Good wishes and glad tidings to all fuzzies, and their hoomans!!!

Hi all,

Just a quick update on how many kids we're up to - and what THEY are up
to - too!

Artemus, the last of my original "rat pack" - (yes he is a ferret) - is
ailing and fading quicker than we'd like. He has insuloma and has his
good days, as well as his bad ones. He kinda "flat lines" every 4 days
or so. We have him on 0.5 cc's of pred - now twice a day. The other day
he scared the bejeezus out of me though. When he "flat ferreted" we
tried to get sugar in/on him. He was foaming at the mouth, lethargic,
and anything we put even near his mouth, made him gag. I tried to get
some "upset tummy" meds into him, as that was his initial issue - but
it made him worse. So I spent the afternoon, alternatively spreading
karo syrup on his gums, when he would take it. Took about 4 or 5 hours,
til he came out of it. I spent most of that time crying and worrying.
But he perked right back up and we were able to get his meds into him.
He still has his voracious appetite - so we're not down to the duck
soup stage, but it is killin me thinking of the inevitable coming up.
Please guys, does anyone have any idea of what I could do when he gets
like that? I've never seen any of my fuzzies "froth at the mouth" and
"gag" when I was trying to get meds/sugar/whatever into em. I know that
insuloma is a progressive disease, but I don't know what to expect?
Please if anyone can let me in on what you do with your insulomic's
please send me info on how to deal with the upcoming events, as well as
the current ones. He is my first insuloma guy. I've dealt with adrenal,
but never this and it terrifies me to think I may not be doin the right
thing by him. Any and ALL advice would be so appreciated!!

On the happy side - we are now up to 6 fuzzies. My newbie from the
firestation has finally landed his name. He is now known as "Theopolus
the Terrifier". He is hell on wheels. We found out he is just a kit -
about 4 months old - and I had forgotten what a joy they are when they
are young - as mine are all older guys that have been "surrendered" to
my "Ferret Rescue of ABQ" - which I don't officially have, but for some
reason Petco, the humane society, and now the fire and policemen here,
call me. Hell, I'm good with that, but NOT an official "rescue". But
how could I EVER say no to "just one more"? Theopolus is a tiny terror
and instills fear in the mightiest of beasts of this house. He doesn't
get along with the "big kids" yet so we put him in with our most recent
"surrender" - Baby Princess. She is an albino female, deaf - who is
about 7 months older than him. They are like two peas in a pod, and
when together - are like the Wrath of Kon. She is a toe muncher, to
everyone but her Mommy (that'd be me). It is new to me, having a deaf
fert though. I have to remind myself to "show myself" before attempting
to pick her up. She doesn't bite me, like she originally did when she
first arrived, however anyone else in the house is "fair game" to her
highness. She struts around like a little princess (like she is) - and
even the cats run in terror when she is out and about with her cohort
Theopolus. As for the rest of the kidlets, MoJo Man is doing well still
with his adrenal. We're going to switch him to Lupron as the tonin
implants aren't doing much good for him anymore. Zeus is still his
"own ferret" - being a typical silver mitt. He is "pick me up - no,
put me down, no - pick me up!!! So far though, he is the healthiest of
them all!! Since I now know that the others are pretty "unaccepting"
of the baby Theo, I've had to do what alot of you do - let them out at
seperate intervals. It kills me to do that, because I want them to have
as much time out (they are free roamers here, except for when we're not
here, or night time). Artemus, Zeus and MojoMan go in one group and
Baby Princess and Theopolus the Terrifier the other. Hey anyone have
an idea of how I can make the OLDER group get along with the younger
group? Any and all advice would be appreciated!! 

Take care all, and remember to hug your fuzzies at least 120,000 times
per day.......condolences to any and all who may have lost their
precious fur bearing fuzzlets.

Kim and her ever expanding army of idiots in The Land of Enchantment!!

Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, and not greedy for what
I want.....

[Posted in FML 6037]