Message Number: YG12111 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Butterfly Love
Date: 2002-03-29 13:30:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Coughing/Wheezing Ferret (litter and experience)

--- Robin Sinex <sinexr@h...> wrote:
> I've always heard that clumping litters (with the
> exception of Swheat
> litter, which is wheat based) are clay based
> litters, and that clay based
> litters are bad for ferrets. I think that the
> reason behind this is that
> the clumping clay type litters can cause blockages,
> but I'm not 100% sure
> of that.

I can and will testify that clumping litters
regardless of thier makers aren't healthy on ferrets
at all!

My parents bought four fuzzies last summer. Last fall
my sister moved from Oregon to Missouri and brought
the four fuzzies for me to enjoy and keep as my own.
Well at that time they were on clumping litter. I
didn't think anything about it. *sigh*

I think in January I had one of my fuzzies 'clyde'
fall ill suddenly. He was in convulsions, and soooooo
off balance it wasn't even funny! I called the oncall
vet who said try syrup, so I did. No avail :( I
called back, she said try force feeding him syrup
mixed with water and can food. *shrug* ok I will do
that.

For about 5 min after givin him that he responded ok,
still unable to walk clearly. I would put him down
every now and again just to see how he is doing.
Finally I couldn't handle it anymore. I went to pick
him up and he bit me due to disorientation.

Soon he lost control of his bowels. They were 'black
and think, goey and after awhile runny as all get out.
In total dispair and so full of tears I called my
emergency vet again..... *sigh* she said bring him
in. I was holding Clyde and finally noticed that he
was tryin to 'pass something' thru his stool. However
unable to, he was crying, yes with tears, because it
hurt him so bad. How did I noticed? I looked down at
his anus and seen him 'pushing'.

Ok, so we get to the vet.... she does xray of him,
nothing ... not one thing. His abdomen is full of
fluid :( She says 'we will hold him overnite'. All I
could do was pray he would be gone soon due to his
pain and mine just in the experience.

Next morning, I get a call..... he didn't make it. I
went to pick him up and brought him home for his
buriel.

The emergency vet kept calling insisting that they do
'rabies' exam to make sure he wasn't ill. Why did
they want to do that? cause he bit me :( I told her
he was 'perfectly healthy' only that he couldn't pass
what was there to pass.

OH and his favorite thing was stuffed animals. He
would pack them around, start diggin at them until he
had them unstuffed. He would do this for hours and
hours. So thinkin that was the cause I tossed all his
toys :(

Finally I gave into the emergency vet and took 'clyde'
in. So hard to dig up a loved one to have an 'rabid'
test done. Hard because they wanted me to bring him
back home 'headless' to bury. Told them heck no!
Either they dispose or they don't get. I couldn't
bring home my friend 'headless' That isn't proper.

In the end they did an autopsy as well. Found it was
'clumping litter' he was trying to pass.

a month goes by, in the meantime we have changed over
the litter to paper chips. The fuzzies hate that
litter big time and will do anything to avoid using
it! Even go as far as sleeping in it! Go figure.

Ok....
Sooo now I notice 'tigger' not using the box or
outletting anything for a day, now two days, workin on
third day. I went into panic attack big time, and
thought NO way was this happening again to me.

I went and got some ferretone, and fed and fed that
stuff to him like no tomorrow. *good thing he
liked(s) it. Later that nite when we were cleanin out
thier house, we noticed some 'clump litter' in a
corner. (we had previously cleaned house out and
washed everything thoroughly) So when I seen that I
was so thankful for the ferretone, as well as changin
litter when I did. And for noticing signs of
blockage.

Just let me tell you..... everyone....... stay away
from any kind of DUST or CLUMPING litters! Dust is
allergic and gets in lungs, clumping blocks and kills!

Use the paper litter chips, cause even if it gets
soggy from urine, at least they can't inhale it or eat
it when playing.

Yvonne

=====
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