Hello all

[spacecadet71]

It's been a while since I gave an update. (Looked back and the last was when Emerson passed in March). Since then there has been a loss and a couple additions.

First, the loss. One month ago today (Nov 6) my Herman went to the Bridge. He had been losing a little weight, and had some hair loss so I suspected Adrenal. I had started him on soup, and he seemed to be improving. At 6 am I woke to him having a screaming seizure. I tried the Karo syrup, but it didn't work. My vet didn't open until 8 am. I got him there around 8:30. He never really came around in those 2 1/2 hrs. He would stop the bad seizures for a little bit, but even then his eyes were twitching. And then right back into full seizure. I talked with the vet, and decided that even if she gave him glucose and brought him out of it, there was a very good chance of brain damage due to the length of the episode. So I made the decision to let him go. He was around 5 yrs old. He was part of the trio I adopted when a lady was losing her home, along with Molly and Emerson. Now only Molly is left.

Now on to the additions! A little over 2 weeks ago, somebody in my one Facebook group posted about a pair of ferrets that were being returned to her rescue. This was their THIRD failed adoption. They are only around a year old. The last adopter kept them just two days before deciding to return them. :-( The rescue is located only 90 miles from me. Well, I bet you can guess what happened LOL. I didn't really NEED more ferrets, but they needed me!! One is a little girl named Ruby. She is sandy colored with bright red eyes. I was worried about deafness, but she can hear just fine! The other is a dark sable male with a dark nose, and just a hint of mitts on his front feet. He came with the name Felix, which I have changed to Onyx.

So far Felix/ Onyx has adapted great! He made friends with Molly already. Unfortunately, my one make Fezzik is being a bit of a bully. I am monitoring things,but letting them work it out.

Ruby was another story. She is a bit more timid. A week ago, I noticed she was loosing weight. Her poop was mucous-y, and she kept gagging/ pawing at her mouth. Then she got dehydrated. I got her into the vet right away. I saw a new vet at the clinic. I have only had her once before, when I let Herman go. She looked at her poop and did a basic exam. She said her intestines felt "thick and ropy". Because I owe a past bill (been working on paying it off), she wouldn't do any tests on her, or really do anything, unless I paid up front. And I just didn't have any extra money. So without even doing blood work, she decided that Ruby had lymphoma or another cancer. Paid basically no attention to anything I said about my worry that she was developing a stress ulcer. The poor thing has been bounced around do much, 8 homes in her short life, including the shelter she bounced in and out of. She gave me what she referred to as a "chemotherapy dose" of prednesolone, with dire warnings about the side effects. I chose not to give it to her. Instead I got soup supplies (baby food, powder kitten milk, pumpkin, and pedialyte). I also got generic pepcid for her tummy. I am happy to report that after a week.of TLC, Miss Ruby is almost back to normal!! She is eating her kibble, tho I am still souping her 1-2X a day til her weight is back up. Her poops are normal. And she is back getting into stuff like a ferret should! From now on, I'm going to request to not see that particular vet. She was very doom and gloom, and was very subtly pushing me to put her down. I told her before I left I didn't agree with her,and that I looked forward to proving her wrong....and it looks like I did!!

So that's my not-so-short update!! A lot of ups and downs in the last few months. Hopefully it all smooths out for a while lol

[huronna]

I love reading your stories, You always seem to be right there when a fuzzy is in need of help

[smokeyoshi]

Welome back. I sure hope Ruby continues to do well. I have a great vet here in Tenn now and her partner doesn't see exotics, so if DR Shelly isn't in, they don't go.

Best wishes to you and the rest.

[spacecadet71]

Ruby is doing great!! She is a climber. I came out of the kitchen and she was on the top of the 5 ft cat tree, looking me in the eye lol

Unfortunately, my hope that things would settle down a little on the health front was in vain. My sweet little Molly-Pop left me a little over a week ago (Dec 10) She got very sick, and I just didn't catch it fast enough. Dang ferrets are just too good at hiding illness. I got her into the vet, they gave her sub Qs because she was dehydrated. Gave her more at home and was syringing her soup and pedialyte. I laid down with her in my arms to take a nap. When I woke up she was gone. So now she is reunited with her brothers. I sure do miss her....

[smokeyoshi]

I'm sorry you lost Molly Pop. We lost Miss Prissy in March just past her 9th b'day, and Pandy a couple months later at just past 5 years. I Miss my tubby Pandy.

Scamps is a climber and can get on the FN and he is teaching Diego all of his bad habits. He can leap onto the bed and sofa and he has given the term ferret-proofing a whole new meaning. He's a very solid 3 1/2 lb of muscle and smarts and one of my all time favorites. I love him to death even when I want to kill him, lol

Abita is our only one of 7 that is on meds, pred for insulinoma, but she's doing well as we caught it early. We have 4 5 year olds, a 4 year old and 2 2 year olds. Diego and Zoe aren't in the siggy yet.