Cathie,
 
It sounds like you're doing everything right.  If your kid is still eating,
drinking, and eliminating properly--he's got a good shot.  You say his
fever is down, and his leg is less swollen.  These are good signs.
 
You ask about Duck Soup.  It is a great source of food for a sick fur kid.
You can find many different recipies in the FML archives or at
www.ferretcentral.org.
 
You also mention excited breathing.  Is he panting like a dog?  What is the
temperature in Mexico city these days?  Up here in Virginia, we've already
been hitting the mid to high 90's.  Do you have air conditioning?  If not,
fill a pop bottle with water, freeze it, wrap it in a towel and put it in
your kid's cage.  Panting is a sign of Heat Stress and can kill a ferret.
 
As for forcing him to take the antibiotic and antipiretic--if you have
ferretone or linatone, try mixing the drugs with that and see if he will
take it.  I've found a little malt extract that homebrewers use to make
beer works wonders too.
 
Your furkid will be in my thoughts and prayers tonight.
Matthew in VA soon to be in CO.
[Posted in FML issue 2707]