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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 10:02:36 GMT -5
We rescued a jill a few days ago from a woman who decided she didn't want her any more and was going to let her go. She is not spayed and has been kept with an intact hob for the last 2 months, so we assumed she'd probably be pregnant, despite the woman insisting that she probably wasn't, even though she told us she'd seen them at it! When we picked her up, she had some mounting marks on her neck, and her nipples look slightly swollen, she's also quite skinny, but has a bit of a belly so we thought that she looked pregnant. However, her vulva is still swollen as though she's in season and it has little red pin pricks all over it, and a few around her anus as well She has a really bad case of fleas (treated with advocate which is normally safe for pregnant ferrets), so they might account for the little red dots? Her vulva was dry yesterday and a tiny bit of discharge today, but it doesn't seem to be growing or shrinking, though it's hard to gauge as she's only been here two days. Does she sound pregnant, or not? Would the red dots maybe point to an infection? The vets aren't open again until Wednesday now because of the jubilee bank holiday and the only exotic vets who are within 100 miles that do home visits say it's not an emergency (according to the receptionist), so they can't come as they are swamped We have an appointment on Wednesday, but obviously I'd like to know if there's anything we can do for her in the mean time, or if it really is an emergency and I need to get on the phone and start making demands! She's very small and a bit skinny with fleas, but she's eating, drinking and pooping fine, and is really happy not to be locked in a tiny cage anymore. I've tried taking pictures of her vulva to show you, but they haven't come out very well as I only have my phone camera and she's very wriggly!: image uploadjpg uploadAny thoughts?
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Post by joan on Jun 4, 2012 10:21:35 GMT -5
She's still in heat. Did her previous owner tell you when she came in heat, or does she know? When was the last time the hob had access to her? I'd suggest you wait a week and, have the vet give her a jill jab if her vulva hasn't begun to shrink by then.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 10:31:43 GMT -5
He has access to her all the time- they free-ranged in her house and weren't kept seperate. Why would her nipples swell up if she was still in heat? And what about the red dots? We'll get her jill jabbed as soon as we're sure she's not pregnant, but I was worried she might be, and maybe have picked up an infection or something which is causing her vulva swelling, and didn't want to jill jab her if she is pregnant.
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Post by joan on Jun 4, 2012 10:44:04 GMT -5
I'd be concerned if she has been in heat for more than 3 weeks, which may be the cause of the red dots you're seeing. If the hob actually bred her long enough to result in ovulation (and possible pregnancy), the vulva should have started to shrink within a couple days of the successful mating. Have you noticed any decrease in the size of the vulva since you've had her?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 12:15:27 GMT -5
When my adrenal girl's vulva flares up every now and again; when it gets REALLY big, she gets little red pinpricks on it, (and I'm quite confident she doesn't have fleas!! ). I don't know if it's just irritation from licking at it or dragging it after using the litter box, or if it's from increased blood flow to the area. It's always self-limiting though and does resolve when the vulva shrinks back down. I wouldn't panic about it. I'd be more concerned about getting her jabbed if she's not preggo! Good luck with her!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 12:31:49 GMT -5
Is it possible that she may have been bred and the vulva did not shrink for some odd reason? That looks like the little girl who came into the shelter two days ago with a vaginal infection, it was just a little bit swollen just like that. As compared to some girls at the shelter with EXTREMELY swollen vulvas that protrude about a 4th an inch
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 12:59:15 GMT -5
No, but she's only been here 2 days. I've been checking as I know it would go down if she'd been successfully mated recently, but I haven't seen any real changes, thought it might have shrunk a little yesterday, but I think it was maybe my imagination. Have taken photos so I can compare it tomorrow again though more accurately. I asked her owner if she'd noticed any changes in the last few weeks, and she didn't have a clue about ferrets in season, vulvas etc There's a good chance she's been in heat for a while because of the owners lack of awareness of female ferrets being induced ovulators. I did wonder if they were marks from where she has been mated too frequently and vigorously after she has come out of season, but they don't look like abrasions. What would the red dots mean? Her gums are a good colour so I don't think she's badly anaemic (yet), but I'll be giving her stuff to replace any defiencies that might have occurred. Was planning on giving her Royal Canin Feline Covalescence powder (once it arrives in the bloomin' post), lots of red meat, duck soup and good kibble, is there anything else you'd recommend to help her recuperate?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 13:04:23 GMT -5
That was what I was worried about- that something stopped her vulva swelling and she is pregnant, but I wasn't sure what might have caused it. I thought maybe someone on the breeders board might have seen it before and could advise me, the only things I can think of are vaginal infections or maybe being mated too much? I don't know if these thing actually could cause a swollen vulva during pregnancy, but they were all I could think of.
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Post by Thérèse on Jun 4, 2012 13:59:20 GMT -5
While I know nothing about pregnant ferrets (have never even had a girl ferret) just want to say don't discount the freak of nature.
This is a true story.
Someone I know got pregnant several years ago. At her 4m ultrasound the technician freaked her out by calling in lots of people and discussing things in hushed tones. She was told to make an appointment with her doctor to find out what was going on. What had happened was that she had got pregnant while pregnant. Her boyfriend and her had not used a condom since finding out she was pregnant because most consider that a pretty solid form of contraception. She had been pregnant with twins, the ultrasound had shown the twins had just died at 4m but that there was another foetus that was about 8wks old. She went on to have that baby.
