From:
"xxxxxxx"
Date: 2007-11-03 10:10:51 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret suddenly died - need input
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Male ferret, age 5, had adrenal surgery last year around
September/October 2006. Grew back some fur, stopped being aggressive.
Then a few months after surgery, he started acting aggressive again
(mating stuff) so four months ago I put him on Lupron.
Four months (barely) have passed I believe and he lost all his back
fur last week. He also started acting more bitey toward feet again,
something that was a problem before the lupron.
He also started peeing in his cage in more places (what I thought was
marking) last week, but it probably has been going on the last month
or two. He also would poo outside of the box too, which usually was a
sign of protest from him being caged, but being an only, he had to
wait his turn until the others were done playing.
Anyway so the whole peeing and pooing outside the box and all over was
not a dramatic departure from his usual self at first, but last week
it was starting to be everywhere. He also ran around the house and did
it too...
His poo the night that I saw he had crashed, was dark and tarry. When
I picked up and broke apart some dry it looked almost like brown/tan
crystalline inside. He came out of his hammie (where I thought he was
just being a lazy bum the day before) very dehydrated, and weak. I
immediately gave him LRS and my fiance held him.
I got baby food into him and at first he drank a little water, but
then refused it along with food. He seemed somewhat painful and
preferred one side.
Fiance continued to hold him until he went to bed, and then put his
hand in the cat bed we put him in (his favorite) all night, sleeping
on the couch.
That morning I bring Peepers in to the vet. They take his blood. One
kidney function is bad. Others okay. Glucose 75 (keep in mind since he
was sick he may not have eaten for two days - the sad reality is that
I messed up and thought he was just sleepy the day before and didn't
want to get up - but he was sick. Peepers, being adrenal, sometimes
didn't want to come out for playtime due to the schedule not being to
his liking....he liked to do things on his own time.
Anyway - liver values fine. Palpated for adrenals - vet said he felt
no tumors.
I have not got the CBC red/white count yet, I haven't got to talk to
the vet.
The vet says we should give him glucose, LRS, and see where the values
go. I agree to let him have him overnight. I thought they would put
him in a kennel, but they left him in his carrier - yes it had a hammy
but I would have preferred him able to move around...
They tried to feed him but he refused. He was well-hydrated at this
point with LRS. He passed away during the night.
I was told by the vet that I made a mistake and should not have done
Lupron since he already had adrenal surgery. The surgery was a quick
cryo, and it did work for a while but then he started being agressive.
Did I do the wrong thing by giving him Lupron? Did I send him into
shock by letting the Lupron wear off? I am confused, sad, and I think
I might have killed him.
I want to know the truth, to save any of my others lives. I am not
perfect, and I thought I was doing the right thing, but apparently not.
A free necropsy is being done since the vet didn't expect him to pass
overnight like that. He was as shocked as I was.
Any insight or comments are very welcome.
xxxxxxx
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