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Post by Dezi on Dec 29, 2019 0:48:13 GMT -5
One of my foster ferrets is I'll. Yesterday she was limp and chilled, her eyes seem squinty and she isn't eating, she was drinking but now only taking water from a syringe, she is moving around but tired weak and a little off balanced. She Is really skinny. It is similar to when my other ferret had a hair ball except he ate coconut oil, and this guy wont take anything. I did get her to drink some canned tripe in water but that's it. I can take her to the vet Monday but I have to work tomorrow and would appreciate any advice to stabilize her untill then.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 29, 2019 9:52:48 GMT -5
If she has a total blockage you can't stabilize her at home. She needs to go in asap.
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Post by Dezi on Dec 29, 2019 10:21:05 GMT -5
She is using the litter box. I suspect she is dehydrated. Its a small town so getting her to a vet on Sunday isn't possible.
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Post by Dezi on Dec 29, 2019 20:57:50 GMT -5
Turns out we have an exotics vet that keeps weird hours an hour out so she is there and hanging on for now. Any Western Washingtonians All creatures animal hospital in Bremerton should be on your radar.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Dec 30, 2019 5:25:11 GMT -5
Hoping your little one pulls through.
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Post by Sherry on Dec 30, 2019 10:08:43 GMT -5
Updates?
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Post by Dezi on Dec 30, 2019 16:32:34 GMT -5
She spent the night at the hospital, she was too dehydrated for them to do any diagnostics, I talked to the doc about an hour ago and she felt she was stable enough to start testing. She is passing stool and eating some so no blockage but her blood is very thin and she is in and out of being responsive. So fingers crossed. I haven't had these guys long and I don't know there history so it makes things difficult.
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Post by Dezi on Dec 30, 2019 16:55:54 GMT -5
I did recently watch a you tube video explaining that water bottles aren't the best for ferrets. I can't remember the hosts name but she recommended this forum. I have never heard that before but I'm wondering if that's what caused all of this. we'll no more after the diagnostics. I'm working on phasing out the bottles now but I didn't want to go cold turkey as Rikki my 3 yr old is used to his and I don't really know about the fosters. Its frustrating because I have done alot of research but there is so much bad advice out there. I'm sure many of you have had similar experiences.
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Post by unclejoe on Dec 30, 2019 17:06:01 GMT -5
I hope she's ok. I guess you've figured out that some ferret owners treat them like rodents. We used water bottles at first until we joined a ferret forum. Yours will probably take to a bowl right away. We've only had one, Scamp, my favoritest ferret ever, that would drink out of the bottle and the bowl.
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cockneyferret
Adolescent Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 253
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Post by cockneyferret on Dec 30, 2019 17:16:23 GMT -5
She's in the best place with the vet and they're tuff little noodles when they want to be.
Bottles are still the norm sadly for all small mammals, but ferrets can develop dental issues from using bottles, so really a bowl is best.
They'll very likely suprise you at how fast they take to using a bowl.
You'll need either a heavy stoneware bowl or the type that is fixed to an arm, which in turn attaches to their cage or run. Ferrets love snorkelling in water, so many owners need to put a splash container beneath their water bowl to contain the inevitable spills.
Many people use dog or cat bowls, which are fine, so long as they don't have any rubber feet or non slip bases.
Cheers
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Post by Dezi on Dec 30, 2019 17:21:54 GMT -5
Haha yes thanks Unclejoe when Rikki was first given to me I put him in a guinea pig cage with those news paper pellets. The poor thing was so confused. I was told he could eat cat food and live outside. I never put him outside but I really appreciate him putting up with me through my learning and the information is getting so much better. They are using the bowls but I left the bottles in for a bit just in case they think water bowls are for playing bottles are for drinking.
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Post by Dezi on Dec 30, 2019 17:26:21 GMT -5
I used stoneware bowls for now so they can't knock them over and I had extra ones on hand from my small dogs but I will double check there are no rubber pads on the bottom. Thanks cockneyferret!
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cockneyferret
Adolescent Member
Raw and Whole Prey Feeder
Posts: 253
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Post by cockneyferret on Dec 31, 2019 2:48:18 GMT -5
No worries.
I am pretty sure there's a commercial application for a ferrets ability to find rubber.
A couple of weeks ago our girls were out playing in our conservatory which I had spent many hours ferret proofing. They were scratching around the base of a furniture leg, so I took a look.
Two hours later of emptying and refilling the sideboard, I had removed the little rubber feet.
I honestly believe we could earn money using their rubber hunting abilities.
Cheers
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Post by Dezi on Dec 31, 2019 23:01:25 GMT -5
No joke my Rikki opened a cupboard and got climbed over and up to the utensil drawer to find a sauce brush then wouldn't give it back. I duct taped the cupboard and ordered toddler locks he pulled the tape off and is still looking for that sauce brush. I've never used the brush.
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Post by Dezi on Dec 31, 2019 23:08:05 GMT -5
Sadly little Loki didn't make it. She passed from total organ failure during diagnostics. The vet suspects toxin exposure. As the other 3 are good we suspect she ate something while she was loose. These guys were obviously well cared for before being abandoned so it's a shame someone felt the need to dump them, and more shelters don't take them. Thank you all for your help and well wishes.
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