Post by mmoore51090 on Dec 11, 2011 20:50:16 GMT -5
Hopefully this is in the correct posting area... please let me know where to do so if not...
So first off I'm new here and just recently found this forum a few days ago.
I have a few questions but will give you a brief background of my ferret history.
I have had ferrets for almost 6 years now and I recently lost my oldest ferret (Rabie like rabies .. she liked to nip feet...a lot ) the other day ; tomorrow will be a week. Her death was the most horrid thing I have ever experienced. She suffered from insulinoma. I thought her on set of laziness the past few months was because of her age, but a massive seizure lead to her death. She had to be put down because of the damage the seizure caused. I didn't know much about insulinoma, but only the bare basics of it. I surely didn't know how common it was in ferrets. Her downgrade in health was very sudden and unexpected.
The past few days I have been trying to read as much as I can to help my other ferret as much as possible. Skizzy a white/silver female ferret will be 4 years old this coming year. After this past experience, Im terrified of what I may have to go through with her. When I got my first ferret at 16 years old, I was told to feed them a specific kibbel (Marshalls) and the ferret is from the Marshall breeders (what pet stores sell). Now learning, I was somewhat doomed from the beginning because of the genetics of their ferrets. I also learned of something I hate to admit now, but at the time I didn't know how horrible it is for them. In the mornings, when fixing a bowl of cereal, my ferrets would beg for a piece of the cereal (biting feet and climbing to get to the bowl)... sometimes the unhealthy sugary kind. I must say now, I have COMPLETELY stopped and I have been researching recipes that are better treats for my remaining ferret. A somewhat boiled/raw chicken slurry.
However, my current ferret is obviously sad and missing her cage mate. She doesn't eat as much and isn't playing or being as mischievous. I have been non-stop trying to entertain her by giving her new toys, a dig box, going for walks, and hugging her tons. She seems to be cheering up but not too her normal self. I understand the process is slow, but its so hard to see her sad when I know how much energy she really has. Her actual name is Schizo (for schizophrenia, she is normally crazy and SUPER bouncy)
These two ferrets have been the best pets I have ever had. And I have had a ton of animals. Their personalities are amazing. Therefore I could never imagine not having one or even two. But I can't do that kind of death again. All the horrible things possible with a seizure happened with my first ferret. I don't want to ever go through that again. I have other friends who have had ferrets that died of pretty nasty deaths because of cancer.
The main question is if almost EVERYTHING possible is done to maintain a healthy ferret such as checkups and diet (a purely raw/prey diet) and even getting a ferret from a good breeder with healthy genetics, do they die less horrid deaths. I know they all just can't go in their sleep at the age of 8 or 9. But they all can't end that way or similar?
Like I said... I cannot go through that again, but I cannot imagine my life without these little boogers.
I would kindly appreciate any advice or experiences!
So first off I'm new here and just recently found this forum a few days ago.
I have a few questions but will give you a brief background of my ferret history.
I have had ferrets for almost 6 years now and I recently lost my oldest ferret (Rabie like rabies .. she liked to nip feet...a lot ) the other day ; tomorrow will be a week. Her death was the most horrid thing I have ever experienced. She suffered from insulinoma. I thought her on set of laziness the past few months was because of her age, but a massive seizure lead to her death. She had to be put down because of the damage the seizure caused. I didn't know much about insulinoma, but only the bare basics of it. I surely didn't know how common it was in ferrets. Her downgrade in health was very sudden and unexpected.
The past few days I have been trying to read as much as I can to help my other ferret as much as possible. Skizzy a white/silver female ferret will be 4 years old this coming year. After this past experience, Im terrified of what I may have to go through with her. When I got my first ferret at 16 years old, I was told to feed them a specific kibbel (Marshalls) and the ferret is from the Marshall breeders (what pet stores sell). Now learning, I was somewhat doomed from the beginning because of the genetics of their ferrets. I also learned of something I hate to admit now, but at the time I didn't know how horrible it is for them. In the mornings, when fixing a bowl of cereal, my ferrets would beg for a piece of the cereal (biting feet and climbing to get to the bowl)... sometimes the unhealthy sugary kind. I must say now, I have COMPLETELY stopped and I have been researching recipes that are better treats for my remaining ferret. A somewhat boiled/raw chicken slurry.
However, my current ferret is obviously sad and missing her cage mate. She doesn't eat as much and isn't playing or being as mischievous. I have been non-stop trying to entertain her by giving her new toys, a dig box, going for walks, and hugging her tons. She seems to be cheering up but not too her normal self. I understand the process is slow, but its so hard to see her sad when I know how much energy she really has. Her actual name is Schizo (for schizophrenia, she is normally crazy and SUPER bouncy)
These two ferrets have been the best pets I have ever had. And I have had a ton of animals. Their personalities are amazing. Therefore I could never imagine not having one or even two. But I can't do that kind of death again. All the horrible things possible with a seizure happened with my first ferret. I don't want to ever go through that again. I have other friends who have had ferrets that died of pretty nasty deaths because of cancer.
The main question is if almost EVERYTHING possible is done to maintain a healthy ferret such as checkups and diet (a purely raw/prey diet) and even getting a ferret from a good breeder with healthy genetics, do they die less horrid deaths. I know they all just can't go in their sleep at the age of 8 or 9. But they all can't end that way or similar?
Like I said... I cannot go through that again, but I cannot imagine my life without these little boogers.
I would kindly appreciate any advice or experiences!