to find out exactly what is going on so that therapy can be used based on the specific condition. In the meantime, they may be able to prescribe anti-nausea medications as that may be why she is not eating well. Best of luck!

It sounds like your ferrets were responding to the treatment prescribed but that they likely need a longer course of antibiotic therapy. I recommend taking them back to your veterinarian for additional treatment (and more diagnostics if needed). I do not recommend trying to give them whey. Oxbow Carnivore Care is the best diet you can give to sick ferrets. Unfortunately, I do not know if it is available in Belgium.

If they are otherwise well, eating, palyful and not losing weight I would continue to monitor them closely. Ferrets are susceptible to a number of upper respiratory viruses just as we are and they tend to be self limiting, resolving over a couple of weeks (and do not cure with antibiotics). Be cautious about using any possible irritants such as air fresheners etc which may be aggravating the symptoms. If there condition worsens, they lose weight, appetite or energy then a recheck by a ferret familiar vet would be recommended.

This sign could be compatible with an upper respiratory tract inflammation/infection or possibly to a gengivostomatitis (inflammatory, allergic, infective). A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.