Bacterial Infection - Red Paws, Wheezing, Red Bites/Scabs
Mar 28, 2024 9:52:25 GMT -5
silentdook likes this
Post by dookskywalker on Mar 28, 2024 9:52:25 GMT -5
I've been meaning to post this for a while. It's too late for my baby, but I hope it can be of help to yours.
SYMPTOMS
-Red Paws (not pink) but without crustiness, that look like pododermatitis. Google searches usually show pictures of cats and dogs with it but the resemblance is similar to what it looks like in ferrets. The paws are often a bit warm, but not always. I realized later that the warmth is due to a rise in the ferret's body temperature.
-Scabs on the body. Initially, it looked like my ferret had bites from mites or fleas. They were actually from her biting herself because she was itchy in those spots.
-Excessive ear wax that returned every day or two and it looked somewhat dark.
-Wheezing episodes which looked like asthma. The interval between episodes would be 2-4 weeks. During one vet visit, my baby started wheezing and the vet took an x-ray. The wheezing was actually being caused by the lymph nodes around the neck area swelling up and constricting her breathing. The wheezing episodes peaked around 5-15 minutes and then they would slowly die down from minute 16-30, 45, 60, 90. My baby would sleep it off and her breathing would be almost normal 4 hours later and fully normal after 12-24 hours.
-Somewhat swollen lymph nodes in the neck when an episode occurs, and the nodes on the back of the thighs. Her armpit nodes swelled a bit when an episode occurred.
-Dooking Sound and Fast Tempo but louder. It was not a pitter patter but a doo doo doo doo doo. I pieced together that it was a sound of fear or panic from the wheezing. The sound only happened the first few times it seems because she didn't know what it was. As the wheezing episodes increased, she knew the drill and so didn't dook.
-Reduced Energy on episode days, but normal on other days.
-Poop was almost always normal. Towards the end, however, there was a day that some blood was present in the stool. There were some days that the poop look small, slimy or bubbly, but that also isn't uncommon in ferrets as long as it is a one off and does not persist.
-Pain was apparently present at times. What I thought was snoring when she slept, the vet explained to me was sounds of discomfort/pain.
*The following were all Normal:
Respiration, poop and digestion except for what's mentioned under "Symptoms", appetite, no hair loss, front and hind leg strength, enthusiasm, balance, eye sight, hearing, smell, awareness, weight, general demeanor, no squinting, reflexes, coat/fur, tail, bones (x-rays), dental health, vocals, heart pulse, blood (blood tests).
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 1 - No Symptoms From Above Showing Yet
I brought my male and female in. Routine checkup for the female and specific checkup for the male who was wasting and had diarrhea. The vet found that the male had excessive heliobacter and gastritis and prescribed a 7-10 day antibiotic and something to coat the stomach like ferret Pepto Bismol.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 2 - No Symptoms From Above Showing Yet - Antibiotics Prescribed
3 weeks later my male was fully recovered but my female started showing signs of wasting and diarrhea. I brought them back to the vet and they diagnosed excessive heliobacter and gastritis in the female. They prescribed her 7-10 day antibiotic treatment and the male as a precaution as helio is contagious. This probably should have been done the first time but oh well.
Both my male and female were right as rain.
SUSPECT - Pet Fountain
DO NOT BUY A PET WATER FOUNTAIN FOR YOUR FERRET - EVER (BIO FILM). It's not worth the risk. I began to suspect the pet fountain after my boy got sick and then my girl got sick several weeks later. I broke it to pieces, disrespected it, sprinkled it with holy water, said a prayer, damned it to hellfire, and shoved it in the dumpster.
1. I changed the water (bottled water) several times a day.
2. I would take apart the several pieces and scrub it with soap and hot water every other day including disassembling the pump pieces and the filter.
3. I ran hot water and soap through it for an hour twice per week while keeping it on. I would then scrub it and rinse it and then let hot tap water run through it for 30 minutes for a final rinse.
4. Twice a week I would disinfect the pet fountain before the soap and hot water and rinse routine.
5. After my boy got sick, I did steps 2 and 3 EVERY DAY and added a special wire brush set to the routine.
6. Instead of changing the filter every 2 weeks like recommended, I was doing it every week and changing the bottled water every few hours.
*Still, I sometimes saw tiny pinkish BIO FILM (just a tiny little bit) that would form on the filter anywhere from 15-23 hours after cleaning.
*I read a comment on a thread about pet fountains some common sense advice. If you buy something and they recommend a special set of wire brushes to clean it, it's not worth buying. Hindsight is 20/20.
