From:
pam_w32744@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-05-18 04:37:59 UTC
Subject: Strange symptoms - need help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6764324.1053232679590.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
7-9 year old female ferret (Marshal Farms). Had ECE march '01. recovered well, no recurrance of symptoms.
Had adrenal surgery in Oct '02 (cancerous adrenal gland). Excellent recovery, went through surgery well.
Hind legs go out from under as she runs (since well before adrenal sugery) Vet advises this is because of advanced age.
Otherwise very healthy, eats, drinks, defecates, urinates - all normal. 17 year old owner tries very hard to provide good care. Has 4 year old ferret friend/cagemate.
7 1/2 months after surgery, has sudden, unexplained siezure on Saturday May 17, '03. (Not related to adrenal surgery)
Head twists off to right , weakness in limbs, movement limited to flopping like a fish and wriggling in circles exactly like an earthworm. Winds up upside down. Doesn't seem to get comfortable. Only wants her soft blankie and to cuddle.
In car on way to vet within 10 minutes of seizure.
Emergency exam reveals: glucose 46 mg/dl - dextrose injection and sub q fluids administered. Acute head tilt to R, strabismus; abdomen feels doughy; HR & RR WNL; gums pink; pdr stroke 2* to heart dz; neoplasia,infectious,toxic, tlaw-a(?); poor prognosis; severe otic discharge in outer part of R ear & filling entire L ear canal- cleaned. Nutrical & A/D diet prescribed - also additional fluids. Feed & water every 2 hrs over weekend.
Brought ferret home to care for over weekend. Owner is understandably confused and upset.
Heidi willingly eats Hill's A/D mixed with water and offered from syringe. Refuses and fights off water and pediatric electrolites (pedialite), acting like she is going to vomit and she spits out water. Grinds her teeth when water is put in her mouth a drop at a time. Teeth grinding makes her saliva all foamy.
She has defecated and urinated once each today that we know of -stool soft and slightly mucousy.
Is there anything that can be done to help this ferret recover and have good quality of life? Or is it time to let her go? The veterinary partner who performed the exam (not our regular vet, he was out of town) did not give us this info - I got it off the exam form.
The vet said she could run some tests on Monday or later in the week, but did not tell us how bad off our fuzzy kid is. The notes on the exam form make me think that it is time to say good-bye to our beloved little Heidi.
Tell me it ain't so. :-( My daughter doesn't want to lose her little friend, but does want what is best for her.
Is there anything that should or could be done? Sensibly, for the ferret's comfort and best quality of life.
One sad ferret mommy's mommy
Pam, Heather, and the fuzz kids, Heidi and SugarBear