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Post by libbyw on Aug 4, 2018 14:24:47 GMT -5
So I'm libbyw. I can't log in because I've been gone forever. I really wanted to talk to other ferrents.It has been a terrible year.
To start it off the vet we had suddenly closed shop and vanished it has abeen a fight and a half for any of her clients to get records or anything. So much so in fact that as soon as I found a new vet (been through 2 since) they new right away who the vet was when I said I couldn't obtain records. I believe 3rd time might be a charm. I am quite impressed with the vet I am now seeing. I've seen her a lot these past couple weeks between ferrets and dogs I am exhausted and strained.
LilMomma died in feb we have no idea what happened to her spine but she was in so much pain we had to let her go that vet couldn't help us any other way. It was the emergency vet and they had no exotics vet. I couldn't let her suffer.
Lilly died june 21 this year. She started having bloody poops, I made an appointment with the vet and right before leaving I saw she had a mess and while I was wiping her bum she had a seizure and died. Lilly (lillybug) was abused when I got her and it took 2 years before I could finally hold her without her grinding down on my hand and the past couple years she has been my absolute love. No one else could hold her but I was most definitely her human. I still can't talk about her without bawling.
Cece, my 12 year old ferret died 5 days later on the 26th. I'm sad but with him it was different, he had a lovely and long life and I was so happy to give him that though I do so miss his snuggles. The past 6 months every evening he was on my lap or in my carry bag while I was cleaning.
Yesterday I just got back from the vet with Fuzzfuzz for the second time in a week. The first time it was just for refills of his meds for his ibd while we were there the vet commented how squishy his bell6y was but said for now lets get the ibd soothed back down and set up an appointment for 2 weeks, we didn't make it 2 weeks because I noticed his breathing suddenly has gotten funny, like rapid and heavy. I thought maybe he was in pain and brought him to the vet got xrays and such. She told us that he has what is likely to be cancer on his right kidney but that the biggest issue is that he has heart failure. There is a chance that all along when he was being treated for ibd it may have been masking that the blood could have been from this (at least that is what I understood her to say) and that generally when the symptoms show t like this it is late stage. His squishy belly is because he is filled with fluid, belly lungs and such. Wew have started him for now open lasix 2 times a day. Monday we go back she called this morning to tell me she wants to start him on steroids but my phone was in the car and when I got it they were closed so the message said to come anytime monday. Today he wanted to be running around the house, he doesn't have the energy though I set him down he takes a few steps then has to rest.
Once he is gone we will be down to 5 ferrets and I don't think I can do it anymore.
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 4, 2018 15:25:39 GMT -5
Hi Libby. I'm sorry for all of your heartache. DIP. It's the price we pay... That's a great love story about Lily. We can't even dream of having a ferret 12 years. Our oldest was 9, and was a mess but she never gave up. Once upon a time, Dar24 and I lost 4 in a year. Having had ferrets since 2006, we've lost 1 every 6 months on average, and only once went a whole year without a loss. Once we lost 4 in 8 months. I know how you feel. We now have 4 that are 6 years old, and our average lifespan has been 6-7. We have 3 youngsters at 2, and when they are gone we may be done, too. Losing Scamp will do me in.
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Post by libbyw on Aug 4, 2018 16:14:11 GMT -5
I remember you from before Unclejoe.
I cannot imagine losing one every 6 months until this year. Now it feels like everytime I turn around I'm saying goodbye to another. I'm down to 2 very small groups now though waffles and Fuzzfuzz had been staying out with both groups. Peanut and Beasley haven't integrated with Butters and Stewie yet. Of course now I'm keeping Fuzzfuzz away from the Stewcrew because they are too rambunctious for him. Fuzz and Peanut are the last of my originals. The house is starting to look morbid with all these tiny urns.
I am grateful for all the joy they have brought me I just wish I wasn't being left with all these tiny holes in my heart. I knew that people here would understand the pain of it.
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bandit
New member
Lover of ferrets for over 27 years. Have owned 11 ferrets in my life.
Posts: 76
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Post by bandit on Aug 4, 2018 17:56:24 GMT -5
I am sorry for your heart break and loss. You love every one of your ferrets in such a unique way, that saying goodbye is so hard no matter how many times you've been through it. My first ferret Snuggles lived 11 years. I've not heard of many ferrets living that long. Prayers for comfort. I hope your remaining ferrets will bring you many years of happiness and memories. Hugs.
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Post by libbyw on Aug 5, 2018 7:45:38 GMT -5
Thank you both for the replies. I was feeling really guilty over my decision to not have ferrets after the rest are no longer with me.
Fuzzfuzz is my oldest at this point now that Cece is gone, Peanut is 5, Waffles will be 5 in September, Beasley will be 5 in November and Butters and Stewie just turned 2 this past Feb. I know it would be cruel of me to want fuzzfuzz in his current state to hold on much longer. I am hoping he will get some relief with the steroids. Last Night he seemed a little worse rather than better. As of his meds last night he had been on the lasix a full 24 hours. The vet had expected some improvement to show after 12 hours. I have no experience with heart failure in ferrets though perhaps we were being optimistic expecting fast improvement? Have any of you used this medication?
After he is gone , I mean already with all the loss this year the ferret room feels so empty and the 2 individual groups are so small now. If I could integrate them maybe it wouldn't feel so d*mn sad in there. Without Fuzz there will only be 2 tiny groups of 3
Waffles goes with both groups. I don't think waffles had been diagnosed last I was here. The vet says he is nearly blind and while he appears to be "special" he is my only ferret that is 100% litter trained. On a good one day when I saw him getting ready to squat I pointed to his litter box and said "You better get in that potty box!" and he did and ever since no matter how far he is from it he runs to a potty box to do his biz. He amazes me.
Beasley has lost all her mates since she is the last girl but her and Peanut finally (after 3 years of trying) got integrated and are now inseparable. Though since I moved the Stewcrew into the ferret room she have been stressed.
I'd love to get Butters and Stewie integrated but Stewie vocalizes inappropriately because he is completely deaf and whenever he starts screaming butters will come running and beat up Beasley or Peanut (whoever is nearest to Stewie) .
Then I think about those of you that have done this for decades and I can't imagine how you do it. I'm still reeling from the loss of nibs when that cage door fell on him. and that was years ago now. I just don't know
I hope the others will have years yet and I hope I'll be able to find a way make them happy years
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bandit
New member
Lover of ferrets for over 27 years. Have owned 11 ferrets in my life.
Posts: 76
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Post by bandit on Aug 5, 2018 9:56:49 GMT -5
Hershey my ferret had heart, liver and kidney failure. She lasted a week after her diagnosis. By the end of the week she no longer wanted to eat, nor drink. She just laid there and gazed. We decided we didn't want her to suffer anymore, so we put her to sleep. I was a teenager at the time, and I stood with her and sang her to sleep. It broke me, and I had a very hard time getting over it. That was in 1998. I have had 8 ferrets since. I keep telling myself no more when my babies pass, but I would miss their mischievous play, their kisses, sleeping on my lap, and their cute ferrety smell. My current three Zoey, Bailey and Kodiak bring me much joy, even though at 41 it is hard to take care of them being married, having two boys.
Your ferrets were loved, had great memories with you. You'll continue to have these things with your current ferrets. I'm sorry your going through this, I pray it will get better.
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Post by Thérèse on Aug 5, 2018 14:19:35 GMT -5
Oh Libby, it has been a traumatic year for you. Ferrets can break your heart and to have several cross to the bridge in quick succession can make you question the wisdom of being a ferrent.
You, your ferrets who have left and those still with you are in my thoughts.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 6, 2018 9:23:16 GMT -5
I've had that type of year before And I know what you mean. Ferrets really are little heartbreak kids. We are down to four. When they are gone I think I am taking a break before getting another. And then it will be one at a time, and that's it.
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Post by libbyw on Aug 6, 2018 20:24:42 GMT -5
We went to the vet again today. No improvement over the weekend I feel like he has declined a bit. To me his belly is even bigger than friday though I could just be more focused on it now. So we added in the steroids and he will be on that 2x a day for 4 days then once a day for 4 then every other day for 4. She said I could see change as early as tomorrow.
We had a nice long cuddle this evening. He is such a sweety. I don't think he is done trying to get better.
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Post by tinytime17 on Aug 14, 2018 14:43:25 GMT -5
Hey Libby,
I’m sorry to hear about everything you are going through. I too am struggling with knowing when the time is right to make the decision or give meds a chance. I’ve never had aferret before the girl I have and she was diagnosed with lymphoma. 😕 a form that the vet says you don’t see very often. I asked him to do a prednisolone regimen but I’m worried by how she’s acting today that by the time it gets here from the pharmacy it will be too late. Has your boy still been eating and drinking water? Has he gotten any better since your last post?
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Post by libbyw on Aug 14, 2018 21:29:30 GMT -5
I am sorry that you are going through a hard time too.
He eats a bit and drinks a bit but more so when I make him a slurry and I hold the bowl for him. Still I don't feel it's enough. As far as better goesI think today was a turn for the worse but I've been here before with him where I thought this will be it only to have the next hours bring some visage of hope with bits of improvement. Until this cardiomyopathy and cancer diagnosis it was his IBD flares that would drop him down fast but then he bounces back.
Now though it's pain. I can handle cleaning the messes because I love him and he is worth it and I can handle the small feedings every 2 hours, but the pain I know he is in at the moment, that I cannot bare. It's the pain that will be the deciding factor for me.
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Post by libbyw on Aug 15, 2018 7:45:20 GMT -5
tinytime17 I just wanted to pop in to let you know that for us that time came in the early hours this morning. I woke to find him gasping and gurgling und unable to move his back legs. I took him to the emergency vet and did what I feel was right. He was suffering and drowning in fluid. It was as always a difficult choice to make but it was made from a place of mercy and love. I wish you strength and your sweet ferret I wish wellness. I'm going to go cry it out.
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Post by tinytime17 on Aug 15, 2018 8:47:56 GMT -5
tinytime17 I just wanted to pop in to let you know that for us that time came in the early hours this morning. I woke to find him gasping and gurgling und unable to move his back legs. I took him to the emergency vet and did what I feel was right. He was suffering and drowning in fluid. It was as always a difficult choice to make but it was made from a place of mercy and love. I wish you strength and your sweet ferret I wish wellness. I'm going to go cry it out. Oh Libby, I am so sorry 😔 I was hoping he’d make a turn around. I too think I’ll be making the difficult decision soon. I’m happy you fought for him and tried every last avenue. You’re an amazing ferrent.
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bandit
New member
Lover of ferrets for over 27 years. Have owned 11 ferrets in my life.
Posts: 76
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Post by bandit on Aug 15, 2018 9:32:43 GMT -5
Libby...hugs! I'm very sad to hear this. DIP, your little one was very loved.
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Post by Charlie on Aug 15, 2018 10:51:52 GMT -5
So sorry you are going through this. It's never easy losing our fuzzies. You did the right thing. Have comfort in knowing you provided for them as best and you could and gave them love and happiness while they were with you. So sorry for your losses.
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