From:
Debbie Utter
Date: 2002-01-16 00:33:00 UTC
Subject: Klondike's gone
Klondike had labored breathing tonight, pretty much since
bringing him home (probably started around 7 or so) - couldn't
relax or seem to get comfortable. I figured it was because of
the spleen being poked around and shifted and it was pushing
on the lungs or heart or something. I was doing my best to
keep him comfortable, holding him in different positions. He
seemed to be getting better, but then around 10:30 or 10:45
his breathing became more labored, and he was foaming at the
mouth. That's because his breathing was so rapid and shallow.
His tail was all pouffy, and he lost control of his bladder.
This lasted for an hour! Toward the end of that time (I had
been holding him the entire time, petting him trying to
comfort him), he acted scared or frightened by my hand when I
went to pet him. He was still seizuring (if that's what this
was) when I called the emergency service, and told them what
was going on. They said a vet would be calling me back.
Within five minutes, I had a vet on the phone, but he said he
wouldn't be able to help because he didn't treat ferrets, and
the ferret vet who saw Klondike earlier wasn't on call
tonight. I asked him what I was supposed to do then, and it
was about that time that Klondike (still in his pen), arched
his back and tipped his head back, went rigid.....then died!
Just like that, he was gone. He died just about the stroke of
midnight. I have no idea what happened.
I'll be calling the vet in the morning to cancel surgery and
let him know what happened, and I'll probably want to have an
autopsy or necropsy done. I have him in the fridge.
Here I was beginning to feel encouraged, and now he's gone.