Well guys, it isn't looking good.  The vet sent in 4 samples: heart,
kidney,spleen and liver.  The heart and spleen showed no abnormalities
of any kind and didn't show anything of any significance in the tissue
samples.  The kidneys showed gamma(something) nephritis, which the vet
said was consistant with ADV.  The one that really concerned her was the
liver.  It showed hepatitis and an abnormal production of antibodies.
(ALL the ferrets were jaundiced 1 to 2 days before they died)  She is
still not entirely sure that carbon monoxide was not involved, especially
since my care aide and I were also ill for months when in the apartment
BUT she feels the possibility of ADV is VERY strong and that is what
would have killed my other babies even if there was CO2 present.  She
thinks the cat was an anomoly..maybe something different.  She told me
she is going to need me to bring in Hopkin and/or Sweetpea to be tested
to conclusively determine that it was ADV.  Right now, having just moved,
I'm going to have to save up for that...I used "moving money" (reconnect
charges etc.) for Punky's necropsy so no free money right now.
[Note carbon monoxide is CO, not CO2, in case that helps to clear up any
confusion.  BIG]
 
The girls (Hopkin and Pea) made the move with me and have actually perked
up!  They seem more alert and are VERY excited over the new place and
most especially, the air conditioning!!!!  I feel better also to be
honest.  Oh...The vet also thinks that Hopkin may have been/may be, a
carrier of ADV since the ferrets never ever came in contact with other
ferrets.  ONLY way they would have is at the original vets office and
only in the hospital.  Never saw a ferret in the waiting room there in 8
years!  Interestingly, the first 3 died in the order in which they had
been hospitalized (for other problems): BJ was in twice for surgery for
eating something he shouldn't have (years ago)...he died first.  Cody
was in as a baby for an infected umbilical cord that was cut wrong at
Marshall's before shipping him to pet store (he died 2nd), Mr Snickers
was in this year for blockage from what turned out to be adrenal.  (he
died 4th...3rd ferret to go, cat died before him) So....I'm really unsure
as to how the vet can prove Hopkin was a carrier and brought it into the
house 5 years ago when the virus apparently lives on the surface of
things or lays dormant in them for years.  How can we know if it came
from original vet's office or her or one of the others?  (She suspects
her because she brought giardia into the house as a kit and infected us
all) But how would one know WHERE or WHO was the infected one??  Or if
the original vet practices strict measures to disinfect their cages in
ICU etc.
 
At any rate, this is all the news I have so far until I can save up the
money to get the girls tested for sure.  Honestly, I wish it had been a
pure case of carbon monoxide for them all..at least I'd know we were out
of that situation and they'd be ok.
 
Thank you again for all your many cards and emails.
Sorry BIG for the length of this post.  [Length is just fine.  BIG]
[Posted in FML issue 3847]