Reno, my fuzzball, wanted me to write and thank all you FMLers
who helped out during his splenectomy (FML #800 & 801).  It was
kind of touch and go for a while as my DVM knew little about
operating on carpetsharks (even though she has one of her own).
She didn't know how to draw a blood sample from a ferret.
Advice to do a biopsy on the spleen came too late, but she did
stitch him up with wire to prevent his pulling the stitches out.
 
The advice from Dr. Brown and Dr. Williams is very helpful and I
now pass on copies of the FML to my DVM for her for her education. The list
is lucky to have the collective wisdom of caring professionals :-).
 
Reno has his old energy back and is again my playful autistic
child.  I knew he was recovering when I discovered he had
destroyed a pair of leather high top sneekers.  He is still a
little lean, but is back on a diet of ferret chow.  is shaved tummy is not
noticable unless you turn him over.  I still treat him to a spot of nutri-cal
now and then as it is possibly the most enjoyment a ferret neutered as a kit
ever gets (the sneekers being the only other exception).
 
A good friend of mine who has had ferrets for over a decade is
suffering from what I call ferret burn-out :-(.  He has
gotten tired of having 90 percent litter box trained pets and
keeps them in a cage in the garage almost the entire time.
He has two males (one Sable and one neutered Albino).  The
Sable is about the same age as mine (5 and one-half) and is the
largest ferret I have ever seen.  The Albino is playful and
aggressive.  When we visit, Reno hides or runs to my lap for
protection from those two.
 
My friend offered me the Albino, but I declined because the two
have been together so long.  Three ferrets, especially a
large dominant male, would be too much for me and my apartment.  Tabs, my
cat, would probably just pack up and leave.
 
Anyway, I just wanted to point out this sad disease in humans
(ferret burn-out) and ask if there is a cure or others who have
helped friends through the same thing.  Since we chose our Ferrets to be our
companions (and not vice-versa), I think there is a comitment involved.  I
don't like the thought of his two fuzzies living out the rest of their lives
in a 2 x 3 cage in a dark garage :-(.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0824]