Hello all,
 
I seldom post, but have been part of the FML for several years, every
since I became addicted to ferrets :-)
 
It's been a tough week....
 
All six of the wee beasties to the vet Wednesday for yearly checkup and
vaccinations.  Two are now scheduled for adrenal surgury next Thursday.
All behaved very nicely except Jersey, who wanted to chew on Dr. Ross's
stethescope, and Ragamuffin, who peed on the vet tech!  Paid our bill,
headed for home.  45 minutes later, my smallest sable girl, Frolic,
begins to show signs of reaction to the vaccinations.  The liquid
benadryl is nowhere to be found.  She's becoming shocky, and hemmorhaging
from the rectum.  Found human-size benadryl capsule, telling my baby to
hold on as we wait for the vet to call back.  Crush the tablet, mix it
with water and get some into her, then drive like a mad woman to the
vet's office with Frolic held to my chest as I plead with her to hang
on.  Slow heartbeat, shallow respirations - 10 minutes into the drive she
starts to pick up as the benadryl kicks in.  At the vets - epinephrine,
more benadryl, warm packs and sub-q fluids.  She rests overnight in
ferret critical care.  Home now, acting as if it never happened.  I
thought it would never happen to my ferrets.... how fortunate I was not
to lose her.
 
Have the first-aid kit uo-to-date, stocked and where you can find it!!!!!
 
Now, for the real heartbreak... Ragamuffin, my oldest, dealing with
adrenal and gastric ulcers.  He was scheduled for surgery Thursday, but
in his ferrety wisdom, he had a different agenda.  His quality of life
had seriously declined over the past two weeks.  He fought the medicine,
wanting only to be left in peace.  He quit eating and drinking Friday.  I
spent much of Friday night telling him of the Rainbow Bridge, and held
him and loved him.  Saturday morning, I lay on the couch with him resting
on my chest.  Again and again I told him it was ok to go, as I held him
and stroked him.  His breathing slowed, became shallower, his body cooler
to the touch.  Finally, an out breath.... and he slipped away.
 
This guy was a "throw away".  When I took him in as a rescue, he had no
idea how to be a ferret.  Over time, my crew taught him to dance and
dook, and he became the instigater of wardancing mayhem.  Muffin man was
a weezil designed by a committee!  He was the longest, leanest ferret
I've ever seen, with a silly, almost homely face.  A sable, he had an
irregular white bib, and white knee patches - he was so goofy looking -
and for me, it was love at first sight.  I've been blessed to have him
in my life, and being able to stay present with him as he crossed the
bridge, gently, in no pain, was an incredible gift.
 
Sandee, please look for him and show him where the pond is with the
fountain in it so he can snorkel in it and bob for goldfish.  Make sure
he meets up with his old friend Kirby the Wonder Cat, and as a favor for
a friend, make sure he connects with Rosie the Ridgeback.
 
I do not understand why the creator gave them such short lifespans...
love them while you have them.  Kiss your babies and hold them close.
 
Missing our Raggedy Muffin man -
 
Peg, Doppler the Bengal cat (Muffin's best friend), Freckles, Frolic,
Jersey, Snickers (who licked my tears away) and Smudge
[Posted in FML issue 3864]