From:
rwilliams_0828
Date: 2002-03-29 20:09:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Coughing/Wheezing Ferret (litter and experience)
Thank you Robin and Yvonne for your advice. Yvonne I am so sorry
about your loss. We have done a clean house in Spaz's playroom,
switched out litters, cleaned toys, bedding, etc. he seems to be
good today, no coughing/wheezing so far. thanks again.
robyn
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Butterfly Love
<butterflylove71@y...> wrote:
>
> --- 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
>
> =====
> If you are gonna DREAM, dream BIG! Our thoughts do manifest!
>
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