To All FMLers:
 
At 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time, January 5th, 1996, our beloved Ripple
passed away.  Cause of death is still unknown, but most likely was
complications resulting from his recent surgery combined with his advanced
age (at least 11).
 
Ripple's surgery on the 28th of December resulted in the removal of one of
the largest spleens our vet had ever seen in a ferret--6 ounces in weight, 6
inches long, 2 inches wide, 3/8 of an inch thick.  In addition she noted the
left adrenal gland appeared cancerous and removed it.  Ripple was placed on
twice-daily doses of prednizone and amoxicillin and sent home.
 
Up until the early morning hours of the 5th Ripple appeared to be recovering
wonderfully.  His appetite was enormous and he was beginning to "bounce" and
play a little bit.  At about 1:00 AM, however, he began vomiting irregularly
throughout the night, resulting in general dehydration.  The emergency
clinic said they could rehydrate him but were uncertain whether the stress
would help or hinder given his weakened condition from the vomiting.  We
took him back to the vet at 7:30 AM, where she determined that he didn't
appear to have as robust a remaining adrenal gland as she had thought;
apparently he wasn't getting sufficient prednizone.  She administered
prednizone and rehydrated him, and his condition steadily improved
throughout the day.
 
At 3:30 PM, however, Ripple began having trouble breathing, and Dr. Roeder
noted an increase in fluid levels in his lungs.  We were notified at 4:00
PM that he was having problems but seemed to be responding to an injection
to reduce fluid levels in his lungs and treatment with pure oxygen.  This
wasn't enough though; at 5:00 PM Ripple left us to journey on over the
Rainbow Bridge.
 
Given Ripple's age it was at best 50-50 that he would even surive the
surgery.  There was no way he would have lived much longer given the
enormous size of his spleen.
 
Ripple's age is not known precisely because he was a foundling ferret,
discovered by Steve just under 4 years ago over in the foothills west of
Colorado Springs.  He lived to be fat and happy and sassy and the best
damn Ambassador Ferret that ever lived.
 
   He will be missed.
 
 
 
Steve and Colleen
Continually Matching Withs with Missy, Newone, Zebulon Pike,
                                Minx, Slinky, Puck
Waiting on the Other Side:      Ripple
[Posted in FML issue 1436]