Hi, my name is Carrie Sanders, and my ferret is Snowie, a 4 year old
albino female.  I joined this list about 4 years ago when I got Snowie
and posted some, but I've pretty much been a lurker since then.  I now
need some advice as well as some emotional uplifting.
 
Snowie has always been an exceptional healthy and well-mannered ferret.
She's always been lively, never been a picky eater (meaning she would
eat basically any ferret food I gave her without being fussy), and has
never shown signs of any health problems..  Until now.
 
A couple months ago Snowie began throwing up every once in a while.  It
was never in large amounts and never happened very often, so it didn't
alarm me as much as I guess it should have.
 
I have noticed in the last two or three weeks she has not eaten nearly as
much as she used to eat.  I could tell she was still eating, just not in
large amounts.
 
Well, just this past week, she has stopped eating altogether.  Her weight
has dropped very drastically also.  She is almost skin and bones.  I'm
scared to death because even though I guess the signs have been coming on
for a while, it just now became very noticeable.  She still drinks her
water (in small amounts), but does not touch her food at all.  Also, when
she's out of her cage, I notice that she's kind of wobbly and maybe a
little disoriented.  I guess this could be a side effect from not eating.
I really hope it doesn't mean something even worse.
 
I've started soaking her food in water and a little Ferretone to moisten
it.  Then I mush it up on a spoon, and she will eat it that way.  She
isn't eating nearly as much as she used to, but at least she'll eat a
little.  I also let her drink the water her food has soaked in to let her
get some extra nutrients she may be missing.
 
I want to call a vet, but unfortunately our vet's office burned down a
few months ago, and he currently isn't practicing.  I'm going to call
some vets in some neighboring towns to see if they have any experience
with ferrets, but until then I'll take any advice I can get.
 
I can't stand to see my baby girl withering away like this.  Please tell
me what I can do to help her.
 
Sincerely,
Carrie Sanders
[Posted in FML issue 4363]