A rescued older Jill - In season again and hair loss.

[Helen1990]

A huge increase in the cost of the Jill Jab which takes it off the list of options for my Jill. 

When she originally can to me as a foster (who I failed to return) she was frail and emaciated with a unknown history and a estimated age of around 5 Years old.  

During the three months prior to Sophie coming Into season she gained a substantial amount of weight, adjusted to life in a domestic home including three hobs and a doting human. Due to the lack of details there was no way of knowing if Sophie was spayed in a previous home. I decided against the Jill Jab and Spaying at a later date due to Sophie's perceived fragil nature, I went with the natural approach and had her put in with a vasectomised hob. Sophie appeared to be no stranger to matting, originally she was put in with a lovely hob the 2nd week of March, a few days before my hoilday to Europe. Whilst on hoilday Sophie was put in with the vasectomise hob again due to the original matting being unsuccessful. I should note that my four ferrets were staying at the rescue which Sophie was originally fostered from. Upon returning from hoilday and taking me four home all appeared to be going well, however less the three weeks later I noticed that Sophie appeared to be coming back into season, her vulva appearing to be increasing in size. 

Ove the weekend whilst contemplating what the next step would be with regards to Sophie's care, I was petting Sophie on my lap whilst she are some chicken and gently grooming her with my fingers (Sophie has a distinct dislike of pet combs and brushes but has learnt to trust me) I noticed that a substantial amount of hair was shedding, I had hoped Sophie's coat would significantly improve during the winter shed due to the state of her coat when she arrived which could only be described as tatty. However it didn't take long to notices that all of Sophie's hair was falling out on her back a very large patch from the base of her head to base of her spine, I was horrified the panic setting in, Sophie's skin also appeared flaky.  

A visit to the vets was imminent a) to get Sophie out of season b) look further into the significant hair loss either related to her increased time in season or a underline problem. 

My decision remains the same with regards to Sophie undergoing a operation, this is certainly not something I wish for her to undergo whilst being in season the Jill jab no longer a affordable option. I have therefore decided to have Sophie fitted with the implant tomorrow night. I am hoping this is the right choice for her, it seems to be the only option currently.

I would appreciate your thoughts on our situation. 

Thank you 

[Heather]

It would seem to be a logical choice to give your wee girlie an implant (I"m assuming a DES or Superlorin). I'm guessing that you do not have a v-hob or a close friend who might have a v-hob to put her with? We've had a couple of people use this and it's been successful at bringing their jills out. Is there any chance as odd as it might be that this wee girl is actually spaid and is adrenal (just something we deal with so much over here)
ciao

[Thérèse]

That was my instinctive reaction too (and I am in Aust, so more familiar with intact ferrets) that she is actually desexed and has adrenal desisease which is causing the symptoms of heat, as well as the hair loss.

Either way I think the implant would help her, but be aware it doesn't last as long at dealing with adrenal as it does for chemical desexing, so you may need to implant sooner if it is adrenal.

[crazylady]

Hi it could also be her body is confused if she has been mated to a vas hob ( and the full 6 weeks for a phantom pregnancy are not up ) her body may realise she hasnt been caught and she will come back in quickly meanwhile her body had already begun the shedding process to line the nest for her so called babies she thought she was expecting! if you dont plan on breeding her speying is a cheaper alternative to the des implant ( I am assuming your in the uk )its a one and only op ( unlike the des which will need to be given every so often ) or like the jill jab which can need to be used 3 times a year if the hairloss is due to her being confused then by speying her things will be righted if its due to adrenal you wont know for sure as the des will mask the symptoms good luck with your baby which ever route you decide take care bye for now
Bev

[Helen1990]

Hello all thank you for your kind responses I was getting myself in a bit of a panic.
Sophie has only been with me a few months - another foster ferret that I failed to return.

We had our appointment this afternoon after a lot of phone calls at the veterinary centre; the vet gave her a general check up no lumps and bumps were they shouldn't be, I had suspicions that even for a Albion her eyesight was very poor - she has a cataracts. Although he recommends spaying older Jill's he understood my reservations considering her unknown history, guessed age and eventful few months along side her recent poor condition; he agreed the implant was a good choice allowing me and Sophie additional time should with the option to neuter at the end of the year or early next year. Perhaps expensive in the long term but frankly I couldn't careless she has had a shoddy time of it, it's about time somebody gave a d*mn including spending a few more pounds at the vets.

So Sophie is a intact female - I think crazy lady was correct in her thoughts that the phantom pregnancy did not fool Sophie's body. It wasn't just a patch of hair it was all of her hair!! According to the vet, it isn't mites or adrenal - he has seen it happen before at this time of year. On a good note Sophie gums are nice and pink.

Sophie's whole body is covered in little white hairs, feels like velvet - when guys have there heads shaved.

I will tell you what specific implant she had, but I'm a lazy bean don't want to fetch the paper work.
I was pleased Sam was with her when she woke up.

Thanks - and yes I'm in the UK just outside London.

[Heather]

I'm glad that you've found a solution. I agree considering the circumstances surrounding this poor wee girlie the implant is the most plausible solution. I hope that you see quick improvements to her health. I'm sorry that the poor wee thing has cataracts....are they causing her pain at all?
ciao

[Helen1990]

Thank you, I was pleased to find a very knowledgable vet - I looked into pet insurance but settled on putting money aside each month.
Apparently ferrets are now classed in the UK as ' Exotic Animals' and therefore a general consultation is around £42 ($65), I discussed it with my mum and agree i felt like we were in safe hands with a knowledgable ferret vet, we don't need to go often so I'm going to consider trying to take the ferret to the vet centre in future. Although our current money pot is empty.
What are your thoughts on the costing and exotic pet status?
I love my four dearly but well they are no python!

I suspected that her eye sight was very poor, she appears to compensate with her nose and was very untrusting of touch but she appears to now recognise my smell and is comfortable to be held by me on her terms. She has a little trouble navigating there enclosure I currently keep her nails a little longer as she uses them to climb into there house; there is two hammocks and a stall 'platform' but I don't think she is always aware of there proximity. I am considering buying a small interior hutch by the hutch company maybe 3-4ft and drilling circle doors, to create a downstairs nest box and a enclosed area with a bowl which doesn't fit out the ferret entrances so she always knows we're the food is (a smaller extra bowl)

But apart from that Sophie doesn't seem in pain.

I have had to find a interesting way of grooming her, she dislikes brushes and combs. Her fur comes out in clumps, so I having been giving her a nice food treat and then 'plucking' out the lose fur, with practically know teasing it comes out. I figure it is better i assist removing as much of the fur as possible to ease the itching, and to stop the fur coming out in patches or being consumed by the boys who like to groom her.

She looks very odd at the moment - my poor little ghost ferret.

The vet said 7-10 days before there is a significant effect, 3 days for the implant to reach its full strength.

[Sherry]

Ferrets have always been classed as exotics here. I pay about $65 for a visit, plus whatever is done. And I also pluck during shedding season Glad you've found a good vet. These guys really do need them.

[Heather]

I've had to pluck my one hob. His coat came out by the handfuls when he shed, the brush just couldn't handle it. Ferrets over here as Sherry mentioned have always been classified as exotics and more often than not we pay exotic prices too * I'm so glad that you've found a good vet. They're worth their weight in gold. I'm sure the more you handle her the more comfortable she will become. She's a lucky wee girlie to have found a forever home with you
ciao

[Thérèse]

Glad you found a good vet who could give you some answers. Also glad Sophie has now found a good forever home with a loving ferrent