They said it was a 14gauge needle... Looked bigger than that to me. I heard the skin *pop* when they put it in, it really made me queasy. They used the glue.
Here is a video showing the implant already in one of my ferrets. You can see it under her skin. You can also see it's not bothering her that I'm messing with it, even though it's only a few days after getting the implant.
My guys for the most part didn't mind. There is no need for sedation and my vet used glue to make sure it didn't pop out before the skin healed over. Lady Pooka gave us a real earful mind you. Tried to bite both of us, but she soon was her snuggly self. Lady "B" took it in stride, same as Capt. Jack. Lady Sprite wasn't real happy but was giving kisses after the glue was applied. So, no lasting damage no anesthetic. ciao
Post by miamiferret2 on May 6, 2011 7:27:53 GMT -5
Summary of email from peptech this morning (they make the des implant): they are in backorder and hoping to have more product available within the next 2-3 months (but hard to give a more accurate time frame) and they are doing everything to minimise the delay.
As far as the cost goes, the vet is giving us a shelter discount since we hospice, so that reduced the price enormously per ferret.
She said she does give them a bit of gas to lightly put them under, she feels it's more humane that way as the needle is bigger.
2-3 months backorder! Yikes. Well, I guess we'll at least know if it's working with these 2 by then, so we'll know whether or not to continue on with it for the others. I'm not as concerned with hair regrowth, but should know if it's working by their behavior.
We have to remember that ferrets have thick skin. The sensitivity of their skin is NOT the same as a human's. Think about how hard they bite one another in play; if you've ever gotten your hand in the middle of two playing ferrets, it can certainly hurt you or even draw blood whereas it doesn't even phase the other ferret. One vet tech told me it was like having a coke can shoved into a person's skin. That's really an unfair comparison. Different critters have different skin sensitivities, and risks associated with sedative can outweigh what is really a problem with PEOPLE grasping how it affects the ferrets. Meaning it's a mental thing, us thinking that a needle that big must be awful, when really it is not. It's not inhumane or cheap to waive the sedative, since really it's not necessary.
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
The vet visit went well, and both Mr Man and Crichton got implanted. The needle was huge, btw, I am glad she put them out for a few minutes while she did it. Surgical glue was used on the entrance wound.
I took "before" pics, and will start keeping records.
This was our first visit to this vet, and she is very ferret knowledgeable and has been practicing for years. She put us on their list for hospicing ferrets if the need arises from any of their clients.
Oh, and... RE: they feel things differently... If you cut their nails too short, they hurt If you accidentally step on a toe, they hurt Playing rough and scratching, okay, but puncture the skin, it hurts Drive a "nail" in their back, it hurts...
For comparison, insulin needle VS deslorelin implant needle:
Post by miamiferret2 on May 8, 2011 19:37:30 GMT -5
I think it depends on the ferret too. Sonny didn't make a peep. It didn't phase him one bit when he was implanted w/ deslorelin. Lemmy screamed and afterward took off running like a bat out of h*ll (the vet comes to our house).
Last Edit: May 8, 2011 19:55:33 GMT -5 by miamiferret2
I think if I ever have the chance to have our guys done, Zeus is going to have to be put out. He whimpers and fights over the lupron shot every month He saw a pen in the tech's hand one time after his shot, and he almost backpedaled off the table with his little eyes popping while staring at the pen ;D The girls both took their shots like little champs. Same with Sinnead's melatonin implant.
Ferrets: Contessa Kitties: Watson, Oskar DIP Sinnead, Vincent, Boris, Zeus and Athena, Willow, Mr. Frodo, Indie, Lucrezia, Judge, Odin, Miss Emily, Suki, Cody, Aristotle, Butterscotch, Frankenfurter. RIP Herne, Ligeia, and Mr. Stubbs
Of course they feel pain. I didn't say they don't feel any pain, that's not what I said at all. I said they have different sensitivities. Weez, the way you put it makes me sound cruel like I don't care if they hurt
I said their skin is different than ours. ALL creatures have different makeups as far as nerve placement and concentration. For example, you know on your body that you can feel much more in your fingertips than on your forearm. Levels of sensitivity come in to play there. Not that you can't feel pain, but you will have different tolerance levels. All critters are different. Birds have almost no feeling in their skin except right around where the feather is rooted.
Treatment options are personal and elective, we all have to choose what we think is best so its important to be informed. It's ok not to make the same choice as the next person, so long as the animal isn't being harmed or suffering. But I just want to make it clear that I did NOT say they can't feel pain, not at all.
It's only been a week and a half, so it's a bit too early for any updates... although Mr Man has been a bit on the perky side this week and seems to have more energy (which is a good/bad thing if you know Mr Man). ;D
I wanted to update to say that with the previous discussion on the implants being delayed... the vet ordered some the same day we were there with Mr Man and Crichton and she received her order of 6 implants today. So that wasn't much of a delay at all.
We're going to wait before implanting any others to see what results we get. I just don't want all the re-implants to come due around the same time.
Post by miamiferret2 on May 18, 2011 13:13:28 GMT -5
oh wow. really? which implant did your vet order? suprelorin? the sales rep from pepetch emailed me on May 5 and advised that they were on backorder and would be available within the next 2-3 months? i just emailed her again
Post by miamiferret2 on May 18, 2011 13:14:51 GMT -5
it doesn't affect me personally bc sonny is not adrenal and he's due for another implant in january but i spoke with my vet and another ferret vet here and they are both waiting on their implants for their sick adrenal ferrets. poor little adrenal ferrets.