Dear FML friends, our Cujo is having problems again.  Sunday night about
7 pm, he threw up.  I felt his lower tummy and could tell his bladder was
filling again.  I wanted him to go to Dr Shaffer, but my wife or I would
not be able to take him in until Monday afternoon.  I called Debbie Coburn
of our club, the Central Florida Ferret Friends, as she only lives about
two miles from Dr Shaffer's office.  She agreed that if we brought Cujo to
her, she would take him in Monday morning.  Debbie felt his tummy and said,
"He won't last until morning.  Either we try to find an emergency clinic or
I try to drain him." It was obvious that Cujo was in pain.  So much so,
that he bit (NO BLOOD) my hand before we left.  Cujo would NEVER bite
before.  Debbie got out a needle and withdrew 15 cc of thick, greenish
fluid from his bladder.  His tummy felt much better.  She took him to Dr
Shaffer Monday morning and we picked him up about 5 pm.  The Dr had also
done a needle drain and had catheterized him through the opening he had
made last summer when he did the "boy to girl" operation.
 
Dr. Shaffer said he thinks Cujo's prostate may be enlarged.  This causes his
bladder to back up and lets bacteria grow.  He gave him a shot of baytril,
and I have baytril tabs to give him along with his clavamox.  He also put
him on lysodren.
 
Now, the hard part.  We talked about his future.  Dr. Shaffer said his
prognosis is guarded.  It will depend on how long this treatment holds.  If
he can't be cleared up with antibiotics, or if he is back to where he was
Sunday in a week or two, well, we shall see.  But he was obviously in pain.
We love Cujo, but do we love him so much that we cause him to suffer just
for our feelings?  Do we avoid the obvious because we would hurt?  I don't
know.  I want him to live forever, but know that won't happen.  We will just
love him, and hold him close and do what we can for him.  Keep him in your
thoughts.  Thank you all.
 
We took Bandit along when we went to pick up Cujo, and had his stitches
removed from last Monday's adrenal surgery.  Bandit has recovered remarkably
well.  I have NEVER heard him dook or hiss, but he really did the ferret
hiss when Dr Shaffer took out one of the stitches.  Guess he was cussing
him.  He ran around for about 45 minutes tonight, and I did not notice him
falling to one side.  All in all, a very up and down day.  Bandit goes
uphill, Cujo goes downhill.  I held Bandit up to Cujo and asked him to pass
some of his magic over.  Cujo will need it.
 
Charlie, Ag, Donna, Cujo, Bandit, Snowball and Valentine
We remember Kodo, Rocky and Spokane
We ask for your good thoughts
We send our good thoughts to all who hurt, be they fur, feather or skin
[Posted in FML issue 2291]