Hi everybody!
 
Been wanting to write this for over a week now but we still are trying to
get settled back in from our winter stay in AZ.
 
Yes, all the kids went too, wouldn't think of leaving them behind.;=)
All 20 of them!
 
Yes, .... I can see all your faces as you read this;=)... but it went
realy well, the kids loved it!  Lots and lots of work for me.... but..
what's new there?  This is the only way for us to ever get away from home
and I still cant get over how good these ferrets were for us.  And along
the way, so many skeptic people got to find out that ferrets don't have
to stink, not even in a motor home.;=)
 
In AZ, they got a good run every day in my sister-in -laws house.  We
wanted to stay for three month but after two, we had to pack up
suddenly.... and head for Dallas ,TX.  But even then, spending 4 weeks
in there, the kids loved it and were great!
 
Giddeon, a 61/2 year old male was in trouble with a failing liver and his
owner could not pay for vet care.  He provided a good home otherwise, good
food and all.
 
Giddion was very yellow and his urine was orange.  We took him and urine
samples to a vet in Phoenix who supposedly treats lots of ferrets.  She
told me that she could feel a big lump in his tummy ), probably a tumor
( which wasn't there) and his urine had lots of billiruben in it.  His
liver had to be going bad.  We could do X-rays,-Ultra sound and take
biopsies to see what's wrong.  $700 worth of tests!! ;=(
 
Ok,... still, it would most likely come down to exploratory surgery yes, I
ask?
 
"Yes."
 
Asking:" how many surgeries do they do on ferrets?"
 
Was told: "Not too many, people don't want to spend that much money on
their pets."
 
That was enough for me, I know that I would not leave my animals there and
Giddie not either.
 
I had been thinking of calling Dr. Murray in TX., to see about adrenal
surgeries for a couple of my kids on our way home.
 
So I called and explained to him about Giddie.  Would he do the
exploratory on this boy if we come there?  Yes he would, and off we went !
 
It took us 3 days I think and we arrived late on a Monday.  We met Dr.
Murray and Staff and I have to tell you folks in the Dallas (Farmers
Branch) area: "You are soo lucky to have such a caring vet and staff for
your animals!!!"
 
I just can't say enough good things about these people.  And...they don't
charge you an arm and a leg there either!  Can't say the same about the
Dallas traffic, now that was awful!  What should have been a 20minute
drive, turned in to a 1 to 1 1/2 Hour one, most of the time!
 
Doc took a look at Giddie and told me that it doesn't look good at all.
Probably liver cancer and didn't give him much of a chance to make it
through the surgery.  I had been giving him Lactated Ringer's all the way
there, and he would only take small amounts of Chicken Baby Food from my
finger, so I had to syringe feed some also.
 
I was so hoping that it would be his adrenal glands causing the problem
and it could be fixed.  But it isn't.
 
I will write about Giddie's progress in a separate post, don't want to
make this too long here!  This is my first experience with liver failure
and I could use some help or advice.
 
We ended up staying in Dallas for a full month.  I knew we were in good
hands, so, might as well get done as much as possible.;=)  Giddie's
surgery, Bandit and Mandy had adrenals removed, and.... with the help
from that good hearted staff, managed to sneak in about 5 or 6 Dental's
on Dr. Murray's busy schedule.;=)
 
Lots of blood tests and several Lupron shots and Melatonin implants.  I
had been giving Melatonin tabs every day, so these 4- month implants will
make things a bit easier on me, at least for four month.
 
I did notice the melatonin kids being tired for a few days though and the
only thing I don't care for, are the bumps I feel all the time when I
pick them up and the way I understood, they don't dissolve.  So, if they
get the implants a few times, they'll end up with all these bumps?  Have
to ask again, didn't realize this till now.
 
It was such a busy and hard time for me and I'm totally exhausted.  But
it would have been so much harder, had it not been for those wonderful ,
caring folks at that clinic.  I could tell that my little carpet sharks
were loved and well treated.  I can still see Doc Murray sneaking by the
door now and then with a small, wrapped up bundle in his arms, heading
for the recovery room I guess.
 
By the time we had to leave, we felt like *part of the family* and it was
actually hard to say *good bye*.
 
We have made wonderful new friends and will always be grateful for the
help they have given us.
 
Dr. Murray...if you read this, thank you so much again for taking us in,
for your kindness,.... and all the breaks *money wise*, that we received.
(yes, I noticed!  ;=) )
 
Everybody is doing great except Giddian.  I'm still not ready to give him
up but I know....and..... I am trying,.... to prepare myself.
 
At Dr. Murray's clinic, you know that your ferrets are in good hands.
( Well...he does see other animals! )  Are there actually other animals
besides ferrets?;=)))))
 
Helga
The One whose Motor Runs On Ferret Kisses
 
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 3784]