From:
caitlynmaire@earthlink.net
Date: 2002-06-10 17:12:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Reminder: Nothing replaces veterinary care.
Hi, Sukie, and everyone else,
>
> 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.
As usual, you are right on with this post. When Podo started showing
minor adrenal symptoms (a little hair loss) a few months ago I took him
to the vet. He palpitated and found that Podo's prostate was already
significantly enlarged. The tumor, a carcinoma, was very large and had
invaded the vena cava. He needed surgery, and he needed it sooner
rather than later. That wasn't something I could tell at home. If I
had waited until he couldn't urinate or got a urinary tract infection,
things could have been much worse.
The other night I noticed Podo's hind legs were slipping out from under
him. There were no other symptoms, and that's a very non-specific
symptom, but I still thought getting him checked was a good idea. Guess
what? His blood glucose today was 55. He has insulinoma. Now we know
how to treat him.
> 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.
This is tremendously important. "My vet wasn't available and by Monday
morning it was too late" is a refrain we've seen on the FML and here. I
can think of two situations (Nyssa's blockage, Pertwee's Addisonian
Crisis) where immediate intervention late at night by a vet at the
emergency clinic saved my ferrets' lives.
BTW, Nyssa was four months old when she decided to eat her bedding, and
I was still pretty ignorant about ferret care. When I rushed her to the
emergency clinic she was already at the point of collapse. That
experience taught me never to wait if I feel something is wrong. My
hesitation could have killed her.
>
> NOTHING replaces veterinary care -- nothing.
Amen. Sometimes I think a small minority of people post here to try and
avoid the cost of a vet visit. Don't do it.
>
> 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...
>
THANK YOU for posting this!
All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine