From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-07-30 18:44:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Champ: Final Update
I'm sorry to hear that you had to witness a painful passing. I have
had three ferrets euthanized over the years, and while it's never
pleasant, it was never painful to the ferret that I could tell.
They've always been heavily sedated before the final injection.
One was sedated with Isoflurane, and I wouldn't go that route any
more because they fight the mask and I don't want that to be the last
thing they do while alive. The others were given a subcutaneous
injection (I'm not sure what) that gradually took effect. They just
slowly went to sleep and when they were fully under, received the
final injection. They both received heart sticks, which I don't
think I ever want to witness again, but there was absolutely no
response what so ever.
It's not a pleasant thing to talk about, but you probably want to
discuss this topic with your vet well before it's necessary when
you're not distressed and don't have a clear head and just go along
with whatever is being done.
Mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Connie <conniebane2@y...> wrote:
> I am so sorry to hear about your little Champy. I
> went through a loss in May and words can not convey
> the feelings. My little boy did not go painless and
> it still haunts me. The vet gave him a shot in the
> tummy and it was so painful.
> How did your doctor make it so peaceful for Champy? I
> hate to ask this but I am facing it again soon and
> don't want this little guy to suffer the same way.
> Champy had a good mom and he was a lucky little boy.
> Prayers from
> Connie and the fuzz butts.
> Pharoah, Pasha, Pooh Bear and Sky
>
>
> --- shurcool@i... wrote:
> > I don't normally post these things to the lists. I
> > feel like no one
> > really knows me or my ferrets personally so always
> > think that
> > postings and condolences are very impersonal. I let
> > people know
> > individually who know my ferrets and me personally.
> > That said, I have
> > inundated you with tales of Champ and his illnesses
> > over the last six
> > months. It's only fair that I post the conclusion.
> >
> > There was the second adrenal surgery in January,
> > then the UTI within
> > a few days, then the diagnosis of chronic renal
> > failure in February.
> > A heart murmur appeared a few weeks ago and
> > congestive heart failure
> > was diagnosed a little over a week ago.
> >
> > Once the heart problems started, Champ went downhill
> > very quickly and
> > got pretty bad over the weekend. Medications were
> > difficult, as
> > those to help treat the heart problems can cause
> > further kidney
> > damage. Champ's kidneys were such that they
> > couldn't afford further
> > damage. This weekend, after increasing his heart
> > meds some, he
> > swelled up like a balloon. He gained over 1/2 pound
> > in 10 days,
> > nearly reaching 4 lbs. His little face and body
> > were all puffed up.
> > He appeared to be in some discomfort but not a lot
> > of pain, thank
> > God. When he was out of his cage, I put him in a
> > small carrier with
> > lots of blankies, leaving the door open for him to
> > come and go. The
> > only time he ventured out was to use the newspapers
> > right next to the
> > door. I tried to be there to hold him up as he
> > didn't have the
> > strength to stand and would soil himself. He then
> > would drag himself
> > back into the carrier. His breathing became more
> > and more difficult;
> > sometimes I could hear him all over the house.
> >
> > I almost took him to the emergency after-hours vet
> > on Saturday night
> > but talked myself out of it. I talked to a friend
> > yesterday (thanks,
> > Shanna) who put things in perspective. She reminded
> > me that Champy
> > would never get better and it was better to let him
> > go while he still
> > had more "good" times than bad. She gave me the
> > strength to let him
> > go.
> >
> > This a.m., bright and early, we were at the vets'
> > office. Doc gently
> > helped him go as I held him. It was very quick and
> > painless. As a
> > final tribute, he pooped all over my shirt <g>. My
> > Champy is at
> > peace now. He will be cremated and his ashes
> > returned to me.
> >
> > Katharine
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo!
Messenger
> http://phonecard.yahoo.com/