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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 3:56:38 GMT -5
Microchipping, has anyone got their fur ball chipped? Spoke to a vet who specilises in "exotic" pets. They looked after my mums pet ducks a few years back, so know of the vets. Also gave me full confidence on the phone unlike my local vet. It will cost £39, they will give Percy gas and air type anesthesia which will last long enough while they instert the mircochip. Without the anesthesia it will still cost £39. By sounds of it the anesthesia might be better for him, less painful. Percy had a funny cough type sneeze chocking moment on Sat eve, He did it twice within a short time of each other. Scared the h*ll out of me I can tell you! He seems to be ok since, not off his food, currently munching on a pigeon. That evening he also appeared to be itching a bit, I've not used any cleaning products near him or change anything in his environment. Percys Balls/scent gland, to chop or not to chop? Obviously he is only a kit still at 12 weeks old. But thinking ahead, how old is best to get this sorted and what method is the best? I've heard that there is an implant solution too.... The above mentioned vet mentioned this to me. The implant will cost £189 and last two years. I'm totally confused on this matter at the moment. Any advice would be gratefully received. And finally (for now) Just how big does he grow? last week he weighed 700g /1lb 9oz and was 28cm /11" long. yesterday as Sunday appears to be our measuring day, by pure chance not planned! yesterday he weighed 900g / 2lb and was 43cm / 17" long... His getting big too quick  I did try googling his size but there was 101 answers, I assume they are like people in that respect you get all sizes? I will say the length might me out a wee bit as you proberly know it's very hard to measure a ferret! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 5:06:09 GMT -5
Hi abster I too am in the UK but my Vets must be quite reasonable on their prices. I am in Suffolk. The vet I use charges the following. £40 per ferret for Canine Distemper - they only get one shot and will get a test done next year to see if they need it again or if they are immune if immune won't need them done for 3 years. Microchipping £20 per fert - they use the gas anaesthesia for light sedation too - they say the needle is quite big for the chip so it is more comfortable for the ferret. £46 per ferret for castration. I don't know about implants. I decided to rule that out and just get my boys the snip when they are about 7 months old before they come into season. Mine are 16 weeks old now and already have little testicles - I noticed them yesterday when was doing my weekly ear clean & health check on them  they are the size of large peanuts lol Yeah kits grow really quick I haven't weighed mine yet but I know they have grown and gotten heavier to carry read in one of my numerous ferret research Internet trips that kits do two thirds of their growing between 10-16 weeks so mine should be slowing down in their growth spurt now - maybe they will eat a bit less although since it is coming into Autumn no doubt they will bulk up for winter particularly cause mine live outside. There is quite a bit of info on the web about implants for castration and on this web site though I think more people use it as an adrenal treatment. I know from what I read about them on the web it can vary between individual ferrets how long the implant lasts. Some last even up to 3 years and some as little as one year. I think the choice of castrating or doing the implant every few years or doing the implant then castrating later is very much an individual choice - it is good that like me you like to do your research a head of time and make an informed decision on what you feel is best for your ferret I am sure there are some folks on here with plenty of knowledge about implants |
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Post by Sherry on Sept 1, 2014 9:25:55 GMT -5
No reputable vet will remove the anal glands. There is no reason to. If a vet is willing to do this when not medically necessary find another vet who is ethical.
Microchipping is a very good idea as if he gets out you have a better chance of getting him back.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 9:39:11 GMT -5
Yeah Sherry is right about the anal glands - its illegal in UK to get it done and in may parts of Europe. Would lovely if US made anal gland removal illegal too - just thinking of all those poor marshall's ferts makes me sad maybe one day. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 10:45:08 GMT -5
Wow thank you Ninjagoth, I wasn't aware removing of the anal glands was illegal in the UK, That is good to know. I must have read about that on a USA site... The vet I've spoken didn't mention anal glad removal. They are also in London so costs might be higher for the higher rent!
What is Distemper? I feel like I know nothing right now!