CERAMIC BOWLS
I have a new business now and the ceramic bowls are doing great whereas before the fountain I used to use plastic bowls with rubber on bottom. I read ceramic has greater bacterial resistance.
1. I never see any trace of bio film.
2. They're quick to wash and I have several sets.
3. They're as easy to disinfect with antibacterial as they are to wash.
4. They obviously use less water so I can change the water out frequently as opposed to the pet fountain that took two bottles to fill.
5. I can replace them for new ones with ease and for a low cost.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 3 - SOME SYMPTOMS SHOWING NOW - VETS PUZZLED - PRESCRIBED 7-10 day ANTIBIOTICS
Two months later, I took my girl in because her paws looked like they were bleeding and she had a wheezing episode. The vet thought it was because her nails were a bit long and got caught on something, but then realized it was not that. The vet seemed to think my female was biting her nails due to an allergic reaction.
The antibiotics did the trick and my girl was right as rain.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 4 - MANY SYMPTOMS - MORE VETS PUZZLED - PRESCRIBED BENADRYL
I took my girl to an exotic specialist outfit because about 6 weeks after Medical Treatment Round 3, she started having wheezing episodes. They obtained the paperwork about the previous vet and the heliobacter diagnosis for both male and female ferret. This exotic vet was puzzled. After discussing it among colleagues the diagnosis was like throwing darts at a board.
1. They took x-rays and they ran the ambit of tests like the stool sample, blood profile sent to a lab, and fungal and parasite testing.
2. They ruled out heart disease/worms, rabies, insulinoma, mites or fleas, allergies, fungal infection and parasites.
3. Theories ranged from adrenal disease, anemia, lymphoma, allergies, kidney disease, skin infection, autoimmune disease.
4. I explained that long periods of calm (no episodes) would occur while she was on antibiotics and a short while after she completed them.
*** One weird thing is that I had to ask if they would do a bacteria test. Even though they were an exotic specialist, they didn't have that ability.
5. Online, I was able to track down several posts discussing the red paws. All of the owners posting were puzzled and they suspected allergies or dietary culprits so I was at a loss.
MEDICAL TREATMENT 5 - PRESCRIBED A SKIN INFECTION ANTIBIOTIC
1. This time, my girl had a wheezing episode at the vet office and the vet was able to discover swollen lymph nodes as the culprit on an x-ray.
2. The red marks that would appear on her body were her biting herself. I never knew why but I theorized towards the end that it was because those spots were itchy.
3. I told the vet I thought it may be a bacterial infection based on the facts. The vet said they were not sure and said it could be cancer or adrenal disease and wanted to schedule an adrenal implant. The vet also wanted to do a biopsy but was hesitant as they were worried my girl would not survive anesthesia or something like that in her current condition. Thus, they wanted my girl to first stabilize more and prescribed a skin infection antibiotic. If it worked, then it probably wasn't cancer.
BACTERIAL INFECTION SUSPECTED
My little girl stopped the wheezing episodes while she was on the skin antibiotic and for several weeks after. I started suspecting more and more that it was a bacterial infection of some kind.
1. I read that lymph nodes swelling is a sign of immune response to a viral or bacterial infection.
2. She kept responding well every time she was on any of the different antibiotics and some time after meaning it was bacterial and not viral.
3. Her brother, my male, had out of control heliobacter and so did she a number of months ago. They never had problems before that.
4. I read itchiness is a sign of an immune response to something.
5. A test at the exotic vet ruled out fungal or parasitic infection.
WHY DID THE GIRL KEEP GETTING SICK BUT NOT THE BOY? TOO SHORT AN ANTIBIOTIC REGIMEN
After researching ferrets and bacterial exposure, biofilm, and pet fountains, I suspected that the reason is because my girl never got a long enough treatment. Initially, my boy received a 10 day course of antbiotics. Several weeks later, I took him in for a follow up because the girl was now sick. The vet prescribed my boy another 7-10 day course as a precaution.
This means my boy received a 20 day treatment within 5 weeks while my girl received only 7-10 day treatments with long intervals between.
Based on what I read about bacteria is that it can be stubborn, and that too short a regimen can result in the bacteria not being fully eradicated. It can also then lead to antibiotic resistance.
MEDICAL TREATMENT 6 - KIDNEYS FAILING
After the skin infection antibiotic, my girl had an episode and then that was it. She stopped wheezing, there was no more itchiness, no more red paws, no nothing. She was normal and there was no trace of illness for 2 months.
