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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 15:05:24 GMT -5
I've seen videos of ferrets able to climb out of these? Is it really that escape proof? I was thinking of getting one that is lower and has a roof, something like this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rabbit-enclosure-run-pet-cage-guinea-runs-enclosure-cage-playpen-hutch-hutches-/141467857314?_trksid=p2054897.l4275Then I could still hang hammocks which should keep Korra happy. Now they are getting along better I don't really want to split them up again if I don't have to. The biggest thing at the moment is cost, while the ferrets are insured I don't know exactly what they will and won't cover. I'm still waiting to hear if they are going to cover Bolin's surgery and if they refuse to cover that and maybe even this then I'm not going to have £100 to spend on a playpen that he still might be able to climb. Hope I don't sound harsh, I don't mean to be. I'm not that well at the moment and can't think properly. All I know is I'm worried about Mako and want what is best without spending loads of money that I might have to use for any tests or treatments he needs. I really do appreciate all your help and advice. It means the world to me that I have somewhere to come and share my craziness about my fuzzy babies.
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Post by crazylady on Mar 31, 2015 14:39:36 GMT -5
Hi Redsky I would take him into the vet your vet should be able to take blood to rule out insulinoma but neurological problems also need to be looked at don't worry yourself things like this can be treated he may simply need to be put on steroids to reduce swelling good luck and let us know how he is take care bye for now Bev
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Post by RedSky on Apr 8, 2015 7:43:22 GMT -5
So anti-inflammatories haven't made a difference, went back again (with all 3 ferrets and a hamster) and the vet wants to do x-rays. I've asked her to do a full blood work up too, and to put in a microchip while he's under. She has said before she would only want to do it while they are under anesthetic and I don't want to push it since it's not really vital. Wish I would have had Bolin done but I was in that much of a state because of how ill he was. Mako is still eating fine, running around like a loon, war dancing, toileting fine with the exception of last nights explosion which went all over me and the kitchen floor, probably too much salmon oil and the stress of the vet visit. So I'm more worried about the outcome long term and the anesthetic itself than short term.
Might as well update on the other two while I'm here, Bolin just had a stitch hanging out. Came out fine and he didn't bat an eyelid. Put me to shame when I had a stitch that needed pulling out. Korra has a little lump near her anus. It had grown a little so I was starting to worry. Vet gave same diagnosis to her as my hamster. Could just be a spot or a sore, because of position is getting worse. Some cream to apply twice a day. If it doesn't heal with that in 2 weeks she will try something else, worse case she will need a biopsy and it 'could' be cancer. If it gets any worse in the mean time, obviously go back asap. If needed of course Korra will have the biopsy, and any treatment she can have. As for my hamster, due to her small size and age the vet and I agreed that she most likely wouldn't survive the biopsy and if it is cancer it will spread really quickly so we will know soon. She's been poorly on and off for over 18 months, had biopsies before for other things and various treatments. It's not a case of not wanting her to get better but being reasonable about what we should put her though at this point in her life. At the moment she is her usual self. Fingers crosses it's nothing serious for all of them.
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Post by acodlin on Apr 8, 2015 10:02:56 GMT -5
Korras lump could be an infected anal gland. I'm sorry about your hamster Doesn't matter how big or small they are, they take a piece of our heart with them when they go.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 8, 2015 10:16:26 GMT -5
It's right on the surface, rather than looking like a lump from further down if that makes any sense. I did think anal gland or scent gland but it just doesn't look right. I'm keeping a close eye on it, much to Korra's dislike of being handled.
Thanks, it's nice to know that people can understand that all animals have an impact and should be treated with care, compassion and respect. My family have recommended that the cheapest 'treatment' would be to toss her in with my snake. Her and her two sisters have cost me an arm and a leg over the years, bad breeding I guess. All with different things though.
My OH and I joke about our bad luck with our pets, we actually thought getting three healthy adult ferrets that had been at the rescue for so long would mean we shouldn't have as many problems, at least for a while. I guess not.
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Post by acodlin on Apr 8, 2015 10:35:08 GMT -5
Ferrets are little money sucking machines lol When they get sick it is expensive.. I know I've spent thousands trying to save some of them. Sometimes I win for a while, but eventually there isn't anything left you can do. I'm getting better at accepting that. It's really hard though
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Post by RedSky on Apr 8, 2015 10:46:25 GMT -5
I'm hoping we are a long way off not being able to fight with these three fuzzbutts. I can't believe how quickly I fell in love with each of them. Although I'd lie if I didn't say it took longer with Korra.
