Greetings all, I don't think I have posted since I lost my Ruffie a
couple of years ago to DIM and had wonderful help from Dr. Ramsell
and Dr. Murray at that time. Even though I haven't posted, I read
both lists every day and learn so very much from everyone.

Today we had four ferrets surrendered from Connecticut. No other
shelters in the area could take them and the person calling seemed a
bit desperate as they were abandoned by the previous owner. He had
cared for them as long as possible but two "were sick" and they needed
to go somewhere. One he described as "naked" and female the other sick
male he described as having a pea sized tumor on his back rear leg that
he had been "getting at". I agreed to take them in and asked many, many
questions to get better descriptions of the two sick ones conditions.
Short of an inquisition this was all the info I had to go on. I was
assured over and over again that neither one was urgent and he had
put some neosporin on the tumor.

Knowing that nothing is ever as straightforward as it seems, I asked
him to come as early in the morning today as possible (a two hour
drive for him) to ensure that we had vet coverage in case anyone
seemed urgent. I hate it when my instincts are right on target.

He arrived at ten minutes before two pm and as we took the ferrets out
of the carrier we knew we had an emergency. I reached for my cell phone
and started dialing the vet's office and my assistant director reached
for her keys and the carrier and started heading for the door. The
male ferret's leg had a huge tumor and/or abscess and was a bloody mess
(yes, physically and not metaphorically). My primary vet wasn't there
and the next closest vet was still there treating an emergency. Thank
goodness for someone else's emergency as well as this one.

We can't tell if he has a tumor or a wound that was left untreated
for so long that almost of the tissue is not recoverable. My vet
drained and treated the leg and gave us the options of amputation or
euthanasia. He is not septic and not running a temperature. One look in
this little guys face tells us that he is a fighter, other than the leg
he appears to be around four years old, he is alert, ate three bowls of
our dook soup and wants to try.

He is on 0.01 of 100mg/ml (yep a pretty high dose) and he will be seen
again on Monday. His leg is bandaged into a little soft walking cast
and he sniffed all around the room and even did one lap in the tube.
He is bright and alert and when I just checked on him looks like any
other ferret sleeping who is safe and has a full soup belly.

My questions;  
Should we do any tests or blood work before having his amputation
surgery on Monday or Tuesday?

What else should I be looking out for (I am watching intake, output,
temperature, hotness or coldness of the foot, legs, pads, I am watching
paleness of gums and anything else that seems unusual to me).

Assuming that he is as well as he is today what other factors should I
be thinking about for quality of life?

After surgery what surgical site issues or amputation issues should be
be aware of?

Believe me just when I think I know a thing or two about basic care, a
ferret comes to me to teach me something new.

By the way his name was "Oreo" but we are thinking more of the lines
of "LuvU" as he gives us wonderful kisses and his eyes look right into
your soul with that "thank you for helping me look, loveu"

Sincerely, 
Diane Wall
South Shore Ferret Care
Holbrook, MA

[Posted in FML 5843]