From:
Robin Sinex
Date: 2002-05-31 10:42:00 UTC
Subject: fatter ferret -- worry?
I'd like to know if this is something that's normal, or if it's something
I should bring to the vet:
Rhodry is now very much my fattest ferret. When last we visited the vet,
Rhodry was a few ounces lighter than Nevyn (my other male), but now he
looks significantly heavier (I don't have a scale, so can't tell for
sure). Additionally, twice now, when I've returned him to the cage, I
thought I felt some moisture on my hand. The first time could have been
imagination, but the second time this happened (not on consecutive
nights), I actually saw the moisture on my hand. I also know that at
least one of my three has diarrhea, as I've been cleaning it up from cage
and play area.
My current theories are:
1) Rhodry only looks fat because Nevyn's slimmed down for Spring/Summer.
2) Rhodry got fat because he napped through the first hour or two of play
time for a while, and it will go away now that he wants to play during
play time. During this time, he may have been sick, and I probably should
have taken him to the vet. He plays normally now.
3) There might be something making it difficult for him to pee, and it's
urine that makes him look fat. This happened to my Grandfather several
years ago. This would explain the moisture on my hands when putting him
into the cage, if something I was doing when putting him away allowed for
some urine to slip out. I tried taking him to the sink and stroking or
gently prodding his abdomen to see if any urine might come out, but Rhodry
only gave me a look as if to say, "Mom, this game is so lame. Can we play
something else?"
Well, that's the situation. I'd try putting him in a seperate cage, to
see if he is peeing, except that I don't have one. Does any of this sound
familiar to someone's experience? I'd apreciate anything people have to
offer.
Robin Sinex.
Rhodry, Brangwyn, & Nevyn.