From:
readingferret
Date: 2002-03-12 13:29:00 UTC
Subject: Amadeus is going to the bridge
Hi everyone,
I'm sitting at work, w/ Amadeus fast asleep in a towel on my desk.
Twelve days ago he was diagnosed w/ cardiomyopathy and, rather than
helping, the treatments seemed to have sped up his illness rather
than bought us some more time together.
Last summer he lost his winter weight. In the fall he didn't gain it
back. I took him in to the vet's where a full CBC, urine analysis,
and fecal analysis took place. Nothing was found. The vet asked me if
I wanted anything else done. I said no...not even thinking of an x-
ray. We started a course of Amoxycillan in case he had once again
gotten helicobacter.
No improvement, but, not knowing any better, I delayed getting a
second opinion until two weeks ago, where an x-ray showed the
presence of cardiomyopathy.
He never coughed and swelling from water retention didn't show up
until Wednesday and he was seen Thursday, but in front of me is a
ferret that looks at me w/ trust through slitted eyes. He has lost
control of his hind legs and drags them along. In reality, I thought
he'd taken a large leap, missed his intended target and fallen and
broken his back. I tried to find a ride to the vet's last night to
get him put down but couldn't find anyone who could take me. Because
he doesn't appear to be suffering, merely tired, I didn't feel the
need to take a cab. Instead, I held him while watching television and
later while reading, and left him sleep by my side all night long.
Lately he refused to drink water, preferring my artificially
sweetened ice tea. This morning he drug himself to my dog's water
drish and drank and drank until I thought he'd burst.
I love my Amadeus so much and will miss him more than I can say. He
often reigned as favorite. Whenever other ferret folks met him the
were amazed at his trust in strangers. Rather than squirming to get
down he would merely curl up and fall asleep....whether his bed was a
pair of hands, arms, or a lap. His deafness was never a deterrent.
Instead, it made him more aware of me. His bite training and playing
endeared him to me all the more.
From this came a question that I hope people can answer if they can
face (and go past) their pain of losing their darling deaf Wardenburg
syndrome ferrets. What do Wardenburg ferrets die from? I have heard
they have shorter life spans than most ferrets...and that is indeed
true in Amadeus's case. Could people let me know what was the cause
of death in their Wardenburg Syndrome ferrets? I would truly
appreciate it. I can't say I'll be able to start a chart of any sort
w/o a sizeable sample.
A grieving,
Pat (and the rest of the Furry Inspirations)