Merlin is at the vet's office tonight.  We took him in and they took two
x-rays.  He said it looked like there was a little gas in the stomache, but
not too bad.  He picks at his food, so I've been giving him chicken baby
food mixed with water and some Nutri-Cal.  He takes that pretty well.  He
hasn't vomitted since last night (unless he hid it).  His stools look
thinner than usual (in diameter - about half what it normally is) and he
only went twice all day today.
 
At our last club meeting, someone apparently brought the flu and shared it
with my ferrets.  We have spent the past 6 weeks trying to get everyone over
it.  Merlin has always slept more than the rest of the ferrets.  When they
passed around the flu, it didn't seem unusual for Merlin to sleep a lot.
Everyone got over the flu and then passed it around a second time.  It has
been about two weeks since anyone else was sick.
 
Merlin was slow to come out of it.  He still would occasionally vomit, but
it was now and then - probibly 4 times in the past week and a half.  This
past Monday was when he took a real turn for the worst.  He vomitted three
times on Monday that I know of (we were gone most of the day at a picnic for
the holiday).  Tuesday he appeared to be feeling better.  He was up playing
with everyone else during the day.  At 6:00 p.m.  he vomitted more than he
had before.
 
Everyone here that I spoke with seems to think Merlin has an ulcer.  His vet
even thinks its a stomache upset, because the two x-rays he took today
didn't show a blockage.  After I read the vet the post from Dr. Williams, he
agreed to do a barium series tomorrow morning.  Hopefully he'll be okay till
then.  I had to leave him there overnight tonight.
 
My 11-year-old son was convinced that he could stay at the vet's office with
HIS Merlin tonight so he wouldn't be alone and be afraid.  Dan is the type
of kid that cries every time he sees or hears of any animal being hurt or
dieing.  He cried himself to sleep tonight worrying about his Merlin.  I'm
sure Merlin will come through this okay, but tonight is the hardest part for
him and Dan.
 
I'll post again after we know something tomorrow.
 
Thanks to ALL of you who sent information and advice.  Dan thanks you all for
being so concerned about his baby.
 
Mary
Peoria Area Ferret Connection
[Posted in FML issue 1682]