Hi everyone!
 
Just wanted to know if anyone would be willing to donate a space or two to
show Tinder's last day pictures.  I want others to see what she looked like
in her final months.  I would really appreciate it.
 
I spoke to the vet in regards to the results of her necropsy.  It turns out
all her internal organs were in good shape and her kidneys were healthy.
Her heart was strong and her lungs were clear.  In fact there was very
little fluid in her body at all.  The "fluid" feel and look came from the
fact that her body was filled with fat, also known as lypomas.  It was this
fat that was choking her organs and it was this fat that had filled her
body cavity so much that it was pressing up against her lungs and giving
her very little room to breathe.  Some samples have been sent off to the
lab and a report is in the works.  When the report is completed I will pass
it on to you all.
 
The vet said they really don't know what causes lypomas only that they
usually see them in older dogs.  Diet was not a factor but seeing as she
had a previous surgery to remove the grape like cluster from her neck she
might just have been predisposed genetically to this condition.  Could she
have been saved?  Probably, but for how long?  If she was truly predisposed
to this condition she would have to have gone through more surgeries in the
future.  Am I angry at my vet for a misdiagnoses?  Absolutely NOT.  The one
thing that I have learned after all these years is that medicine isn't
an exact science.  My vet did the best he could with what he knew - he
conferred with a ferret specialist who advised him the best she could.  And
although he felt quite sure about his diagnosis, he did ask me if I wanted
a blood test done to confirm his findings.  And because my vet is the kind
of man that takes into account the quality of life of each living creature
he deals with, we both agreed that putting her through all the needles and
such wouldn't change the outcome of her future.  Do I regret my decision
not to have a blood test?  That's a hard one.  On one hand, I could say
no, and leave it to the fact that her outcome would have been the same
regardless.  On the other hand, I could say yes, because I had a nagging
inner voice that told me it wasn't kidney failure because things just
didn't fit right.  But I am not the expert.  I have had enough good
experiences with my vet(s) that give me the peace of mind that I am dealing
with good people.  The way I look at it now is that Tinder no longer has
to go through any tests of any kind and that her life, for the most part,
remained normal as normal could be under the circumstances.  And although
I would love her to be with me right now, I know that this was the right
decision.
 
Deciding to do a necropsy (autopsy for animals) was initially a difficult
decision.  Although when it comes to humans I have no difficulty viewing a
body.  In fact, I find it quite interesting.  But when it came to having
the same thing done to Tinder, my heart was torn.  I had previously viewed
the pathology site from Dr. Bruce Williams and saw one photo of a little
ferret that was displayed with his organs quite visible.  It bothered my
husband quite a bit but I knew then what I know now and that is, without
procedures like this being done on our beloved friends, the lives of those
that follow could never have benefited.  I have greater peace of mind now
because I know more about what was going on inside her.  And I do feel that
she will contribute, like all those before her who have been necropsied, to
the ferrets presently living and to those yet unborn.  Every little bit
of information we can gather and pass on to each other, saves or extends
another life.  So, keeping that in mind, when I ask myself, was it the
right thing to do?  I say, absolutely.
 
If you personally are having a hard time with the thought of having your
ferrets cut open, try keeping this in mind as I did with Tinder: her body
was only the shell that contained her soul.  Her soul is what made her the
darling I remember.  Her body was carefully sewn back up so that we could
present her back to the earth where she could give life to the trees we
loved as well.  It was not truly her though, as everything that was Tinder
was jumping, dooking and being a mischievous little rug rat.  Her body was
merely the vessel left to ease our pain and say our final farewells to.
And this is what helps us to go on.
 
Betty and her remaining Blur O'Fur
Chook, Taero and Bear
missing Tinder but feeling blessed that I had the opportunity to know her
[Posted in FML issue 2436]