When Mikao came into my life, I knew there was something extra special
about him. I had just lost several fuzzys and Mikao reached out and
healed my heart. Another animal communicator relayed to me that he had
an old soul and was very wise. All of this confirmed the impressions I
received from him. He has always been a very loving ferret to me as
well as other ferrets. Never once has he scrapped with another ferret.
A true gentle soul.

Before I go any further, I want to state that it is not my intention to
flame other rescues or the farms but I have just got to vent. At only
one year old, my dear Mikao started showing signs of adrenal disease.
I tried to convince myself it was just his summer coat until I could
feel the tell tale thinning around his ribs and his skin became hot to
the touch. ONE YEAR OLD with adrenal disease. In 7 years, this was a
first for me and affected one of my most precious fuzzbutts. He had a
melatonin implant, he had lupron,...still he did not seem to be feeling
better. Friday he went in for surgery. While he was under, the vet had
a tech phone me to inform me that he was bilateral and to ask me "What
I wanted to do." What else IS there to do? Remove the diseased
adrenals, give him a percorten shot and we'll be on our way. "Well,"
she informed me. "Because both adrenals are diseased, he really only
has a 50/50 chance and will be unadoptable because he will have to be
on meds for the rest of his life and most rescues, in this case, elect
to euthanize."

Why on earth a rescue would elect to euthanize a ferret because he
would need meds is beyond me. Isn't this what rescues do? Don't we have
an obligation to care for the sick as well as place the "adoptables"?
Pred is not even an expensive medication, nor is the percorten shot.
No rescue names were mentioned, but I want to offer an invitation to
any rescue or person who finds themselves with a ferret in Mikao's
situation to please contact me instead of euthanizing the ferret. SUMS
cares for the sick and elderly as well as placing adoptables and I will
happily take in any bilateral furkid that is facing euthanization. They
deserve a chance.

Back to Mikao. He also had the beginning of insulinoma and those tumors
were removed as well. The cysts on his adrenals contained black spots,
very abnormal and the vet was able to take up to 80% of the right
adrenal without endangering the vena cava. Mikao is a Marshall ferret,
and lets face it, there definitely seems to be a connection between
farm ferrets and adrenal disease. The fact that this started at only
one year old is absolutely unbelievable.

Today Mikao is almost past his 48 hour "danger zone" of his recovery.
He began eating kibble @ 3am saturday morning and is recovering
wonderfully. He will get everything he needs no matter what it is for
the rest of his life, including Reiki and herbs to ward off any nastys
left in the 20% of that right adrenal gland. Please keep my boy in your
prayers for a full recovery and long life.

Kimberly Fox
Somethin Up My Sleeve Ferret Rescue
http://companiontalk.terrabox.com/SUMS-Rescue.html
Pay Pal accepted for donations at this email address.
http://companiontalk.terrabox.com/SUMS-tilesoflove.html Fundraiser page

[Posted in FML 6010]