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Post by Heather on Sept 1, 2014 10:47:22 GMT -5
No ethical vet will remove anal glands over here either. Entirely unnecessary surgery, unless for medical reasons. Only the farms remove anal glands and they don't even use qualified vet  As far as micro-chipping, I've got all my UK crew done and my wee ones will be going in to get theirs in the next couple of weeks. It's just an added security. No anesthetic is necessary and I avoid it when the opportunity presents itself. My guys do not get anesthetic when they get their DES, the micro-chip needle is a bit smaller. As far as altering, if you have the opportunity to allow your guys a full season before doing the snip go for it it will be much better for him. I'm still fence sitting as far as using the DES for a chemical castration. I lost a lovely boy to adrenal after a late alter, he was 5 yrs. Now he didn't get adrenal until he was 10 yrs old and lived to be 11 but it broke my heart when I saw that he had developed adrenal disease. It just goes to show that after a late alter you've got about 5 or more yrs vs 2 or 3yrs on an earlier alter. The problem is (do a bit of research) that once you alter, the ferret does not stop seasoning, the adrenal gland takes over and it doesn't get the chemicals needed to turn his season off, the adrenal gland becomes overworked and thus the disease (simplistic explanation lol). Vet right now are stating the ultimate use of the DES is to surgically alter and then use the DES annually as a preventative. There you have it. There are no studies, other than the originals which were too short and had too few ferrets to do anything other than a cursory glance at the drugs capabilities. DES is not a new drug, it's been used for years in the horse racing circuit, dog shows and in zoos. It's just new to ferrets. I've heard enough bad to make me cautious. ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2014 11:06:31 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 12:42:15 GMT -5
Thank you, Percy is now all booked in for his distemper jab (£53) and mircochip (£39)
Poor thing has no idea whats going to happen tomorrow lunch time, he currently thinks the cat travel box I've borrow of mum is his new toy.... How very wrong!
Vet said he will get a once over while there, anything I should get the vet to look into? I will mention his cough, sneeze, choking sounding moment.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 16:15:21 GMT -5
Fingers crossed for Percy, and a big hug for the Good Boy! No one likes to visit the Doctor.
Definitely mention the cough and ask him to look at Percy's teeth. You would think that would be part of the normal checkup, but my last vet never looked and I realized it on the way home.
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Post by unclejoe on Sept 2, 2014 17:02:47 GMT -5
No worries. The microchip is about the size of a melatonin implant, and a decent vet can do it without pain. I can do melatonin implants myself and not get bit!
Stay at the vet for at least 45 minutes after the distemper vaccine in case there is a reaction.
And there is nothing like a hob poof when least expected. I'm so glad to have Jaffa just for the experience, and so I can tell others what to expect. It's nasty, but not as nasty as I expected before he came here. And it goes away.
Best wishes for you and Percy at the vet.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 11:53:31 GMT -5
I think the Vet visit went well. Vet showed me the size of the new and old style microchip, it's so tiny. He needs to go back in 3 weeks for the booster distemper jab.
Vet checked his teeth said they are a lovely white colour, checked him over his heartbeat etc. Vet asked what I feed him, and said he needs bones to help with the teeth cleaning etc. Also mentioned as they get older they don't eat as much.
Percy doesn't seem affect by the trip in the car, or the walk around town in the cat carrier... Peoples faces when they look in and didn't see a cat was priceless! His back to his old self of exploring and destroying!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 12:02:53 GMT -5
Forgot to add, I mentioned the cough sneeze choking noise moment, Vet asked if it had happened since how long lasted etc. As it's not happened since he said not to worry about it, it was more likely a feather dust or something stuck in his throat for that moment!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2014 17:41:02 GMT -5
I'm so glad that all went well. Give the little a big hug for being such a good boy.  |
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Post by Heather on Sept 3, 2014 22:43:19 GMT -5
Fantastic. Sounds like everything went well
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2014 17:15:02 GMT -5
Are ferrets sensitive to stinging nettles? While "walking" Percy today he went through some and did a funny flip flop jump thing... was as though the stingers stung him... I did try not to let him near them but he got there.. As you know walking a ferret is no easy feat, I end up carrying him more than he walks then when he does walk it's in the bushes or under some form of cover. Love people reactions when they see him, I get is that a ferret to what is that! Percy on a walk/carry and him covered in cider this morning. The little sod put a hole in the Box of cider I have which was out of his reach. I have no idea how he got to it, needless to say a bath was on the agenda!    |
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