Message Number: YG12447 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-04-12 11:28:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Adrenal surgery costs

Hi, Amy, and everyone else.

> I have an awesome vet who has been doing Cryosurgery for the last few
> years. However, two years ago I brought my first ferret in for Cryo
> and the surgery was $400. Now it's up to $550...maybe the price is
> going up with experience ;-) Regardless of the price increase, it's
> worth it to know my ferrets are in good hands. I hear so many horror
> storys of post surgery problems. My ferrets come home feeling like
> nothing ever happened.

This is a great post. Too often people look for inexpensive vets and
get what they pay for. One woman who was very active in rescue work a
while back (she's less active now, sadly) recommended an inexpensive vet
about 75 miles west of here. Several people, including the shelter Mom,
tried him. That experience cost two ferrets that I know of their lives.

A really experienced, knowledgable ferret vet is worth his or her weight
in gold. My vet has performed 12 surgeries on my ferrets over the past
four years. I vividly remember Pertwee, my starcrossed albino boy of
the many medical problems, coming home after his second (right) adrenal
surgery. I opened the cage door to move him from the travel cage to the
big recovery cage, and before I could grab him he darted off, up the
stairs, and led us on a merry chase. This was 24 hours after major
surgery. I'm seeing the same thing with Podo, a 7.5 year old ferret who
many would say is too old for the surgery he just went through: right
adrenal (vena cava ligation). He doesn't understand why I don't want
him to jump, climb, or wrestle. He feels fine.

When I read about people losing two ferrets to adrenal surgery and
doubting whether they'd ever have surgery done again I really wonder
about the vet.

Don't get me wrong: I'm unemployed right now and every penny counts. I
just won't skimp when my ferrets' welfare and very lives are at stake.

All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine