Prior to the arrival of the Utah kids, I truly expected to see many
behavioral problems due to the awful conditions these poor kids had to
live in for long, confined in small carriers, no time out for play or
exercise, very little if any human contact, no medical care and we can
only guess at other conditions. Instead, they are the most loving ferrets
and definitely let you know how grateful for the least bit of affection
and tlc.
As you know, the majority were very sick on arrival and continued to get
sicker with coccidia, upper respiratory infections, stress and most likely
grief over losing buddies.
It's taken awhile with lots of tlc, nursing and meds but they've almost
all become playing, bouncing ferrets as they should be. A couple that I
didn't expect to make it have totally turned around. Shelley was on
deaths door, bloody poops and "out of it". Jack, the old guy with one
testicle is putting on muscle mass and loves my soup. Kramer, another
old one with the inoperable tumor on his head, enjoys being out, getting
a treat and loves his pred. He knows just "the look" to give me when he
wants his treat. Pebbles with the very bad heart and no muscle mass is
starting to "wobble" around.
Two kids, Moose and Zach have not done well. Moose was a big, old guy
that continued to feel worse. He had an ugly mast cell tumor on his neck
which didn't account for him feeling so bad. He'd been grinding his
teeth so we had him on carafate, amoxy and Pepto. Since last night,
Moose would whimper when I'd gently pick him up to feed or cuddle him and
his breathing had become labored. I felt he was in pain, that there was
something very serious going on with him and he wouldn't be able to have
surgery.
Zack, a small sable guy, had also been grinding his teeth and had a mast
cell tumor on the top of his head. Neither would eat kibble except when
out in the den a few times, Zach would eat a couple of bites then "snap"
at anyone who tried to eat or drink with him. Both would curl up in a
little bed and not move again.
Today, they were scheduled to have their tumors removed along with Genny
who had a chordoma on her tail. On exam, nodules could be felt on Moose's
huge spleen. He also had a non-compressible chest indicating a mass in
his chest which was probably lymphosarcoma. I'm sure at least half his
weight was the spleen.
Zach's liver function's were off the chart, in full liver failure, anemic,
no platelets and his blood wasn't clotting. There was a large, hard mass
in his abdomen. My vet felt he had cancer somewhere that had spread to
his liver. With his blood not clotting, there's no way he could have
surgery even if part of his liver was able to be removed. I'd been trying
to build all of them up prior to surgery with soup and a lot of extras
added to it but it didn't work for Zack.
Genny's tumor was removed and is being sent out for pathology to make sure
all of it was removed. She's doing so good. She danced her first dance
yesterday and played with me this morning. Felt awful putting her through
the pain when she's finally feeling good but the tumor needed to come off.
Sadly and with tears, I decided to let Zack and Moose go in peace and with
what dignity they had left. I'm grateful for the kisses Moose gave me
this morning and sweet Zack lying his head on my shoulder. I had a
feeling Moose was going to have bad news but did have hope we could help
Zach feel better. I wish these guys had gotten here in time to give them
a chance at being ferrets again. Hopefully, in the short time they were
here, they knew they were loved. More pieces of my heart went with them.
Casper has a new mast cell on his belly but he's doing really good so
decided to wait for his surgery. There's still 5 kids with adrenal
surgery needed before they can be adopted unless someone is willing to
take them and get the surgery. There's a few I'd like to have blood
workup's done on. Some badly need teeth cleaning including two Lynn
Siegel has. We also suspect insulinoma on Toby and Smokey who Lynn has,
so they need blood work done.
Taco Loco, one of the single guys, got his toe caught in a chair last
week, breaking a toe and the bone in front of it. Poor guy hates being
confined but you'd never know anything was wrong with him. This was my
fault and I do feel very guilty. I know and preach that recliners and
ferrets don't mix. No one was allowed to sit in the chair when ferrets
were out or books were propped under it so it couldn't move, yet I do
know it's dangerous even in the same room.
These guys really need homes. I can give them a lot of love, good
care, cuddles and kisses but there's too many here to give each one the
individual attention they so badly need. Two and possibly four may be
going on to new homes this weekend but that still leaves many needing
permanent homes. Most of the remaining kids are older and do have health
problems. If I could provide all they need including medical care, I'd
love to keep them all here. The bittersweet part about sheltering is
bonding with each one then letting them go. Yet it's a great feeling
knowing they've gone into a loving, permanent home.
I know so many of you have given generously for the Utah kids and I'm
ashamed to ask for more but these kids need continued help with their
medical problems to be whole and healthy again. They certainly deserve
the chance.
Donations can be sent either to my vet, SOS, or to me.
Jackie Hawley
The Dook Nook Ferret Rescue & Shelter
5226 Collins Road
Jacksonville, FL 32244 or
PayPal: http://www.paypal.com/
using my email address: [log in to unmask]
Riverside Animal Hospital
2641 Park Street
Jacksonville, FL 32204
SOS
Judith White
1236 Belfield Avenue
Drexel Hill, PA 19026-4211 Or
PayPal: http://www.paypal.com/ using SOS email address:
[log in to unmask]
A dear friend is offering a 12 Days of Christmas wreath for fuzzies:
http://dooknook.homestead.com/holiday.html plus there's a link to some
pictures of the kids here.
I hope you can find a place in your heart and home for "just one more
kid".
Hugs to all,
Jackie
[Posted in FML issue 3588]
|
