From:
"Diane C. Wall"
Date: 2002-08-05 14:46:11 UTC
Subject: Caring for Ferret with lymphoma
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Cc: "Crystal Ferraro" <crystal_bedell@yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <!~!UENERkVCMDkAAQACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgAAAAAAAAAS+0b9wJ+T0an1kr7NkkWw8KAAAAQAAAAH62e0ZmT/E2VuLqHgIETLgEAAAAA@harbormortgage.com>
Hi everyone, I am caring for a six+ year old sable male ferret with
lymphoma.
His name is Marvin and I am ferret sitting for his family with his
female cage mate Molly (who is the same age and in good health). As a
dedicated Ferret Mommy and Ferret Sitter, I want to make his visit with
me the most comfortable. I have given him an overall exam and his nodes
at his neck, upper armpits and lower thighs are quite enlarged. He eats
NutraMax cat food (his owner's choice and the only food he'll eat as a
marshall tattooed ferret). It appears to have a good ingredient list
with protein 34% and fat of 20% with the first three ingredients chicken
based.
The medicine he is presently taking is sulcrafate (1/4 pill dissolved in
water then syringed) with a period of waiting time (15-30 minutes)
before his pred of 1.0 ml. These are given twice daily (morning &
night).
He seems quite comfortable with me cuddling him and singing to him, as
well as giving him resting spots in the ferret safe playroom. Curling up
for short naps in the comfy places I have set up round the room. When
not napping, he is alert, focused and even has taken a couple of turns
in the flexible tube. I am being quite careful when I pick him up and
scruffing when giving him his medicine. He's so bumpy that I can't
imagine how he eats comfortably. It must be like chewing up and
swallowing captain crunch cereal while you have swollen glands. I have
called his current vet to double check on the medications he is on as
well as let them know I am caring for Marvin & Molly while his family is
on vacation.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can give him the best care?
He's the second ferret I have cared for with lymphoma, but his is more
severe.
Thanks-Diane Wall
Holbrook, MA