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Post by meli on Sept 14, 2008 0:11:33 GMT -5
awe jaycee I'm so sorry. I wish I could hug you right now. My thoughts and prayers are with you and wisp. I was playing with my two today and looking at hocus. He to has lost some weight, but he's not boney. I'll be keeping my eye on him.
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Post by mustelidmusk on Sept 14, 2008 0:39:34 GMT -5
Jaycee, I know how awful it feels when they're so young. I know how unfair life is....If you have enough ferrets over time, some will be taken way too soon...it's life, and unfortunately, parts of life can really suck. This s one of those times. I'm so sorry to hear about this - it's just devastating news.
You and your entire family (with and without fur) are in my thoughts and prayers.
-jennifer
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Post by Jaycee on Sept 14, 2008 7:10:02 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. I am a little better with it this morning. I gave her her second dose of pred...which she is starting to figure out, and doesn't like. I also gave her her liver, kibble, duk soup mixture to eat. My husband said that at the vets office there was a scale on anemia. 9 is considered dire....Whisp is a 12. I will be going out this morning to pick up some beef and some heavy whipping cream to give to her. She isn't very energetic this morning....I don't know if this will come and go, or if she will continue to be lethargic until the end.
I am keeping her separated at night from Harley and Sassy. They are a little too rough with her, and pick on her all the time. I closed off the top of the ferret nation, and allow Mooch (Raider) and Angel to stay with her for warmth and company. During the day she is curling up in my bed, or seeking the company of others and sleeping with them.
I don' t know what is worse. I always thought losing a ferret suddenly would be the hardest thing...but now I am not so sure. Having a time frame, and waking up each day to wonder if she won't be around to see the sun set.....this is hard. But on the other hand it has given me some time to set things up. I ordered some paper last night that has a pretty rainbow on it. I plan to put all my ferrets paw prints on it when they pass with their name birth/adoption date, and the date of the journey to the bridge. I will have the ferret memorial and urn on the other side of my entertainment center opposite of my son. My livingroom is slowly becoming a shrine!
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Post by Jaycee on Sept 14, 2008 20:51:25 GMT -5
She really isn't well at all today. I made her a new rice box to play in and she barley had enough energy to scratch around a bit. Just a little while ago she got up to use the bathroom...then she pancaked on the floor, exhausted. I can only assume it is mostly because of her major anemia....her gums and nose are still as white as she is. I have been feeding her every few hours a soupie mixture made with liver. My husband just returned from the store with some steak (yes, it is official...my ferrets eat much better than I), and I am going to make her a new batch. She loves eating from a syringe much better than a spoon, but she will do both. I have also given her kibble back, and she will get to her bowl to eat and drink. She just doesn't have energy. I feel awful for her. I wish I could do more...
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Post by Heather on Sept 14, 2008 23:03:18 GMT -5
I found that Porthos loved to be carried at this stage. I made up a sling, rather like what you would for a broken arm. I would tuck him in my zip up hoody in this sling. It kept him warm and allowed him to be with me. He was content to just lay in there by the hour, while I was able to do my house work. I eventually got a lady to make me a couple of real slings (they're made similar to a slouch purse, larger with really soft insides, there's also a hook for a harness if some of my healthier guys are riding around in it). It just allowed me to be closer to my furbaby. You know that if your furbaby is that enemic that the only thing that might bring up her level is a blood transfusion and you can get that from any healthy ferret. It's a suggestion, they do it for enemic people, why not ferrets. It's just a thought. Good luck, there are 14 pairs of little paws sending healing energy to a fellow fuzzy. ciao
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 18, 2008 16:42:06 GMT -5
Jaycee I wanted to let you know that you and Whisp are in my thoughts. How is the little one doing?
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Post by Jaycee on Sept 18, 2008 18:58:18 GMT -5
Sorry it has been a couple days again. We lost our cable, phone and internet again, and it only just came back on. She isn't well. She is starting to eat less, and sleep more. The pred (from what I can tell) isn't doing anything for her. I think I was still right on my diagnosis with lymphosarcoma. This bone cancer thing, I am not so sure about. She is just going down hill so fast. She still loves to be held and have her ears and head rubbed, but when it comes down to eating or taking the meds, she struggles to get away. I still cage her with Angel and Raider at night for warmth and company, but during the day when she isn't being held, she stays in the top of the cage by herself. I hate that, but with me at work all day, and my husband left with all the kids and the rest of the fur family it makes it hard for one on one time with Whisp. But, this is the better alternative. Harley and Sassy have always been a bit rough with Whisp, and she can't take all that stress now. I figured the peace and rest is better than the rough housing and stress outside of the cage.
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Post by Jaycee on Sept 18, 2008 21:25:21 GMT -5
Ok, now I am a little mad. I just got off the phone talking to the local shelter (I had been talking with her through her site and on email previously), and I really think this vet we went to did us wrong. Apparently the prednisone I was given is harder for ferrets to get into their systems. It has to go through the liver and is a much slower process. There is something called prednisilone that is easier on them, doesn't have to be processed through the liver and enters the system quicker. She also has a liquid vitamin too, that I should have probably been given at the vet. In any case, she referred me to another vet for future reference, and I am going to try to meet her on Sat. morning to get a prednisilone mixture, some vitamines and something along the lines of carnivore care to see if this helps her out. I can only hope she holds out long enough to give this a try. I would love to see her have one more realy good day before she passes.
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Post by sherrylynne on Sept 18, 2008 22:27:47 GMT -5
I hope the prednisilone works for her, and gives the two of you some more quality time together. Best of luck, and I'll light a candle for your little one.
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Post by Heather on Sept 19, 2008 0:27:29 GMT -5
Whisp's candle is still lit. Good luck, whether you're talking lymphosarcomas or bone marrow cancer both are hugely aggressive in juvenile ferrets. The pred might take longer to take effect but you should be seeing some improvements by now, even with the slower reaction time of the drug. Carnivore care is an awesome product. Make sure your little one eats before giving the pred...it's a very difficult drug on the stomach and can cause ulcers. I'm sure your vet told you that when you were given the drug but I thought I would add that in just in case. I really hope your little one goes into remission, we will keep her and you in our thoughts. This is so difficult, and you're being an awesome fertmom to keep fighting. ciao
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