Table 4.
Formulary of drugs used to treat gastrointestinal disease in ferrets
| Drug and dosage | Indication | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin: 20 mg/kg bid × 28 days | Helicobacter “triple therapy” | Clinical trials on ferrets proven effective |
| Metronidazole: 30 mg/kg bid × 28 days | ||
| Pepto Bismal: 15 mg/kg bid × 28 days | ||
| Loperamide hydrochloride 0.2 mg/kg q12h | Supportive care | Often ineffective |
| Azathioprine: 0.9 mg/kg po q72ha | Inflammatory bowel disease | Immune suppressor; contraindicated in cases of infectious disease; monitor CBC/Chem during therapy |
| Enrofloxacin 5–10 mg/kg po bid | Susceptible microorganisms | |
| Sulfadimethoxine 50 mg/kg po, then 25 mg/kg q24h × 9 days | Coccidia | |
| Amprolium 19 mg/kg po q24h | Coccidia | |
| Metronidazole 15–20 mg/kg po q12h × 14 days | Gastrointestinal protozoa | |
| Metoclopramide 0.2–1.0 mg/kg q6–8h po, sq, im | Antiemetic, motility enhancer | |
| Cimetidine 5–10 mg/kg po sq im q8h | H2 blocker; inhibits acid secretion; GI ulcers | Give iv slowly |
| Famotidine 0.25–0.50 mg/kg po iv q24h | Inhibits acid secretion; GI ulcers | |
| Sucralfate 25 mg/kg po q8h | Gastrointestinal ulcers |
Modified from Carpenter JW, Mishima TY, et al. Exotic animal formulary. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001; with permission.
a
Data from Burgess M, Garner M. Clinical aspects of inflammatory bowel disease in ferrets. Exotic DVM 2002;4(2):29–33.