Then one day, I saw a little blood in her stool. It wasn't much, but it was mixed in with some mucous. Her next poop she was normal though it was a little small. Her next poop was a little bigger and normal. A few days later, she started looking weak and her appetite decreased. I made plans to take her to the vet on the upcoming weekend, and then she started to go downhill really fast.
I rushed her to the original hospital because they did have bacterial infection tests. The vet there said her kidneys were failing but they weren't sure why. The vet kept talking about lymphoma. I requested a stool analysis for bacterial infection. The vet sent it out to a lab this time for a better analysis but it would take 24 hours.
I SUGGEST A COURSE OF ACTION
My girl is now in an incubator, and I do more research. According to human research (not ferrets but there is crossover and inferences that can be made), kidney failure usually occurs because the kidneys are trying to flush out some toxin LIKE BACTERIA. When they become overwhelmed, they start to fail.
1. At this point I have more revelations. The itching, the lymph nodes, the red paws (indicating a rise in body temperature) are theoretically all part of an immune system response which could be to stave off bacteria.
2. She may have stopped showing symptoms because her kidneys were unable to keep up. What looked like she was well was really her immune system failing to respond.
3. Bio Film adds a layer of protection to bacteria. A routine regimen of antibiotics may not be able to kill it. What I read for dogs is that certain antibiotics are more effective at killing this kind of bacteria and must be used to eradicate it completely. The regimen is also longer than usual amounting to closer to 21 days. It can consist of a particular antibiotic or a cocktail of antibiotics.
I called the vet hospital and submitted my findings and recommended an immediate course of action.
1. They said she was actually doing a lot better after being hydrated and in the incubator.
2. The lab results for bacteria presence was coming back in only 24 hours.
3. I recommended starting her on antibiotics intravenously because in the past it always stabilized her. There was really no way it could hurt at this point, but it may help.
4. I paid for care and incubation for 30+ days in advance so there was sufficient money.
5. I believed that an aggressive course of antibiotics administered by them would stabilize her and after about a week, I could take her home and administer the rest or they could keep her there the entire regimen which they seemed to really not want to do.
6. The vet recommended an Ultrasound specialist which I was willing to do after stabilization so there was going to be a full follow up care to finally end this pestilence. My baby would get the Ultrasound and continuous follows ups until she was well. The KEY was to first stabilize her which I believed was very possible.
VET CONSTRUCTIVELY CHOOSES EUTHANASIA
Despite having the plan, the money, and the motivation, the vet for some reason challenged my ferret the next morning without my knowledge. She removed the IV and placed her from the incubator into a normal area. When I called, the vet said my baby took a down turn. I never gave them permission to challenge her and my plans and intentions were clear. All I got was a voicemail which I couldn't avail myself of as I was sleeping because I was up all night crunching numbers to come up with every way to move money around for long term treatment.
Of course, the vet couldn't make the decision to euthanize my baby. She told me my baby didn't have much time. I am not the expert so I asked the vet to make the call. She highly recommended euthanasia.
LAB RESULTS RETURN AFTER THE FACT - HELIOBACTER PRESENT
FINAL THOUGHTS AND WELL WISHES
I hope my findings help any ferret owners who come upon this posting. It may help you assist your veterinarian and save precious time for your baby and precious money which as you know every dollar you spend on a wild goose chase is a dollar less for your baby's healthcare. I spent about $5,000 from start to finish and I had $5,000 more set aside. I believe an aggressive antibiotic regimen would have had a high chance of success. If you don't understand ferrets, yet, you will wonder why anyone would go this far. If you're an owner and know what I know, you'll smile.
THE BUSINESS TODAY
My baby girl who died was the most unique ferret to ever be part of the family. She was tied for being the smartest, but she was the sweetest and most sensitive. She loved to cuddle, kiss my face, and walk around like she owned the place. None of my other ferrets were quite like her, and I never came across one like her in the stores or shelters. I never cried when my fiance left me in the past. Aside from my fave relative when I was young, I never cried when someone died I don't know why. But I cried when my baby girl died.
Today, the business is back in full effect. All I could do is pray for a similar baby girl and one was given. She acts the same, walks the same, looks the same, except she has a black nose instead of pink, and she's sharp as a whip. She may even be a fraction smarter than the smartest. She likes playing the same games, and she even has the same cute eyeliner.
If you learn from each experience, your next baby will benefit from that knowledge and live better, if not longer. As you probably already know, ferrets don't live long compared to cats or dogs although I had a ferret girl that lived just under 9 years. Thus, you will always experience a lot of pain if you fall in love with them. For me, however the joy they bring outweighs the sorrow.
