We took Cujo to Dr Shaffer Wednesday to have his stitches out.  He had an
operation the day after Memorial Day to have an opening in an abscessed
prostatic cyst sutured to his skin to allow it to drain.  The cyst has been
the problem in his last two urinary blockages.  He is again on baytril
(one-quarter tab twice a day), clavamox (.25 cc twice a day), and flutamide
(eluxin) (one cc twice a day,) Again, the test will come when the
antibiotics run out, but Dr Shaffer is optimistic that the flutamide will
control the prostate and stop the formation of cysts.  On our own, we have
also put all four of our fuzzies on Timmy's Tonic and Silver Wings colloidal
silver 500 parts per million.  The boys also saw palmetto (human prostate
herbal treatment).  We also put Willards Water treatment in their water.  At
this point, we will try ANYTHING to keep Cujo going, and hopefully help our
other three.
 
Those of you who have been following this Cujo problem episode by episode
have seen my references to Dr Jeff Shaffer and the type of person we believe
him to be.  Here is another example.  Our bill for this last operation was
$33.00!!!  That was for clavamox, flutamide and two tubes of Nutri-Cal.  Do
you see charges there for an operation?  No.  Dr. Jeff said the operation
was experimental, a learning experience for him, and may one day help
another ferret.  Therefore, he donated his time, skills, and all clinic
costs.  We were charged only for medicine.  He also said that if we had to
take Cujo to the emergency vet clinic on a holiday or weekend, and we felt
that they should consult him about Cujo's condition, that the emergency
clinic has already been told that it is alright to call him.
 
There, folks, is a vet who cares.  When I left Cujo this last time, I did
not expect to see him alive again.  But Dr. Shaffer had been on the
internet, checking with other vets, and felt that the cyst drain operation
and flutamide might be an alternative to putting Cujo down.  Today is 9 days
since the operation.  Nine more days that we have had Cujo in our lives.
Nine more days of life for Cujo.  How many more he has, well, we'll find
out.  We are grateful for them one day at a time.
 
Also, we took Bandit along so they could take the "after" adrenal picture.
He had his picture taken on April 20 when he only had hair on his head and
feet.  Everybody at the clinic was saying to everybody else, "Come look at
this.  Remember when he came in here totally bald?" Bandit got handed around
and petted and was a 10 minute star.  He loved it.
 
I'll be gone for a week, so if you have any questions about Cujo or Dr
Shaffer, PLEASE hold them until after Sunday, June 14.  I don't want my
mailbox to fill up and have Prodigy start deleting or returning mail.
 
Charlie, Aggie, Donna, Cujo, Bandit, Snowball and Valentine
We remember Kodo, Rocky and Spokane
[Posted in FML issue 2331]