Message Number: SG2050 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: "Amy & Dave Seyler"
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 22:09:00 -0500
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Subject: Re: Need advice on euthansia
Message-ID: <OE18Z9FFIXR5lK06Ye200001e08@hotmail.com>
I'm dealing with this situation right now. Max is 8.5 and has had insulinom=
a for over a year and adrenal for the past 8 months or so. He used to grunt=
when using the bathroom, or if I picked him up or if he was moving around =
in his cage. I've probably spent $700 on him in the last couple of months, =
because I thought the adrenal was giving him an enlarged prostate, which wa=
s causing his discomfort from peeing. Yes, his prostate is enlarged, but no=
t terribly, and he's on Lupron. It turns out though, that his problem peein=
g is related to a raging infection which after almost a month of antibiotic=
s we are finally getting under control.
Max's routine is this: get up, fly out of the cage, run to the bathroom doo=
r and dig to be let in and put in the tub with water, get out, crawl in his=
sleep sack, and then go to sleep. He has 2 cubes of duck soup twice a day,=
with pred. I've wondered about the quality of his life, but I have to tell=
you that I think he's just old and doing fine.
It sounds to me like Maggie might need to see a vet and just make sure ever=
ything's okay, but really, she just sounds like an old ferret. We've been t=
hrough many and this sounds fairly typical (expect for the whining when usi=
ng the bathroom). Max still grunts in his sleep, but I think of it now like=
an old man trying to get around. I would say unless she's in a coma or in =
obvious pain, she's not quite ready to go yet.
BTW, the vet was stunned with Max's bloodwork -- nearly perfect for a ferre=
t HALF his age. Other than the adrenal and insulinoma, he's healthy as a ho=
rse. He might be the one that lives to 10!
Amy, Dave, Sarah & Paul (and their gaggle of giggling ferrets)
RIP Ian, Elektra, Claudia & Sidney
Missing Tasha
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.