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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 25, 2008 23:03:55 GMT -5
Sams is not doing well The last week or so he lost weight. He originally put on some extra weight when I switched him from raw to kibble. Its been so hectic for me this past week that I didnt notice his weight loss until just now. Today he was in obvious distress and he was hacking and vomitting. He hasnt wanted to eat this past day (so when he went to vomit nothing came up). I got him some chicken babyfood and heavy cream to try and pump some food into him. He will lick from the syringe, but only if I scruff him, otherwise he runs away. He is acting very strange. He seems angry. He is throwing temper tantrums and digging at the carpet in the middle of the floor. He is throwing his bowls around in his cage and when I let him out he tosses around things on my floor (like socks). I looked down his throat AND palpated his abodomen. I cant see or feel a blockage. He doesnt sqirm or yelp when I press on various parts of his body. Im very worried about him. After monitering him all day I realized "He needs to see a vet". I called my vet and my ferret vet wont be in until Monday. They referred me to an emergency vet clinic, but I can not use my "Care Credit" card there. I have no way to pay for the vet visit, and they will not accept a payment plan I will be calling my ferret vet tommorow to see if I can get some private assistance. In the mean time I plan to keep sams hydrated and fed every 3-4 hours. Please keep him in your thoughts, he has me VERY worried At 6 years old, he is no "spring chicken". He was doing so well after the switch to raw, I dont know why he is acting so sick all of a sudden.
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Post by desertram on Jul 25, 2008 23:39:58 GMT -5
come on sam get better dont like to hear when a little one is sick hope he gets well soon
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 3:23:34 GMT -5
He is eating raw egg mixed with heavy cream. He seems to be perking up a bit. I plan to pick up some "Carnivore Care" to feed to him tommorow. In the mean time Im just trying to make sure he eats and does okay. He certainly has me worried but he seems to have stabilized a bit, so that is good. I just wonder what is wrong (Im not sure I want to know)
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 6:08:01 GMT -5
I woke up to the sound of him vommiting! He puked up all the egg I gave him. He isnt pooping and he wont eat ANYTHING I give him unless he is force fed: l Not babyfood Not kibble Not raw pork (his favorite) Not pumpkn I ran to the store and got some pumpkin. I syringe fed him some, along with some water. I am keeping an eye on him. Oh my god they just go downhill so fast I am watching the clock waiting to call my ferret vet, I hope I can get ahold of him! Please pray that if its a blockage the pumpkin will help him
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Post by buzzonesbirdie on Jul 26, 2008 7:37:10 GMT -5
Oh Giuli I am so sorry and we are praying for your little one. I know what its like to wait for the vet (and it sucks) . i hope will be ok
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 26, 2008 8:01:07 GMT -5
This sounds exactly like what we went through with Piper. Luckily I kept her hydrated until we found a 24 hour 7 day a week emergency vet that took ferrets. It is very stressful.
Gosh, I hope everything is ok! I will be thinking of you and Sams!!!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:04:11 GMT -5
Thanks guys. I really am concearned about him. 1 more hour before I can call the vet's office. I hope they will give me my vet's home phone number. Not only do I have the money to go to any other vet, but even if I could, I wouldnt WANT to go to any other vet. I just dont understand how this could have happened (if it is in fact a blockage) he NEVER chews on anything he's not supposed to!
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 26, 2008 8:09:12 GMT -5
It doesn't have to be a foreign body blockage. Could it be a twist or kink in the bowel? You are still giving water, right? How is he acting this morning?
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:26:39 GMT -5
He just seems really weak. I am about to kill someone! I called my vet's office and they wont give me my ferret vet's cell number! I looked online and found 3 other ferret vets that are in St. Louis I called and NONE of them will take my d*mn credit card (care credit)!!!! Nor will they work out a payment plan with me! I just took Zephyr to the vet this month (she broke her arm) plus De just had her Lupron shot this month, AND Tim was sick earlier this month and thus missed work. Money is very tight this month. All my credit cards are maxed out and its just one of those "oh s**t" situations. Im about ready to start calling dog/cat vets and seeing if they will listen to me as I tell them what I want them to do. Im so upset right now! Im giving him pedialyte by syringe, I gave him Pumpkin about 3 hours ago but so far he hasnt puked it up or pooped it out. I am just so upset that none of these vets are even willing to work out a payment plan with me! What kind of world is this god d*#* it!"
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:32:58 GMT -5
God d**n it I wish I could find a listing of ferret vets (or hell even regular vets) that take care credit cards. none of the vets I have called can help me out and tell me who else will take this card!
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:34:23 GMT -5
Does anyone know how many cc's of pedialyte I should be giving at one time (and how frequently)? I want to keep him hydrated but I dont want his little bladder to feel like its going to burst because I gave to much fluids.
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 26, 2008 8:40:05 GMT -5
That much, I don't know. I never measured what I was giving Piper, but I was only giving water and force feeding liquidy food. I also was giving her ferret vite because I figured it would keep her blood sugar levels up higher while she wasn't eating. I know you are against vite, but at times like these, maybe it isn't a bad idea...just to keep his blood sugar levels up higher.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:42:42 GMT -5
Honestly I'll do anything at this point, I just want to keep him from crashing. I am so angry right now! Im angry with myself for not having a back up vet set up and Im also angry that vet offices arent willing to help a sick animal unless you got the $$$ right away.
My regular ferret vet wont be in until MONDAY. I am hoping that the pumpkin will push anything out of his system if something is backing him up. If I can just get him pooping I think we will be okay until monday.
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Post by Jaycee on Jul 26, 2008 8:50:22 GMT -5
What about just regular credit card. This is what we had to use for Piper, or else she wouldn't have made it. She had been losing weight for a while (I didn't realize it either until it was too late). She was fine acting on Friday, then came Saturday and it looked like she was going down hill FAST. Most vets weren't open (weekends suck to get sick), and one place that had a ferret vet wouldn't have been able to see her until Monday. I knew in my heart if we waited until monday Piper would not have made it. They do go down quick. There has got to be some where you can take him. I know it isn't something you like the idea of...strange vet, but at this point anyone is better than no one. Try the vite for the time being, and consider just the plain old credit card. They are good for times like these.
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Post by Forum Administrator on Jul 26, 2008 8:55:32 GMT -5
I would use my plain old credit card in a HEARTBEAT. Only problem is that all four of my cards are maxed out! This timing couldnt be worse, I am currently looking for a part time job to help me pay down some of my debt. Im going to try and call my mother to see if she can lend me some money so I can get samson to the vet asap.
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