|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 14:27:13 GMT -5
She has never been a big girl...and is just over a year old. Maybe a year and a half. I noticed the other day that her gums and nose seem more pale than normal, and I got worried. But she still gets out and around and is still eating, and as far as weight loss she has only lost about an ounce. But she feels more boney than normal, if that is possible. Her heart rate is also very rapid...which may also be the reason for the light gums and nose. So, being the curious sort, I went on the internet to do research. I have decided that she most likely has lymphosarcoma....and the juvinile version is pretty much terminal. It is a rapid disease in ferrets up to two years old...older ferrets are prone to it to, but is much slower and treatments are more successful. So, my question is, what do I do? I am trying to get my husband to take her to the vet, but odds are she will have to be euthinized as the only treatment option. She isn't in any pain, though. Can I just keep her at home until her time has come and enjoy the company of her "brothers" and "sisters". I am still trying to arrange things here so we can take her to the vet for a definitive diagnosis.
|
|
|
Post by tsslilsis on Sept 13, 2008 15:30:43 GMT -5
Is she eating and drinking normally?? Is she playing normally? Are you sure her gums and nose are more pale and that her heart rate is more rapid?
Weezer felt a little boney to me so I freaked out, weighed him and it said he lost two ounces. I freaked out more, but he was still his normal self and nothing seemed wrong, I thought maybe his seasons are mixed up. But we realized the scale was off and he actually hasn't lost anything. He is still his 2 1/2 pound self.
If there hasn't been a change in her behaviour then she may be fine but obviously a trip to the vet would be best.
I hope your baby is okay!
-~Ketlin
|
|
|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 15:44:44 GMT -5
My husband is on his way right now with Whisp to the vet. Yeah, the gums are pale, and her nose is cold and pale. She doesn't seem as playful anymore, although she does still nose around in stuff. She has been extreamly itchy lately too, and apparently that is another symptom. I know ferrets are itchy by nature, but it seems to be more so now. I know in my heart there is something terribly wrong. This is how I felt in January when Piper was deathly ill, and I realized she had a bowel obstruction. Even if she comes home tonight, I know my time with her will be very short. I think she is beginning the biggest journey of her life, this is just step one.
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 13, 2008 15:47:58 GMT -5
I believe Josiesmom lost her first ferret (Josie) to Juvenille Lymphoma (or Lymphosarcoma). I really hope this is not the case with Whisp. I will be keeping you and her in my thoughts. Please let us know what happens at the vet, hopefully the cause of her problems is something less serious. *fingers crossed*
(((((((((((hugs))))))))))))
|
|
|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 16:08:43 GMT -5
Thanks. But I am almost certain that Whisp has it. Her symptoms match what I have read to a "T". I feel horrible right now. She is so young...it really isn't fair to her. I feel like she has been short changed, and now when she finally has a stable home environment. I thought for sure she would just bloom under my care. I had no idea I brought her home to pass on. I sent Piper with her to the vet. I figured she wouldn't want to be alone.
|
|
|
Post by bigsis7 on Sept 13, 2008 17:35:16 GMT -5
Oh no!! I hope she's ok. (((((hugs)))))
|
|
|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 18:15:08 GMT -5
Whisp will be coming home tonight, to live out her remaining time in the comfort of home. She has cancer, but the vet is uncertain where. It isn't in any of the major organs, but it is possible it is in the bone. We had the option of furter testing, and a transfusion to buy time, but I settled with using prednisone (sp?) instead of more painful poking and prodding.
......I didn't think I would be losing her so soon......
|
|
|
Post by buzzonesbirdie on Sept 13, 2008 18:42:28 GMT -5
:'(Oh jaycee i am sooo sorry for your little baby. I wish i could be there to help you through this. I know that she is very loved by you. I know that no words can make you feel better at this time. Enjoy the rest of the time that you have with thelittle sweetheart
|
|
|
Post by suds on Sept 13, 2008 18:59:07 GMT -5
awee my heart goes out to you , whisp and your family , so sorry you all are going through this . ( poor little guy , he is in a loveing home and very much loved which is the best gift any ferret or person can have
|
|
|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 19:20:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind words. I didn't think I would take it so hard...I have only had her for 2 1/2 months. They really do curl up in a warm place inside our hearts, don't they? They are giving her 3 months at the most.
|
|
|
Post by Heather on Sept 13, 2008 20:07:31 GMT -5
My heart grieves for you sweetie I lost one in March to that horrible disease. Everything I knew how to do I threw at him. It just wasn't fair, Porthos was my little pirate. He spent just 2 short years with me (he was turned in at 9 months, the most vicious biter I've ever had to deal with) Diagnosis was just after Christmas. I wish you luck, the pred will buy you time, how much only time will tell. I will light a healing candle for Whisp and another for you. May you and she share and enjoy what time she has and may you have the strength you need to give her the ultimate gift. Good luck, remember the list is here if you need us. ciao
|
|
|
Post by charmantpapillon on Sept 13, 2008 20:42:39 GMT -5
i wish you luck =\ its never easy to be told you're going to lose a belover pet hers some love and luck to both of you. She's happy and right now shes not in any pain so theres two plus' there. another one is she KNOWS shes loved and yes they do crawl right into your heart. (even quicker for us softies like me) hang in there i bet this will be harder for you than me but you never know the vet gave ehr three months it could take a lot longer my grandma was diagnosed weith brain/lung/lymph cancer. they gave her three months. she hung on for 3 years. she outlived her life expectancy by several times what they told her and she was lucid up till the very very end. so you never know hang in there you have every one of us on here hoping and or praying for you.
|
|
|
Post by Jaycee on Sept 13, 2008 20:54:05 GMT -5
Thank you all. My husband brought her home, and opened the carrier up in the room. Piper bounded out (she doesn't like vets too much) but Whisp stayed laying inside. Out of the wood work, Raider, Jax, Riven, and Angel went in the carrier one at a time to love on her and lick her. It was very sweet, but at the same time very sad.
I made special food for her tonight. She is anemic, but the vet didn't tell us anything about what we could do about that. So I blended a liver mixture up and added it to the duk soup. She ate quite a bit of that...spoon fed. She also had her first dose of pred, .5ml which she will have to take from here on out twice a day. She woke up pretty good after that, and I put her back in the ferret room to do some good ferrety nosing around and trouble making. She probably is checking up on her stash. Under the bed is every stuffed thing she could find....and they are all hers. If you move one, she will find it, and she will put it back. I am sure she is busy making her rounds.
|
|
|
Post by weloveourweasels on Sept 13, 2008 21:52:30 GMT -5
That is so sad. I wish her the best and hope she will have longer than 3 months with you without any pain.
|
|
|
Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 14, 2008 0:03:42 GMT -5
Jaycee, I am so sorry to hear this. I dont know what to say, I lost Samson so suddenly I don't know what it would be like to see a long drawn out passing I will hold you and Whisp in my thoughts. God bless you for taking her in and giving her a wonderful home. To help with her anemia give her a nice, raw (but slightly warmed) Beef soup DAILY in addition to her kibble. Beef is rich in iron and can help raise her iron levels a bit. To encourage her to eat (and to give a soothing treat) try mixing 1 tsp of heavy whipping cream (look for a brand WITHOUT carageenan) into the soup. De LOVES this. Please keep us posted on how Whisp does these next few months. I am sure she will be in everyone's thoughts and prayers.
|
|