From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-06-10 15:30:00 UTC
Subject: Reminder: Nothing replaces veterinary care.
Nothing can or ever will replace veterinary care by a
knowledgeable vet. Yes, it makes sense to learn because then
even those who have very ferret-knowledgeable vets know better
how to care for their animals, but no list and no non-expert
advice can replace that from experts.
Nor should veterinary care be withheld. Obviously, if an animal
is in serious distress or possibly dying then the thing to do is to
provide prompt care. When in doubt put the companion
animal's needs first.
I had a great sadness recently when some members of my
extended family who simply are not responsible enough or
serious enough about vet care never-the-less got and soon lost
a ferret. She should not have died; it was needless. Yes, the
care provided was enough to satisfy the legal requirement of
essentail care, but it was little enough to kill. What destroyed the
ferret was lack of needed medical care. It might not be what
most people think of when they think of abuse, but it killed that
little ferret as surely as any other forms of abuse could have
done.
When in doubt, when a ferret is in pain, when a ferret displays a
handicap, when a ferret is ill then get to the vet. If the symptoms
are marked (like inability to walk, convulsions, etc.), or if they are
ones that tend to be very dangerous (trouble breathing, bleeding,
inability to urinate or deficate, unconcsiousness, grande mal
convulsions, etc.) then get care even on an emergency basis.
NOTHING replaces veterinary care -- nothing.
Sometiems that lesson is learned th hard way, but we here can
all learn it by reading and that can save many ferrets since it
prevents it happening again.
If in doubt get to the vet. If you worry that it may be serious call
the vet and see whether the vet wants to have an emergncy
appointment. Steve and I have done that many times through
the years; sometimes they have us follow-up on our own with
their instructions, sometimes the animal needs to be see soon
but not immediately, sometimes they say, "Meet you at the
hospital in 15 minutes." Don't be afraid to ask your vet; be afraid
of what may happen if you don't ask...