The animal was a human and now the Ferret Person has paid the price...
 
I got a rescue in yesterday..abandoned at a park in some bushes...the park
grounds keeper knows me and called me from work to 'come right away -
critter emergency' When I got there I was greeted by a very scratched and
bitten young man (the friend) and a ferret nearly insane with pain and
raging infection.  It was filthy beyond imagination and emaciated and
dehydrated as well...but the worst was yet to come.  I could see it was in
pain and needed a vet but its fur was so matted and stunk so much I wasn't
sure what were the problems causing the insanity and wild biting and
screaming.  so, into a carrier it went and I used my cellular to warn a vet
friend I was enroute with a ferret emergency... and to get a tech and gloves
ready as well as a bath...so we could see what was the situation...
 
it was a strong tech and a great retired vet that got that critter cleaned
off and then could keep lunch down to try to treat what we found... in order
to keep the fuzzy from some activity the owner found objectionable the
'human' had wrapped rubber bands tightly around each paw... and the
resultant swelling and agony had driven the ferret nuts... we partially
anesthetized it and cut away the rubber bands...but it was too late... the
paws (days like this according to the vets estimate) were infected and
partially into gangrene (or a ferrets equivilent)... and they had to be
removed to save its life.  This was super risky in view of the starvation
and dehydration but it was operate or watch it die of the poisoning from the
paws.
 
It is a little boy about 10 months old and he is finally stable at this
writing... he is drinking and trying to chew and swallow...he is so
hungry...he is still on IV fluids and nutrients altho that will be all in
him by morning (its almost 4 am here now)..  I am sewing leg sock-booties
for him as I rock him in the big rocker this am...and Doc says he is
basically very strong and has a 50/50 chance if nothing else appears to
threaten his recovery...
 
your prayers would be very welcome in the next few days...
 
he has the standard markings of a Silver mitts, but the Mitts part is no
more... any suggestions for a name for this fellow????
 
I watch the other fur kids and wonder how this little fellow will ever
have a life without paws... he has not nipped once since the
operations/amputations... and seems so grateful for snuggles and the
removal of his pain... but he also seems sad...very sad, or perhaps its me
thats so sad and seeing it in him where its not there...I don't know...
 
its going to be a lengthly recovery I feel... and perhaps a difficult one
for us all..  I never heard a vet swear like that... and I remembered curses
in several languages I thought I had forgotten... and I am still very very
angry... how could anyone do such a thing to a ferret baby?  Its beyong my
comprehension...
 
and they say Ferrets are the animals....  I must disagree!!!
 
any prayers and/or suggestions are welcome... anyone else had a ferret with
this condition to face life with???
 
 dayna
[Posted in FML issue 1562]