Message Number: YG12544 | New FHL Archives Search
From: aanile_k
Date: 2002-04-17 14:53:00 UTC
Subject: Very sick 6.5 year old female :(

I have an older ferret and have had her since she was an ity bity
baby. After all this time, with ZERO incidents/accidents with her
health, she's gotten ill.

She was lathargic and not eating/drinking for 2 days, so I took her
into an "exotic pet specialist" and left her in his care for 2 days.
After these two days he tells me the following is wrong with her:

-dehydration
-elevated glucose
-she's just old

Well, being her "mother" I didn't feel comfortable with this at all.
He wanted to keep her a little longer and I felt it was better she
came home.

After 2 days at home, she seemed to be recovering rapidly. I was
feeding her Nutri-Cal mixed with banana flavored ensure and she loved
that stuff (when she wouldn't even eat for them). After another day
she was crunching her normal food and still taking the Nutri-Cal.
After 1 week of her coming home, she seemed fully recooperated. A few
days later I took her on a trip to my parent's for the weekend. She
then started exhibiting the same problems as before. She didn't want
her food, only Nutri-Cal/Ensure and that's it. Not even her water.

It is now 4 days into her being sick again and she doesn't want to
eat, doesn't want to play, just wants to sleep. She has tried to
drink my fruit juice on many occasions and I let her drink some last
night...she drank and drank.

Have any of you ever experienced anything like this with your
ferrets? I am so lost and so sad. I don't know what I can do for her,
I love her so much and I don't want to see her pass on from
dehydration and malnutrition. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm at the
end of my rope here and I'll try anything I can!!


Sadly,
Liz