Zoo wrote:
>One of the worst feelings in the world, is having to trust an emergency
>vet to euthanize your ferret. It seems like the *hit always hits the
>fan after hours! Most emergency vets are basic cat & dog people--and
>are not comfortable with ferret anatomy. <snip>
>It`s traumatic, saying goodbye to the most cherished little treasure in
>the world. It doesn`t matter whether you`ve had this one since it was a
>tiny kit, or whether you have opened your heart to a bald old gentleman.
>Saying goodbye hurts. We need to make it the best we can for them. Iso
>first!
>
>Love, Zoo
>www.zoosferretsanctuary.com
Oh, Cathy, this is so true! I had to take Baby Girl in on Friday night.
(Baby and her cagemates came to me last July when the apt. mgr. found
out her owners had several pets. They were 8, 6 and 4 years old. The
oldest died in March and Baby follows Pigglet.) I ended up at an
emergency and specialty clinic Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in
Rhode Island. I had done all the things I was supposed to do to make
sure that my ferrets would get emergency care when needed. And, it
just was not there when I did (long story). So, Baby and I ended up at a
*new* place Friday night.
The young vet was wonderful -- he didn"t know if I was going to freak,
fall apart or assault him, I know. The staff was great. When I walked
in they asked what was wrong. I said, *I have a ferret in respiratory
distress.* They called for a vet tech STAT (that's yesterday for you
non-medical types) and whisked her away to stabilize her. They
understood my reluctance to let her out of my sight. When they vet came
out, he told me he had done an ultrasound but was not going to charge
me for it because he thought she might have an abdominal mass. I knew
her time was short, just didnt realize it would be so quick and late at
night.
The vet said he had a vet tech who thought she could get a catheter in
the vein on the first try. She did. I was adamant that if it took more
than one try we were going to gas her and knock her out before anything
else was done. She was not going to suffer any more than necessary these
last few moments of life. These *new* people had to know that! She did
not.
They were so wonderful. After, they removed the catheter and placed her
in a box. She had flowers taped to the top very tastefully done. They
gave me a grief book with Rainbow Bridge, Love Me Enough to Let Me Go
poem, grieving process info and worksheets for children who lose pets.
And, they hugged me.
If you live in Rhode Island, or nearby, the place is Ocean State
Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich. (http://www.osvs.net/)
They have a vet who is board certified in exotics there on Thursdays.
By the way, we drove a long way to see Dr. Karen Purcell the next day.
She endorsed this place whole-heartedly.
renee :)
Ferret Aid 2006
June 23 - 25, 2006
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
International Ferret Congress
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 4887]
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