Goodbye Champ

[crazyferret17]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for their help on trying to help Champ. But I had to make the hardest choice that a mother can make. Went into the vet because they wanted to take some xrays to see if we could see anything else that might be causing his weakness ie. not being able to move. But once they saw him they knew that there was not much else we could do. She then did an x ray free of charge just to see if there was anything that we were missing. And we could not see anything and he was not getting better and it was no longer fare for me or him. So I decided to put him to sleep. I know in the long run it was the right decision. I knew that he was not going to be any better. But there is always that thought in your mind that there is something else that you can do but I have done everything that I can. I know he is in a better place and he is not suffering anymore and that is all that matters in my mind. I am just very sad that i did not get to spend that much time with him. Adopted Champ and Moose September 1 of last year. The only thing that is really bothering me about his death is we still have no idea what was going on and why he was just wasting away. She did an autopsy today to see if she could find any answers and she could not find anything abnormal and she did not. Se the last thing that she is going to do is send out a tissue sample to be tested and see if that tells us anything. But I am thinking that I will never know for sure which is the hardest thing. I have a couple of theories but don't think there is anyway to know for sure. He either had some type of nerve damage that got progressively worse maybe in his brain since he was never quite right even since I adopted him (hence his nickname awkward champ) or he had some type of degenerative disease that just kept on getting worse. Well I will let you know any other details that might arise. I am just afraid that this is all of the information I am going to get. This post is just me rambling, I am sorry I just wanted everyone one to know. it has been an awful few weeks but I think it was what I had to do.

[sherrylynne]

I am so sorry to hear about poor Champ. Please know, you did everything you could, and right now he's dancing at the bridge, healthy and whole, and watching over you and the others.{{{{{hugs}}}}}

[Heather]

You have just been through one of the most difficult decisions, my heart goes out to you . Ferrets are some of the most difficult animals to treat and diagnose. They have so many diseases that are similar and then there are the ones that just defy the vets, even the vet colleges. At that point the whole decision lies on your shoulders. You look into those trusting little eyes, and wish for the world for some answers. Please know that we're there for you, and have been there. I have lit a candle for Champ to guide his little paws on to a better place. A place without pain or fear. A place where his body will no longer betray him. A place where gentle breezes and warm sunshine entices little ferrets into beds of soft leaves and gentle company. He will never forget your gentle touch and your soft voice...he will wait.
May your tears become smiles at his memory as he would never have wanted you to grieve, they never do. They live for today, because in their world there is no tomorrow. They understand the cycle better than we do, they usually stay only for us. {{{Cyberhugs}}} you did what you could, do not berate yourself. You were a good ferrant.
ciao

[amyandfuzzies6]

That was beautiful, Heather, and so true. I learned alot from our little momma, Precious.

I'm so very sorry to hear about Champ and will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

I too had to help one of my babies to the bridge earlier this year in Jan. She had insulinoma and it was only getting worse. The switch to a natural diet at 3 YO delayed the onset of the disease for over 2 years before she required medication. We chose the homeopathic route (done the prednisone) as we feel, although allopathic meds may have kept her with us longer, homeo meds allowed her a better quality of life.

Precious told me she was ready to go at the very beginning of the year but none of us could bear it then, so she fought and held on for us. A couple weeks later we took her to the vet for tests when she had a bad blood sugar crash and $500 later were told that everything tested ok except for the fact that her pancreas was on the verge of failure and to start giving her sugar to help regulate. She ran us ragid that last week during our "last dance" but when she had a REALLY bad attack a week later, we knew it was time for her suffering to end. It's never an easy decision and my heart still aches but I have a greater peace with her than any other of our babies that have passed to the bridge knowing that all efforts were geared to her quality of life and, once diminished, we did not burden her sweet, fun-loving spirit to remain in an ever-failing body just for us.

[crazyferret17]

I buried champ today at my friends house, he is in a great place. Next to my rat, touli, under a tree. Thanks for all of your support and hugs. I am doing a lot better today, I think the burial kind of finalized everything and I am understanding that I did the right thing for my little guy. I am not that religious but i do believe that champ is at my friends house running through their yard fat and happy and dooking. I told my self that I want to get him better so I could hear him dook again and although he did not dook in this life, he is dooking now and happy. I have decided that I am going to volunteer at the Washington Ferret Shelter and then when I get champs tests back ask if they need any foster moms for sick ferrets. Because there is just something missing at my apartment. I am so used to taking care of champ that when I go home I want to do something but there is nothing to do because champ is gone.

May he rest in peace and is finally a happy, plump, dooking ferret again.

thanks Niki

[crazyferret17]

Hello everyone so I just wanted to update you on the test results, which took for ever But finally got the results and you will all be very shocked as to what it was. So pretty much champ was doomed from the begging. He developed M. Avium infection in his brain. Which then means that he developed TB. We are theorizing that he got the infection even before he arrived at the shelter that I got him from and was probably had little to know immune system which caused him to have ulcers and was then the infection got into the blood stream and ended up in his brain. Not a very good thing plus I have two other ferrets. But from talking with my vet the infection was only in his brain and not in his lungs or GI tract therefore he was most likely not contagious. Although knowing that I did everything that I could it is still hard to wrap my head around. I mean you learn about adrenal and insulinoma and all the other ailments that they can get but something like this is just scary, and there is nothing you can do no cure or anything. So all in all I have learned a lot from this experience but most off all keep you ferrets happy and healthy and give them all the lovin that they deserve.

Thank you again for all of your support and suggestions but there was not much I could do for my little guy except give him a good home for the last few months of his life.

[sherrylynne]

Thanks for updating us. I know this had to be difficult for you. Thank heavens the vet doesn't believe it would have been contagious!

[Heather]

Thank you for updating us. You offered him a home and love and the best medical attention you could. Auto-immune problems are scary because you have to do the best guess method of medicine and even when you guess right there's nothing you can do. Often you find you're treating symptoms as they come up, but never really getting to the base problem.
Good luck
ciao