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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 21:15:16 GMT -5
I don't know what's wrong with my little girl! She has been eating, drinking, pooping/peeing, & playing like her "normal" self (What I was told by her previous owner & what I've observed since getting her) up until 7pm when I had her out puttering around.
All of a sudden tonight at 9:30 when I went to give her some more soup she is walking funny; her hind legs are all over the place. She is gagging, grinding her teeth, rubbing her face on the ground, she ate a little soup, but when I put her in her cage she was moving around frantically scratching the bottom of the cage, rubbing her face all over, kind of thrashing around.
I called the emergency vet, and they said to wait and take her to the exotic vet in the morning because none of the vets are familiar with ferrets. When I told her that she was obviously in a lot of discomfort they said all they could do would be to give her some pain meds (Meloxicam).
I don't know what to do, its a long time to wait for her to see the vet in the morning.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 21:38:52 GMT -5
How old is she? did u recently get her? What's she eating?
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 21:43:09 GMT -5
She is 7 years old, I've had her for about 2 weeks. She was eating Marshalls when I got her, but I switched her to a soup (chicken, freeze dried, salmon oil, and some kibble mush) to start transitioning her.
Her previous owner is avoiding me, so I'm assuming he knew she was sick and lied about it.
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 21:44:00 GMT -5
He said he would send me the vet records, but hasn't. I'm not so much gullible as I would've taken her no matter what. I would rather have a broken heart, than leave her with a jerk.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 22:00:56 GMT -5
Sounds like it could be insulinoma. Pawing at the mouth, hind leg weakness, does she stare into space or flat ferret, drool, lethargic? Drooling and pawing at the mouth along with hind leg weakness can be signs. Do u have a blood glucose monitor ( diabetic testing kit)? She needs to go to a vet ASAP. Can't mess around with insu. It's serious but very treatable. Charlie has it too and it's very common in ferrets. I've been treating him for about a year now and he's doing great for an old man of 10. If it's insu she will be put on prednisalone and sucralfate for her tummy would be a good idea as well. They can live long happy lives when properly managed.
Have you noticed any of these symptoms since you got her?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 22:11:25 GMT -5
I should also add that ferrets or my pets in general, always get sick at night, usually on a Sunday when no one is open or available. Most senior members here know A LOT about insu. Actually, collectively, they know more than ANY vet I've ever been to with regards to ferrets. No joke. It's a wonderful place for ferretents. Everyone is very friendly. I've actually taught my vet a thing or two about ferrets from all the knowledge I've learned here or just by owning ferrets. She's even coming around to a raw diet now that she sees how great they look!
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 22:22:21 GMT -5
The symptoms literally came on like a switch. At 7pm she was a hungry curious ferret, 9:30 she developed the above. She hasn't drooled, stared off, or flat ferreted. She has been on the lazier side since I got her (20-30 minutes up at a time). When I contacted her previous owner about buying her, he made sure to tell me a number of times that ferrets don't live long, and she has been really showing her age. Now I've contacted him several times, as he said he would send me vet records (he was moving when I picked her up), but I get no response. I don't understand, how hours ago she was having a blast in some dirty laundry of mine, dooked for the first time since I got her. I'm certain she hadn't eaten anything non-edible.
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Post by Heather on Jul 12, 2015 22:36:57 GMT -5
How is she now? Still unstable? What you describe appears to be nausea and the urge to vomit. She really needs to be seen by a vet but that being said, will she eat now if you feed her? It appears she may have a low BG which would cause her nausea as it gets low. I'm not saying that is what it is there are too many alternative issues that this is representative of. I would try and her to eat and continue to see she eats regularly. Take notes as to her stools and how long between meals and her reactions. These descriptions will help the vet diagnose what is wrong with her. It does indeed sound like her previous owner knew she was already sick ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 22:40:10 GMT -5
Well I wouldn't hold your breath about getting the vet records. That guy doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about ferrets can live 10+ years now. They are living longer than ever. In all honesty, ferrets get sick. It's not really a matter of if, it's a WHEN. They are prone to cancer and Insulinoma. All of which can be managed. Well she may not have insu. ferrets can crash all of the sudden and you may not have recognized the symptoms being a new ferretent. How could you? I didn't the first ferret I had with insu. Charlie did. He was fine and then had a seizure. i rubbed a small amount of Karo syrup on his gums and I rushed to the vet. He recovered quickly (like in a minute) and a BG test (like the ones ppl use for diabetes in humans) confirmed it. He's doing fine now that it's being managed properly. He's also now 10 How long between meals? Are you still feeding kibble along with soup or just soup? Are you using the recipe from the forum?
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Post by FireAngel on Jul 12, 2015 22:45:15 GMT -5
Can you get a. Look in her mouth? The grinding of her teeth and trying to rub her face/mouth on things make me think mouth pain of some sort, either a tooth infection of a sore in mouth maybe. Hopefully that is it and not insuloma. Either way she needs a vet. I'll tag Heather Sherry bitbyter unclejoe for you. edit- somehow cross posted. Silly life making me get up during a post!
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 22:46:16 GMT -5
I'm not really a new ferrent, she is my 7th furbabe, and all have been rescues (straight from the problem). Not only am I not holding my breath, I think he knew and lied about her health. I'm checking on her every hour right now, she refused to take any soup 10 minutes ago when I checked. The most I could get was her to lick some of the ferrivite that came with her.
Her pee was green, but it was on litter so I swapped it for a pee pad for better observation next time. Her poop was a small-ish, soft (but not runny) light brown.
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 22:48:38 GMT -5
The ER vet only offered pain meds because they don't know anything about ferrets. (Years ago she had to ask me what HR, resp, and temp should be). So we're SOL until tomorrow around noon when the ferret vet comes in at my vet.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 22:54:29 GMT -5
oh, great! I'm a rescuer too! My last 2 came to me via my vet. I can never say no a ferret in need which is also why I stay away from Craig's list. I'll bring them all home. Lol
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2015 22:57:06 GMT -5
The ER vet only offered pain meds because they don't know anything about ferrets. (Years ago she had to ask me what HR, resp, and temp should be). So we're SOL until tomorrow around noon when the ferret vet comes in at my vet. Been there.....not fun. However, I'm glad to hear they were honest about their lack of knowledge. My pet peeve is the know-it-all who know nothing.
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 12, 2015 23:01:15 GMT -5
I stay away from kijiji for the same reason! But situations like this make me feel so conflicted; taking her was the right decision, but its heart breaking.
My vet only admitted after charging me $400 for the exam, a subq, a tube of revolution, and a referral to another vet.
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