Bandit was found wandering the streets in St Cloud, Florida, in 1992 by the
Humane Society.  I had asked them to call me if they ever had a ferret come
in.  In the time between that request and when he was found, we had gotten
another ferret, Cujo.  But, we went to the pound "Just to look."  One week
later, after the wait to see if he would be claimed, Bandit came home with
us.
 
Bandit started losing hair in January of 1998.  In February, he was put on
Lysodren and Prednisone, but the hair loss continued.  April 20 of 1998, he
was operated on by Dr Shaffer.  Bandit's left adrenal was removed.  It was
3/4 inches long.  Normal size is that of a pea.
 
Bandit was on Lysodren, Prednisone and Proscar.  He was doing fine, but
slowing a bit the last couple of years.  Thursday, he was very tired and
lethargic.  We fed him a cup of Bob's chicken gravy, but by Friday, we had
to force him to eat.  We put him in a cage by himself, but took him out
often, wrapped in a towel, and held him.  He was just able to get to the
litter box by himself.  I struggled with the decision to have him helped
to The Bridge on Saturday, but he seemed not to be in pain, so I decided
to give him more precious time.
 
Sunday morning, we fed him with an eye dropper again.  He seemed to WANT
food, so we held the cup of chicken gravy up to him, and he ATE ON HIS OWN.
These little guys can FIGHT!!!  He even licked some Ferretvite from my
finger.  Put him back in the "hospital cage", and I noticed him drinking
from the water bottle a few minutes later.  He is alert, but VERY tired.
I am SO GLAD that I did not have him put down yet.  I look at him, and
tears come to my eyes.  Am I keeping him going for him, or for me?  When
is enough going to be enough for him?
 
For now, he is still with us.  But, I suspect, in a very short time, I will
have to do what is best for him, not for best for me.  I love him so much.
Letting him go will be very hard.
 
Cujo went on his own.  He decide when it was time to leave.  I want to give
Bandit the same choice.
 
Charlie, Aggie, Donna, Bandit, Snowball, Valentine
Missing Cujo
[Posted in FML issue 3108]