From:
atthethreshold@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-06-21 13:46:59 UTC
Subject: Help! First Time Owner Overwhelmed!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7728972.1056203219974.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
3 mo.s ago, my son received a 3 mo. old male kit as a gift (he is now MY w=
easel, my son's opinion on that not withstanding) from someone that knew le=
ss about them than we did, which was nothing. We knew his shots were up to =
date(from vet paperwork)for a year, but nothing about daily care. Obviously=
, we learned quick.
I'm probably being overly cautious, but I have alot of concerns. Primarily=
, he has had a fairly regular cough since we got him. It's a very sharp, dr=
y, almost gagging sound, identical to the sound he makes when eating too fa=
st. But, sometimes, he makes it for no apparent reason. We knew nothing abo=
ut hairballs at first, so he was without a lax for a couple of weeks at fir=
st, and his cough/gag got worse. We put him on Ferretlax after we found out=
, and he gets it twice a week, which helped, but not totally. Also, he seem=
s to lose a little energy the day after we give him the lax, and seems dehy=
drated (drinking alot more than usual). We've seen the dry hairball "treats=
", but heard they were not as good. I'm confused.
Also, his cough has gotten worse lately, possibly as a result of one or bo=
th of the following.
A week ago, I was laying him down for the night(he has relatively free roa=
m, is caged only for naps and bedtime), and had just refilled his food, a m=
ix of Kaytee Fiesta, and S&G Premium Adult. He always has a nibble before b=
ed, and by chance, I hung out in the room for a few more minutes than usual=
. He started that cough/gag thing, and I happened to peek in on him, and no=
ticed him clawing at his throat, and pacing, and he appeared to have diffic=
ulty breathing. Out of knee-jerk reaction more than anything else, I snatch=
ed him up, and looked for an obstruction (none) so I pointed him downward, =
and rapped his back a couple of times, but it didn't seem to help. I set hi=
m down to go for the emergency vet#, and I hear one last cough/gag, and the=
n hear him munching again as if nothing had happened, a wet, dried bananna =
chip lying next to him. Scared me to death. Anyone have this before? How ca=
n you handle it if it won't dislodge? Obviously, he only gets bananna chips=
by hand now, and only tiny pieces (he loves them too much to cut out).
Also, he just started getting up into the sofa from beneath. I tried to bl=
ock his entry, but he got super upset, a thing he hasn't done with any othe=
r weasel proofing. I mean, real upset. He obsessed about it! Clawing carpet=
and outside fabric around and on the sofa, real tantrum when we tried to g=
et him to stop that, and finally, he sat around by the sofa moping for two =
days, until I finally caved in. Now, we're just extra careful to check befo=
re sitting down, and he's as happy as a clam. Unfortunately, he has started=
a nest with the cotton batting inside now, and I can always hear him cough=
/gagging when he's dragging it around inside the sofa. How the hell do I ha=
ndle this?
Also, another concern, is sneezing. It's not a regular thing, but he some=
times has these violent sneeze fits, 6 or seven in a row,for no apparent re=
ason. Sometimes he goes a week or two wihout one, then maybe a few days in=
a row, he'll get them a few times a day, always in different areas of his =
roaming area. ?!
And, while I'm worrying this bone, I've noticed that his beeping (meeping,=
dooking, giggling or whatever) has almost stopped. He used to get into lit=
eral giggling fits when we played with him, and we probably play just as mu=
ch now as before, but it's almost stopped. He's still a ridiculously happy,=
bright and energetic, moderately insane ferret, but he just doesn't beep a=
nymore. Is this a kit thing that he grew out of (darn!) or a legitimate tro=
uble sign? (DARN!)
His weight is good (I think), he went from a little over half a pound, to =
two and a half pounds in three months, and he's long and lean (only the sli=
ghtest little fat rolls on his haunches that make excellent tickle spots), =
is this appropriate?
We don't really know a good vet to call about all this, and I'm reluctant =
to bring him in even if we find him. We live on a tight budget, and we've b=
een stashing for legitimate emergencies for him, but I'd feel horrible to f=
ind out that this is all normal after spending an enormous amount of money,=
only to not have the cash should a real emergency arise. I'm really gettin=
g anxious about this (and a ton of other minor questions that I'm slowly fi=
nding answers for).I've owned many pets before, from dogs to fish, but I've=
never bonded with one like this before, and the more I learn about these f=
ascinating little creatures, the more anxious I get. Can someone talk me do=
wn please?
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