latest addition to the ferret first aid kit

[msav]

After Hammie's passing. I decided to discuss with my vet about having Subcutaneous fluids available in case of emergencies. 

Everything in the pic costed me about $22 and can save your ferrets life in an emergency situation.  I would suggest everyone who has ferrets discuss with their vet and have their vet instruct them how to administer it.  For this little cost it will be well worth it, even if you have to replace the fluids every year when they expire.



I procrastinated doing this and it cost me the life (if at least more time with him) of Hammie.  

It seems like every time a ferret gets sick they get dehydrated, and this can get them hydrated and buy you time to get to the see your vet without having to see a non ferret emergency vet.  The last time I took Hammie to see the emergency vet they charged my over $180.00 just to give Subcutaneous fluids. 

[bitbyter]

Where did you buy it all from?

[msav]

I got it all from my vet.

I explained that with 5 other ferrets at home I would like to have it on hand He agreed.

however,

The only thing you need a script for is the actual fluids. any pharmacy should have it and it is generally about $9 a bag. All the other stuff you can order online without a script.

[Sherry]

It really is a good idea.

[Heather]

I always have one on hand. It's a must in your first aid kit. I got mine from my vet as well as a instructional on how to do it. Dehydration is one of the biggest killers of our ferrets as it often will stop them from eating and if ignored long enough will send them into shock. Having this on hand can mean you can actually make an emergency appointment with your vet instead of having to rush to an ER clinic and make use of unknown vets (often this is all they will do anyway)
ciao

[nancyl]

Back in 2005 I had an elderly dog with chronic renal failure who had to have 400 to 500 ml of fluid every couple of days. She had a couple of good veins on her legs I could use so I didn't have to sub-q her. (That's always been the cats or the ferrets.) At that time I found a pharmacy "somewhere" that would ship LR without a prescription. (I don't remember where I got it. I got the name from someone on another ferret board.) I bought it by the case, along with an infusion set per bag, for less than my vet charged for one bag and one infusion set. That included shipping. Now, it requires a prescription but it might prove to be cheaper to buy the fluids from a pharmacy and the infusion sets online. Walgreen's can order the fluid by the case (12 bags) but it takes a little research to find the procedure for all the hoops to jump through.

It's probably not worth it for possible use in a ferret but if anyone ever has to keep a dog with CRF going it's well worth looking into.