Very sad weekend.  Friday night around 9 I found Diz just recently died,
within minutes.  His gums weren't even tinged blue yet.  I tried mouth to
mouth (after cleaning the vomit out of his) but no success.  His eyes
weren't glazed yet.  I tried for 20 minutes and only gave up them because if
he revived he would be a vegetable.  He was fine the night before zooming
around the house and that very morning.  He played with Nancy the night
before and me that morning.  He showed no signs of illness.  I took him in
for a necropsy Sat morning.  His lungs.  Everything else including
intestines looked perfect and healthy.  He looked healthy, good weight, soft
shiny fur, clear bright eyes.  The picture of a healthy happy ferret.... The
left cranial lobe was in very bad shape, Travis (vet) didn't know if it was
bacterial or viral or what so we sent tissue samples in.  Not that they will
tell us anything though, they haven't so far and this is our 3rd healthy
ferret that died of mysterious causes.  It wasn't trauma.  Diz still had
food in his stomach so he had eaten just a few hours before his death.  His
intestines were the picture of health also, no enteritis.  I noticed a
frizzed tail sticking out of the carrier on the landing.  I ran down the
stairs and there were so many ferrets in the carrier piled on top of Diz.
He was laying on his back.  I quickly moved the ferrets off of him and
grabbed and gently shook him.  Then I ran to the living room with him and
started mouth to mouth, but it was too late, he was gone.
 
This hit me hard as Diz and I shared a very special bond.  Diz is one of
Pamela's ferrets that have been with me for 2 years last Dec.  The first
time I ever met Diz he grabbed my hand and tried to put me away.  When I was
getting ready to leave Pam's house he did it again and each time thereafter
when I'd visit.
 
Molly started whimpering when I'd feed her on Saturday.  Her breath smells
very bad.  I think it is time.  I will take her to Larry tonight and get his
opinion but I think he will recommend euthanizing her.  This is difficult
too.  I just can't keep her comfortable any longer and I can't let her
suffer just to die at home.
 
Skit seemed to have a blockage.  He'd go to the litterboxes several times
and only potty.  I gave him Laxatone right away and then again in a couple
hours and again last night.  He did have a stool last night and one again
this morning but other than a little fur I can't find a blockage unless he
moved it through while I was at work.  I'm keeping a close eye on him and
have him on Amoxi.  He's eating and drinking well and even made one round in
the tube this morning.
 
We got 4 in this weekend that are staying permanently.  2 were here last
spring and already ECE exposed.  The other 2 are from friends that adopted
one of them from us as a companion for their male about 2 + years ago.  They
have not been ECE Exposed.
 
Another day in our life.....
 
Fecal Samples -
Recently there have been several posts on diarrhea in ferrets.  Please take
a fecal sample to your vet to have it tested.  These cases of diarrhea may
be a simple case of bacteria or a parasite that can be quickly and
efficiently cured with the right antibiotic.  You should have results within
the day.  In the meantime keep the Pedialyte flowing and keep those little
ones hydrated.  For those that are concerned about finances a fecal test is
relatively inexpensive ($5-10 in our area).  If the vet insists on seeing
your ferret explain your finance problem to them and they will most likely
agree to running the fecal sample.  If they don't then call another vet.  Of
course you can always ask them if you can make payments.  :-)
 
Hugs to all.  tle
[Posted in FML issue 1868]