SYMPTOMS
-Red Paws (not pink) but without crustiness, that look like pododermatitis. Google searches usually show pictures of cats and dogs with it but the resemblance is similar to what it looks like in ferrets. The paws are often a bit warm, but not always. I realized later that the warmth is due to a rise in the ferret's body temperature.
-Scabs on the body. Initially, it looked like my ferret had bites from mites or fleas. They were actually from her biting herself because she was itchy in those spots.
-Excessive ear wax that returned every day or two and it looked somewhat dark.
-Wheezing episodes which looked like asthma. The interval between episodes would be 2-4 weeks. During one vet visit, my baby started wheezing and the vet took an x-ray. The wheezing was actually being caused by the lymph nodes around the neck area swelling up and constricting her breathing. The wheezing episodes peaked around 5-15 minutes and then they would slowly die down from minute 16-30, 45, 60, 90. My baby would sleep it off and her breathing would be almost normal 4 hours later and fully normal after 12-24 hours.
-Somewhat swollen lymph nodes in the neck when an episode occurs, and the nodes on the back of the thighs. Her armpit nodes swelled a bit when an episode occurred.
-Dooking Sound and Fast Tempo but louder. It was not a pitter patter but a doo doo doo doo doo. I pieced together that it was a sound of fear or panic from the wheezing. The sound only happened the first few times it seems because she didn't know what it was. As the wheezing episodes increased, she knew the drill and so didn't dook.
-Reduced Energy on episode days, but normal on other days.
-Poop was almost always normal. Towards the end, however, there was a day that some blood was present in the stool. There were some days that the poop look small, slimy or bubbly, but that also isn't uncommon in ferrets as long as it is a one off and does not persist.
-Pain was apparently present at times. What I thought was snoring when she slept, the vet explained to me was sounds of discomfort/pain.
*The following were all Normal:
Respiration, poop and digestion except for what's mentioned under "Symptoms", appetite, no hair loss, front and hind leg strength, enthusiasm, balance, eye sight, hearing, smell, awareness, weight, general demeanor, no squinting, reflexes, coat/fur, tail, bones (x-rays), dental health, vocals, heart pulse, blood (blood tests).
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 1 - No Symptoms From Above Showing Yet
I brought my male and female in. Routine checkup for the female and specific checkup for the male who was wasting and had diarrhea. The vet found that the male had excessive heliobacter and gastritis and prescribed a 7-10 day antibiotic and something to coat the stomach like ferret Pepto Bismol.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 2 - No Symptoms From Above Showing Yet - Antibiotics Prescribed
3 weeks later my male was fully recovered but my female started showing signs of wasting and diarrhea. I brought them back to the vet and they diagnosed excessive heliobacter and gastritis in the female. They prescribed her 7-10 day antibiotic treatment and the male as a precaution as helio is contagious. This probably should have been done the first time but oh well.
Both my male and female were right as rain.
SUSPECT - Pet Fountain
DO NOT BUY A PET WATER FOUNTAIN FOR YOUR FERRET - EVER (BIO FILM). It's not worth the risk. I began to suspect the pet fountain after my boy got sick and then my girl got sick several weeks later. I broke it to pieces, disrespected it, sprinkled it with holy water, said a prayer, damned it to hellfire, and shoved it in the dumpster.
1. I changed the water (bottled water) several times a day.
2. I would take apart the several pieces and scrub it with soap and hot water every other day including disassembling the pump pieces and the filter.
3. I ran hot water and soap through it for an hour twice per week while keeping it on. I would then scrub it and rinse it and then let hot tap water run through it for 30 minutes for a final rinse.
4. Twice a week I would disinfect the pet fountain before the soap and hot water and rinse routine.
5. After my boy got sick, I did steps 2 and 3 EVERY DAY and added a special wire brush set to the routine.
6. Instead of changing the filter every 2 weeks like recommended, I was doing it every week and changing the bottled water every few hours.
*Still, I sometimes saw tiny pinkish BIO FILM (just a tiny little bit) that would form on the filter anywhere from 15-23 hours after cleaning.
*I read a comment on a thread about pet fountains some common sense advice. If you buy something and they recommend a special set of wire brushes to clean it, it's not worth buying. Hindsight is 20/20.
CERAMIC BOWLS
I have a new business now and the ceramic bowls are doing great whereas before the fountain I used to use plastic bowls with rubber on bottom. I read ceramic has greater bacterial resistance.
