Hello all. My best wishes to everyone.
 
I don't really know why I'm posting but I suppose advice is always useful.
I have just this past week found out that one of my ferrets, Zhakorati
(which means Chocolate Destroyer of Worlds in the language of the Khromats,
a race created by my house-mate for a role-playing game) has a tumerous
right kidney as well as a mass on her liver.  The vet found the kidney
tumor on exam when I took her in for a bad tooth.  He has now done an
ultrasound which found lesions on the 'huge' kidney as well as the mass
on the liver.  Her second kidney appears to be smaller than it should be
also.  Surgery is not an option now.
 
Zhaki is 5.5-6 years old and from a private breeder in California (Does
anyone know Brandi McDaniel?).  She came out to New Jersey 5 years ago when
Lisa, her 'official' owner, moved here.  She's a sweet little girl who
takes no guff from the other ferrets.  We've referred to her as our 'old
lady' right from the start.
 
I'm waiting for results from an aspirate done on the liver mass to see what
kind of cancer we're dealing with.  We've also sent out some blood as well.
I would like some sort of idea how long we may have left with Zhaki.
 
Can anyone who has had experience please let me know how things went for
your ferret whose kidneys failed?  I suspect that that will be the way
Zhaki will go.  I would like to know what to look for, what to be aware of,
and perhaps what I might do to extend her time or at least make it more
comfortable.  Thanks in advance.
 
On a hapier note, I can empathize with many of the comments being sent in
for the "You Know You're a Ferret Owner When..." thread.  I'm always on the
lookout for ferret toys, no matter where I happen to be.  I enjoy boggling
the vendors who come to my office when I tell them that the hats and
scarves I'm buying are for my ferrets.  One woman wants a picture of my
ferrets sleeping in the child's hat I bought.  I've also made the slip
about taking myself to the vet.  Considering how much more time I spend at
the vet, and how much more I respect my vet than the doctors of the medical
center, I think that's not such a surprise.
 
Take care all, and please do stop by the Ferret Giving Tree.  Even if all
the ferrets are spoke for, no one said they can't have more than 1 secret
santa!
 
Anastasia Kidd
Plainfield, NJ
 
PS: I will not mention names but I am furious at the local vet hospital
that I took my ferrets to for their shots.  Yes, they are closer and yes,
shots are simple things, but they have now missed 2 very noticable tumors
in my kids.  I will now drive the 45 minutes-1 hour to go to the ferret
specialist for everything.  I'm even switching my cats elsewhere, although
I'm not sure where.  The cats don't travel as well as the ferrets do.
[Posted in FML issue 3260]