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Post by crazylady on Apr 8, 2015 11:59:05 GMT -5
Its hard when problems hit try a warm compress on her rear end if its a spot it will draw it to the surface its better out than in and the warmth will give her a bit of relief I don't understand why she has to put them under to put in a chip or take x rays ? I have had god knows how many chipped simply by holding them ( teeth facing my way away from the vet lol )how long did she have him on anti inflammitories ? normally it takes 10-14 days before you see real results good luck with your baby take care bye for now Bev
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Post by RedSky on Apr 8, 2015 16:21:40 GMT -5
He was taking anti-inflammatories daily for over 2 weeks. Didn't make a difference to how he walked at all.
I don't think fully knock them out to be honest, just a bit of gas so he will stay still. I will ask in the morning. Mako went to the toilet on my yesterday, he was in a deep sleep in the cage when my OH got him out for a cuddle, my OH brought him downstairs to show me. Still fast asleep. He woke up and I took him off my OH to give him a kiss and as I lifted he just went. He's just done a similar thing now, I only picked him up as I noticed he was dashing to the puppy pads but not doing anything. I picked him up to feel his abdomen and before I could feel anything he just sort of exploded again. Glad he's going in in the morning, I'd be taking him anyway.
I'll try the warm compress on Korra, she has a black head slightly higher up too so should help with both.
Thanks for the advice.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 9, 2015 13:21:39 GMT -5
Mako is very glad to be back home, I let him out at the top of the stairs and he ran straight to the door where their cage is. I let him through and he and Bolin ran to greet each other, then went and curled up in a blanket in our bedroom. Korra greeted him with a good ear clean, which neither of the boys enjoy.
Hopefully we will get some results soon.
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Post by acodlin on Apr 9, 2015 21:47:55 GMT -5
Fingers crossed it isn't serious
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Post by RedSky on Apr 10, 2015 16:12:35 GMT -5
All blood tests have come back normal. Our usual small animal vet wanted to take another look and also let her partner have a look. They both see something wrong with his right knee, looks like a loose bone fragment. But she's not convinced that's the only problem. She said their could be a problem with his pelvis, she isn't exactly sure if it's actually something wrong or just a ferrety thing, said she hasn't seen it before but they don't x-ray that many ferrets so is going to send it out to a 2 specialists. A ferret specialist and an orthopedic to get their opinions before going any further, we have to call tomorrow to get some more cat Metacam to give him in the mean time as the knee will be causing pain. I asked if we can treat him as normal with playtimes and his cage and she said for now to continue as normal.
Thanks for the support, I'll update again when I know more.
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Post by RedSky on Apr 13, 2015 8:23:17 GMT -5
Vet has just called back. The specialists have agreed that the problem with his knee doesn't fit the symptoms (how he's walking). The current diagnosis is that it's most likely a trauma to his back and since the nonsteroidal treatment has done nothing, he's to start steroids tomorrow. He's got an appointment in the morning for an injection, then will have tablets to take at home. He's also to be on complete cage rest (on one level) and to be housed alone for approx a week, with minimal handling so he can completely rest. Not sure how well he is going to take that. He will hate being away from Mako and will hate not being able to come out for the usual 6 hours a day.
She has said that whatever the trauma was it could have done permanent damage to his spine/nerves and he could always be like this. The only sign of pain he shows is that he rolls over and mouths when I touch his lower back, still not 100% that it's not just play as he doesn't move away, make any noise or bite harder than his usual play bite (he bites harder when he's getting giddy in a box). Other than that and walking funny he's great, runs around, plays with Bolin, eats, drinks, toilets fine. So if it is permanent I don't think it will affect his quality of life too much. I also think it was most likely caused by a fall in their cage, can't think what else it would of been, not that the cause matters too much.
Opps forgot to add, the vet doesn't want to go anything with his knee just get, she wants to try fix his back first.
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Post by bitbyter on Apr 13, 2015 9:04:56 GMT -5
Can you post a video to show what his walking looks like?
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Post by RedSky on Apr 13, 2015 10:49:20 GMT -5
I can have a go... Never done this before so bare with me. I've got a video from the day he was completely dragging, it's pretty short and dark and totally wrong angle so it doesn't look right but hopefully people can figure it out. I'll go see what he's up to and video him as he is now too. The more active he is the worse it gets, but after a nap he's back to crawling.
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