Also posted to the Adrenal List.  For info about the List, write me...
 
I just heard from my vet and Percy isn't doing well.  She doesn't know if
he'll make it through the night.  Please, whatever your religious
affiliation, turn your hearts toward Percy tonight.
 
He is a sweet ferret and has never been in a fight in his entire life.  He's
our highest hopper and biggest muck-mucker.  He loves life.  He spent two
years in a lab being anesthetized and used to train medical techs to
intubate babies.  He deserves to live.
 
We took him in first thing this morning with a blocked bladder.  X-rays
showed prostate enlargement, and he had blood in his urine.  He was running
around just yesterday.  We had scheduled an appointment already to start
working on the adrenal problem, but it crept up on us faster than we'd
hoped.  I have to keep thinking the best for him.  The clinic is closed
tomorrow but the vet is going in to check on him, but we can't visit him
:(... We left first thing this morning when we saw he was blocked (he was
able to pass urine yesterday), and I didn't have time to throw in blankets
(scented with his buddies oils), his own food (at least they have Totally
Ferret at the clinic), and his little rubber saddle he loves.  I wish I'd
brought them to him today while I could.  We left at 9 am and got home at 2
pm, and it would have just meant driving another 20 miles, but I thought
he'd be doing just fine - he was so healthy last night, so I didn't.  He
wasn't critical at all (I thought) when we left.
 
If all goes well, we're sending a blood sample to the U.  Tenn.  to check
estradial and testosterone on Monday.  His first exploratory (another vet)
for suspected adrenal disease yielded little info, and his right adrenal was
biopsied and showed some adenomal tissue.
 
He is at a new vet, now, and I know he has good care.  Actually, he has two
woman vets, both with fur kids!
 
Some of this I already said (but I'm raving a bit), but I heard just a half
hour ago from his vet and she is checking on him tomorrow, but he has only
had nutrical (I said we would be force feeding him chicken soup, but she
said he might aspirate at this point)... and fluids and steroids (I think)
and antibiotics and a sedative.  She's going in tomorrow to treat him (and a
bird that got attacked by a dog :( ) and she said she won't call me if he's
better.  She said she hopes she doesn't have to call and say he's not doing
better and really hopes she doesn't have to call and say he "didn't" do
better :(.......
 
That's why I'm so worried.  But I feel better writing this, and I'm glad the
FML (and the Adrenal List) is here to write to.  Percy is a little (well,
fattish, three pounds :) ) trooper, and we're hoping he's just tired and
showing the effect of the drugs.
 
Thank you for listening (though I've been very busy, so quiet and not to
present lately on the lists), and please send strong, healing thoughts for
Percy tonight.  I will let you all know how he is.
 
Lynn and the Gang of 8 sweet fuzzies and, always, Schroedee Boat and
Squeekers, in Spirit
[Posted in FML issue 1987]