From:
"Danielle"
Date: 2010-03-14 17:09:58 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] New to group: sick kit, Qs on being very vocal
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Everyone!
I am new to this group, but not new to ferrets. I had ferrets when I was younger. When I was about 17 years old, Theo and Cassie, two ferrets we adopted from a rescue group 3 years prior, had passed away.
I am 31 years old now and I just recently bought our family a Marshal ferret. When we went into the pet store, which I have not been in forever (lol), I heard this thing crying. It was a baby ferret jumping and crying histerically, at the side of the cage! My ferrets that we had when kids made sounds but mainly when they were playing. I have never heard one cry like this baby was crying.
I asked the pet store owner what was wrong with him? She stated that he just wanted to be held. Needless to say, I held him, lol. But when I was holding him, I could tell something was just not right. He felt like he was running a fever, his belly felt very bloated, he had some nasal and eye discharge, and was still crying. He was more crying like he was in pain.
You could tell he was happy to be picked up but he was just crying too much. So, I bought him. I asked if he had any kind of garauntee on him because in my heart, I knew he was sick. They told me because he was a Marshall ferret that he had a garuantee for one year as long as I kept him on the Marshall ferret food for one year.
OK, anyway, we left with him and within 10 minutes I was definintly convinced that something was wrong with this little guy. I took him straight to my vet that has very little experience with "Pocket" animals. He was running a fever over 104, he weighed a 1/2 lb at supposedly 6 weeks of age. He was sick.
The vet gave him an antibiotic shot and told me to worm him. I have many, many other animals at home so my vet knew that I had the basic stuff to care for him. But, with mine and his little knowledge of ferrets and how to treat them, we are both not sure of and what we are doing is going to be enough.
My vet lectured me on buying sick animals, lol. But, I think God knew to send me into that pet store that day. My vet wants me to take him back and get my money back but I will not let him go back to that place. He would have been dead by the next morning if I had not seen and heard him.
One thing though, I wanted to ask too is that I have never had one that wants to be held and with you all the time.
I am talking that even when we put him in his cage to do his business he is crying. Is it normal for ferrets to be so vocal?
Is there something else I may be over looking that may be wrong?
He seems to be feeling better and pats my face and loves all on me when I finally give into him and pick him up, lol.
But, I can't carry him with me to work or sleep with him 24/7.
It is so funny though, he literally cries, screams, and jumps up wanting to be held and then just vocalizes how much he has missed you when you were only gone for a minute, lololol.
I have panacured him (wormed), given him around the clock pedialyte, and canned chicken. I do have soaked feed out for him too. Is there an antibiotic that he should get PO (orally) or do you think the one antbiotic shot should be enough? I have looked online and the only thing I see is to take it to your vet. Well we do not have any vets in this area that know anything about them. So please help. We have become very attached to this guy.
Thanks,
Danielle
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