1. I never see any trace of bio film.
2. They're quick to wash and I have several sets.
3. They're as easy to disinfect with antibacterial as they are to wash.
4. They obviously use less water so I can change the water out frequently as opposed to the pet fountain that took two bottles to fill.
5. I can replace them for new ones with ease and for a low cost.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 3 - SOME SYMPTOMS SHOWING NOW - VETS PUZZLED - PRESCRIBED 7-10 day ANTIBIOTICS
Two months later, I took my girl in because her paws looked like they were bleeding and she had a wheezing episode. The vet thought it was because her nails were a bit long and got caught on something, but then realized it was not that. The vet seemed to think my female was biting her nails due to an allergic reaction.
The antibiotics did the trick and my girl was right as rain.
MEDICAL TREATMENT ROUND 4 - MANY SYMPTOMS - MORE VETS PUZZLED - PRESCRIBED BENADRYL
I took my girl to an exotic specialist outfit because about 6 weeks after Medical Treatment Round 3, she started having wheezing episodes. They obtained the paperwork about the previous vet and the heliobacter diagnosis for both male and female ferret. This exotic vet was puzzled. After discussing it among colleagues the diagnosis was like throwing darts at a board.
1. They took x-rays and they ran the ambit of tests like the stool sample, blood profile sent to a lab, and fungal and parasite testing.
2. They ruled out heart disease/worms, rabies, insulinoma, mites or fleas, allergies, fungal infection and parasites.
3. Theories ranged from adrenal disease, anemia, lymphoma, allergies, kidney disease, skin infection, autoimmune disease.
4. I explained that long periods of calm (no episodes) would occur while she was on antibiotics and a short while after she completed them.
*** One weird thing is that I had to ask if they would do a bacteria test. Even though they were an exotic specialist, they didn't have that ability.
5. Online, I was able to track down several posts discussing the red paws. All of the owners posting were puzzled and they suspected allergies or dietary culprits so I was at a loss.
MEDICAL TREATMENT 5 - PRESCRIBED A SKIN INFECTION ANTIBIOTIC
1. This time, my girl had a wheezing episode at the vet office and the vet was able to discover swollen lymph nodes as the culprit on an x-ray.
2. The red marks that would appear on her body were her biting herself. I never knew why but I theorized towards the end that it was because those spots were itchy.
3. I told the vet I thought it may be a bacterial infection based on the facts. The vet said they were not sure and said it could be cancer or adrenal disease and wanted to schedule an adrenal implant. The vet also wanted to do a biopsy but was hesitant as they were worried my girl would not survive anesthesia or something like that in her current condition. Thus, they wanted my girl to first stabilize more and prescribed a skin infection antibiotic. If it worked, then it probably wasn't cancer.
BACTERIAL INFECTION SUSPECTED
My little girl stopped the wheezing episodes while she was on the skin antibiotic and for several weeks after. I started suspecting more and more that it was a bacterial infection of some kind.
1. I read that lymph nodes swelling is a sign of immune response to a viral or bacterial infection.
2. She kept responding well every time she was on any of the different antibiotics and some time after meaning it was bacterial and not viral.
3. Her brother, my male, had out of control heliobacter and so did she a number of months ago. They never had problems before that.
4. I read itchiness is a sign of an immune response to something.
5. A test at the exotic vet ruled out fungal or parasitic infection.
WHY DID THE GIRL KEEP GETTING SICK BUT NOT THE BOY? TOO SHORT AN ANTIBIOTIC REGIMEN
After researching ferrets and bacterial exposure, biofilm, and pet fountains, I suspected that the reason is because my girl never got a long enough treatment. Initially, my boy received a 10 day course of antbiotics. Several weeks later, I took him in for a follow up because the girl was now sick. The vet prescribed my boy another 7-10 day course as a precaution.
This means my boy received a 20 day treatment within 5 weeks while my girl received only 7-10 day treatments with long intervals between.
Based on what I read about bacteria is that it can be stubborn, and that too short a regimen can result in the bacteria not being fully eradicated. It can also then lead to antibiotic resistance.
MEDICAL TREATMENT 6 - KIDNEYS FAILING
After the skin infection antibiotic, my girl had an episode and then that was it. She stopped wheezing, there was no more itchiness, no more red paws, no nothing. She was normal and there was no trace of illness for 2 months.
