Well, my last old ferret, Skittles, died. She wasn't doing well, I took
her to my vet who said she thought she felt a tumor, took her to another
vet she recommended who didn't feel a tumor and gave me some antibiotic.
She rallied for a while and then started having problems again. She went
back to being a bag of bones again, and I took her to a friend vet who
specializes in ferrets (but whose practice is far away). She found a
tumor (she let me feel it) and gave me Sub-Q fluids and antibiotic. She
never rallied again, though, and she was too old to really consider an
operation. I fed her and "watered" her, but when she got to the point
where she was obviously not doing well and really resisted the feedings,
I let her stop. She kept her calm, loving temperment right up to the
end, and Katie tried valiantly to keep her warm. I knew she was gone
when Katie moved upstairs and didn't lie on top of her anymore. *sigh*
She was a good and sweet ferret. Never bit, even as a kit. Never had a
single health problem. She has been photographed with C.J. Cherryh
(science fiction writer) and many con-goers. She brought two people
together who ended up getting married (they told me about it at the
convention the following year), and went to many conventions with me,
spreading the word about ferrets. Young men used to borrow her to walk
around the conventions with because ferrets are "babe magnets". :)  So
Skittles had a good life. Katie is lonely now (and so am I). I just
haven't had any luck finding a rescue ferret around here. I don't know
why. I'd be willing to drive a bit if I could find a companion for Katie.
 
--Barb--
[Posted in FML issue 1234]