This past Friday my 6 year adrenal/insulinoma/lymphoma girl died in my
arms at 8:22 pm. Mitzi had been adrenal most of her life, having come
to me that way. When she arrived, she was in a small dog crate, 2/3
of which was litterbox and she was being eaten alive by fleas. Due to
abuse and neglect, her growth was stunted and she weighed only a pound
for several years - an adult ferret in miniature. She had a lot of fur
loss from all the stress, but no other signs or symptoms that would
indicate adrenal issues. After her fur grew back, a year later other
symptoms showed up and to the vet we went. He misdiagnosed her as
needing neutered, and being relatively new to ferrets (the only other I
had was a big male), I believed him. Finding her already neutered once
in, he decided it was an infected uterine stump. I don't know whether
it was her size, her past or poor vet advice, but Mitzi did not take
trauma well. She curled up in a corner and tried to die. I hand fed her
round the clock for 3 weeks. Finally, she began to come out of it and
the symptoms returned. The vet informed me, after consulting a book,
what I already knew - she was adrenal. Unfortunately he did now do that
surgery and referred me to a vet 100 miles away, who was to call me to
set things up. She never did.

About that time, a wonderful article came out in Ferret Magazine about
melatonin. My only option was oral dosage and fortunately it worked
like a charm. Four more healthy, happy years down the road and 4 three
more ferrets rescued, Mitzi began showing signs of insulinoma. Shortly
after, signs of lymphoma. A new, and better informed vet, began
treating her for insulinoma. The lymphoma we could do nothing about
because Mitzi was a poor candidate for surgery. So, we did what we
could and I proceeded to try to make her life as happy and comfortable
as possible. Due to end stage adrenal and pred, her little belly grew
to the point that she weighed 3 pounds. Even a very specialized diet
didn't help much. She began to decline - her little frame was just
never meant to carry that much weight. Between the vet and I, we did
the best we could by her. Since she was experiencing no obvious pain
(she was very good about letting me know), it was decided to let her
go on her own terms. I kept her near me at all times the last week,
syringe feeding her when she quit eating and drinking. She was asleep
when she went and I held her close, crying as I said goodbye.

Mitzi was always the gentlest, most mild of ferrets. She never offered
to bite, not even in play. She had to learn how to be a ferret after
she came to me. The first time she danced, it was wonderful. She would
hold her nose up to me for kisses when in my arms. In play, she would
pin the boys down and make them scream, even though she was 1/2 their
size. I suspect they were letting her win. She could and did make
Florrie scream by grooming the Princess's ears. She "mothered" them
all. I miss her very, very much. She will be looking for Diggit,
Florrie and Boink.

[Posted in FML 5795]