So while it would be a freak occurence, sometimes you can be ready to get pregnat (in a ferret that would be in season) even while pregnant.
I know it's out there, but weird things sometimes happen
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Post by crazylady on Jun 4, 2012 14:45:33 GMT -5
Hi it looks to me like she is still in heat did the owner have carpets or did they have access to straw where ever they were kept ? it looks to me like its carpet burn often the scrape along the bottom just because she has been free running with a hob does not mean she is defiantly pregnant if she is in bad bodily condition she wont be able to carry kits she would simply reabsorb any she was carrying ( stress causes them too do that too ) you can travel with ferrets on public transport ( simply pop in a cat box ) if your local vet is not open to get to another ( what area are you in ? I may know of rescues or vets close by ) wow I read in your other post they were asking 100 pounds per visit thats steep real steep you could have her speyed for £60-100 and that would remove any risk of her ever having kits again ( vets will spey pregnant jills ) let us know how she is doing take care bye for now BEV
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Post by crazylady on Jun 4, 2012 14:59:47 GMT -5
whoops forgot to add even in a phantom pregnancy the nipples enlarge and go red they can even lactate even though not pregnant if she is beginning to dry up and its white looking then you maybe coming close to day 12/14 which would of been the ideal time for mating looks like you got her out of there just in time take care bye for now Bev
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 15:23:57 GMT -5
We're obviously going to spay her and then find her a good home when her hormones have calmed down and she's ready to be introduced to other ferrets, has put on some weight and has been well-handled so we know that she's not going to be nippy. We're in Yardley, Birmingham, the only vets that we know of here that are well-versed in ferret care are vets4pets in Sutton Coldfield and Manor Exotics in Edgebaston, the last one we have an appointment for Wednesday, the first one isn't open until Wednesday so I can't even call to get an appointment at the moment.
She may have had carpet in her flat, and when I met her to collect the poor little might, she had her in a box with straw in. She is pretty skinny and covered in bite marks, and having a hob constantly ragging at her and a dog snapping at her has probably kept her pretty stressed so maybe she's not pregnant.
The vets we travel to is an hour and a half on public transport already unfortunately, but if you know any closer that are ferret knowledgable then let me know.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2012 15:31:12 GMT -5
The local rescue here is Birmingham Ferret Rescue, but they are really busy at the moment (everyone is I suppose), but I'm going to drop them an email along with a few other people from the rescue network here in the UK with some photos and see if they know what it could be.
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Post by ferretlove67 on Jun 4, 2012 17:09:58 GMT -5
I agree with bev and Joan added in the being in heat for extended period, being of concern too. I didn't realize it was that much in currency exchange ( it was very late for me when I responded and with no pics etc. it was hard to say) to see a vet. Pics helped. Phantom pregnancies can cause nips and all that as bev pointed out too. I really doubt with such deplorable condition she is in, and came from described, that she would be carrying. Chance maybe, but her vulva should have decreased. So here is what I would say and I am not nearly as experienced, as much as Bev and Joan are, but this is what I would personally do for a rescue in this situation. 1. I think her life is the most precious here. She came to you and that was a gift for her and you. huge thanks for saving her and wanting to get help for her too! 2. I am glad you have an appt. Talk about steep pricing! A long haul too, but a carrier would be fine as pointed out, and i agree too. 3. I think ( let us just say if she was carrying kits and i doubt at this point given info. ) her life is the most important atm, and if she has been by chance in heat for an extended period of time, I would want to get her out asap, as I said I agree on what bev stated and even as bad as it sounds, her condition is no condition to even attempt letting her deliver kits if they existed IMHO , rather concentrate on her and I doubt there are any, but if there were, I think the best thing, given what has been said and it being a rescue situation, no good history and a vulva not decreasing etc, is to spay regardless right now. The last thing I could imagine is something going wrong and kits not surviving anyhow and you back in with an emergency, infection, etc and kits needing help with no Jill too. My worst case scenario why I believe this way... and as I said I doubt with no vulva change, she is actually carrying. That is my opinion and wouldn't even suggest it ,if I didn't feel her health was #1 from such a situation. I just am trying to apply rescue to health concern to save Jill as #1. For what it is worth. JMHO. Please keep us updated, and thank you for saving this jill as it shows so much that you are here because you do care.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2012 3:46:10 GMT -5
Thanks for all of your advice, lets hope she's not pregnant and will be well enough for a spay soon, if she's definitely not pregnant then I'll ask the vet to Jill jab her then and there unless a spay in season can be arranged within a day or two and the vet is happy that it's safe for her to go under aneasthetic in her condition. She is still quite perky and energetic, but obviously we'll see how healthy the vet thinks she really is, and if he wants her to put on weight before hand etc then jill jab is oviously the best option until she's well enough to under go the op. I know my vet also much prefers to implant ferrets rather than spay, but if we're going to rehome her then I'm not sure how I feel about handing over the responsibility to someone else to ensure she has her implant replaced etc.
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