First aid?

[Kapferret]

My dad has ferrets and recently lost one quite suddenly. I'm unsure what happened (maybe a fall) but we found her in a lot of pain and going cold. Obviously we rushed her to the vets and I tried wrapping her up to try and keep her warm but I wasn't sure what else to do in the situation. With humans and other pets like dogs you can do cpr and other things so I was wondering if there's something like that for ferrets or if it would do more harm than good and making them comfortable in their last moments is more important? I just want to be prepared if it happens again. I did my research and thought I was but in the situation I couldn't think of anything more to do.

[silentdook]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
Unfortunately they are so small and fragile that rushing them to the vet is the only recourse.

I did have to puff air into one of my boy's face once when he was out of it from getting his head clunked in a shutting door. I felt terrible and he was unconscious, so I held him and blew in his face. It did bring him round so I could get him in to make sure all was well. Vet said it likely just stunned him into a bit of shock, no damage to be found. Have had one fall off the back of the couch onto a lamp base and she cussed a blue streak and hid. Took her in, and same thing, all good.
One never knows though, a bad twisty fall can do anything since they can't land on their feet like cats. If you found her screaming, it could have been a major insulinoma seizure or ruptured tumor. I've had rescues with one or the other, sadly. The only way to know, possibly, is to have a necropsy done.

[lyles]

Yes, rushing to the vet is the best course, even if it doesn't look serious.  Ferrets are both very reselient and fragile at the same time.  Their flexible bodies can take a lot, except for a few places.  Their pelvis especially is very fragile and there are too many conditions that would cause hind leg weakness to know if it is trauma or illness.

For the sad instance where your ferret is dying, it is important to have an autopsy done to find the cause.  Doing so will shed light on if it was something environmental so you can prevent a repeat incident.

So sorry for your dad's loss.

[unclejoe]

All you can do in such a case is get them to a vet. I've had several that passed from kidney failure around age 6 that presented the same way. not much can be done in that case. I tried sub q fluids with Alice for several days but she was just peeing it all out.
ferrets are a challenge, emotionally and financially. they are amazing but don't live as long as other pets. I I have had and have known of others who didn't live live that long
I'm sorry for your loss.

[Corvidophile]

Keeping them breathing by puffing into their mouth gently might be your best bet, as it could be a broken spine or pelvis, or ruptured organ causing all the distress, and handling their bodies roughly would make that so much worse. I’m sorry you had to go through this.