Then one day, I saw a little blood in her stool. It wasn't much, but it was mixed in with some mucous. Her next poop she was normal though it was a little small. Her next poop was a little bigger and normal. A few days later, she started looking weak and her appetite decreased. I made plans to take her to the vet on the upcoming weekend, and then she started to go downhill really fast.
I rushed her to the original hospital because they did have bacterial infection tests. The vet there said her kidneys were failing but they weren't sure why. The vet kept talking about lymphoma. I requested a stool analysis for bacterial infection. The vet sent it out to a lab this time for a better analysis but it would take 24 hours.
I SUGGEST A COURSE OF ACTION
My girl is now in an incubator, and I do more research. According to human research (not ferrets but there is crossover and inferences that can be made), kidney failure usually occurs because the kidneys are trying to flush out some toxin LIKE BACTERIA. When they become overwhelmed, they start to fail.
1. At this point I have more revelations. The itching, the lymph nodes, the red paws (indicating a rise in body temperature) are theoretically all part of an immune system response which could be to stave off bacteria.
2. She may have stopped showing symptoms because her kidneys were unable to keep up. What looked like she was well was really her immune system failing to respond.
3. Bio Film adds a layer of protection to bacteria. A routine regimen of antibiotics may not be able to kill it. What I read for dogs is that certain antibiotics are more effective at killing this kind of bacteria and must be used to eradicate it completely. The regimen is also longer than usual amounting to closer to 21 days. It can consist of a particular antibiotic or a cocktail of antibiotics.
I called the vet hospital and submitted my findings and recommended an immediate course of action.
1. They said she was actually doing a lot better after being hydrated and in the incubator.
2. The lab results for bacteria presence was coming back in only 24 hours.
3. I recommended starting her on antibiotics intravenously because in the past it always stabilized her. There was really no way it could hurt at this point, but it may help.
4. I paid for care and incubation for 30+ days in advance so there was sufficient money.
5. I believed that an aggressive course of antibiotics administered by them would stabilize her and after about a week, I could take her home and administer the rest or they could keep her there the entire regimen which they seemed to really not want to do.
6. The vet recommended an Ultrasound specialist which I was willing to do after stabilization so there was going to be a full follow up care to finally end this pestilence. My baby would get the Ultrasound and continuous follows ups until she was well. The KEY was to first stabilize her which I believed was very possible.
VET CONSTRUCTIVELY CHOOSES EUTHANASIA
Despite having the plan, the money, and the motivation, the vet for some reason challenged my ferret the next morning without my knowledge. She removed the IV and placed her from the incubator into a normal area. When I called, the vet said my baby took a down turn. I never gave them permission to challenge her and my plans and intentions were clear. All I got was a voicemail which I couldn't avail myself of as I was sleeping because I was up all night crunching numbers to come up with every way to move money around for long term treatment.
Of course, the vet couldn't make the decision to euthanize my baby. She told me my baby didn't have much time. I am not the expert so I asked the vet to make the call. She highly recommended euthanasia.
LAB RESULTS RETURN AFTER THE FACT - HELIOBACTER PRESENT
FINAL THOUGHTS AND WELL WISHES
I hope my findings help any ferret owners who come upon this posting. It may help you assist your veterinarian and save precious time for your baby and precious money which as you know every dollar you spend on a wild goose chase is a dollar less for your baby's healthcare. I spent about $5,000 from start to finish and I had $5,000 more set aside. I believe an aggressive antibiotic regimen would have had a high chance of success. If you don't understand ferrets, yet, you will wonder why anyone would go this far. If you're an owner and know what I know, you'll smile.
THE BUSINESS TODAY
My baby girl who died was the most unique ferret to ever be part of the family. She was tied for being the smartest, but she was the sweetest and most sensitive. She loved to cuddle, kiss my face, and walk around like she owned the place. None of my other ferrets were quite like her, and I never came across one like her in the stores or shelters. I never cried when my fiance left me in the past. Aside from my fave relative when I was young, I never cried when someone died I don't know why. But I cried when my baby girl died.
Today, the business is back in full effect. All I could do is pray for a similar baby girl and one was given. She acts the same, walks the same, looks the same, except she has a black nose instead of pink, and she's sharp as a whip. She may even be a fraction smarter than the smartest. She likes playing the same games, and she even has the same cute eyeliner.
If you learn from each experience, your next baby will benefit from that knowledge and live better, if not longer. As you probably already know, ferrets don't live long compared to cats or dogs although I had a ferret girl that lived just under 9 years. Thus, you will always experience a lot of pain if you fall in love with them. For me, however the joy they bring outweighs the sorrow.
