From:
JchProcess@Yahoo.com
Date: 2004-01-30 15:25:53 UTC
Subject: How do you know when it's time to let go
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7216620.1075476353725.JavaMail.root@indium.smartgroups.com>
I am faced with a very difficult decision today. One our ferrets Taz had s=
urgery in early December. The vet discovered several tumors only one was r=
emoved. The vet told us he did not believe that removing the other tumors w=
ould prolong Taz=92s life any. He did remove the entire spleen. He said du=
e to the large size of it removing it would help him get around a little be=
tter and he said over three quarters of it looked diseased anyway. Taz has=
been doing fairly well considering he lost his littermate two and a half w=
eeks ago. In the last few days Taz seemed to be feeling a little better. H=
e has a lot of trouble getting his hind legs under himself when he first wa=
kes up but after about 10 minutes he gets around pretty well. Today when I =
went to take him out of the cage for his morning play time he was not doing=
well at all. I picked him up because he was not at the door with the other=
s waiting to get out. When I picked him up in my arms he just let his head=
roll to the side. I decided to clean him up a little (we use baby wipes t=
o clean his belly and hind legs when he goes to the bathroom at night he is=
getting it on himself) after I had cleaned him all up I put him in front o=
f a plate of ferretone he was not interested at all and tried to walk off. =
Because of the problems he has with his hind legs when he gets up he was no=
t getting anywhere so I was holding his middle trying to follow him where h=
e wanted to be he went back to the cage. I snuggled him a little and put hi=
m back in the cage but then he seemed to want back out so I picked him back=
up then he was trying to get back in the cage again. I decided to just lea=
ve him in his bed, and I went back to getting ready for work. I put the oth=
ers away as usual before leaving for work. I always give them a treat when =
I put them in the cage. Taz couldn=92t find his even though it was right in=
front of him. I picked up his treat and tried to hand it to him and he bit=
my finger (not hard) it was like he couldn=92t see or smell the treat but =
new that it was time to get one. I am faced with not knowing if Taz is rea=
dy to be put to sleep of if this was just a bad morning. Over the next few=
weeks and months will this be just part of his normal day. Or is this what=
to look for when it=92s close to time to let them go. Can anyone tell me =
if it=92s time to let go? I talked to my vet about this right after his sur=
gery. He told me that when it was time I would just know. I am worried that=
he may be suffering but I can=92t tell for sure if he is just tired or if =
it is something more. I am very sorry to have written so much but I am tryi=
ng to make it clear what is really going on with Taz. this is such a large=
decision to make.
Thank you in advance for any opinions
Jen
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