It is with a heavy heart that I write on the passing of my Nosey to
insulinoma today.  Nosey hadn't even officially been diagnosed insulinoma.
I went to his room yesterday morning and found him in the after effects of
a full blown seizure.  I rushed him to my vet's where they did there best
to stablize him.  Even after giving him massive doses of glucose his level
would go no higher than 55.  They gave him valium to help relax him, but
he was still had twitching of his limbs and ears.  My vet took Nosey home
with him last night to keep a close watch on him.  Nosey continued to have
seizures all during the night, including one that woke Dr. Barr up.  Each
time Dr. Barr checked on him during the night, Nosey was still in the
process of seizing.
 
I stopped by to check on him this morning.  The doctor told me that there
were other things that they could try, like catheters, etc.  but that he
couldn't guarentee they would work and that he didn't know what kind
quality of life Nosey would have.  I made the very painful decision not to
put Nosey through anymore stress.  If what they had done with him didn't
completely eliminate his seizures, and since even under medications his
seizures weren't ending, I had him helped across the bridge.  This would
still be painful for me, but maybe not as much if I hadn't just had to
do the same thing for Rascal this past January, for the same dreadful
aliment.
 
Nosey will be joining his original cagemate, Rosey, who succumbed to
insulinoma and was helped across the bridge two years ago.  I know they
are both meeting up with Rascal and sharing many happy days together.  I
am now back to my original three muskateers only...Sneezy, Pepper and
Bubbles.  I pray that I don't have to go through this again for some
time.  It is never easy, but this was so soon after Rascal.
 
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you that have ferrets that are
needing your special care.  God Bless you and your babies.
 
Barbara Laugesen
[Posted in FML issue 3771]