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Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:stitches |
on: Today at 10:27:53am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by South Shore Ferret |
| Looks like you've tried what I would have suggested as well. Perhaps your vet might consider some buprenex pain med to chill him out so he can leave the stitches alone for a couple of days. |
  
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Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:stitches |
on: September 01, 2010, 07:51:43 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
| Thats how Fax looked for about 3 seconds... his stitches are almost on his hip, so it didnt work so great. hes still doing well though, and leaving them alone |
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| 4 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:aggressive male not allowing introductions |
on: September 01, 2010, 07:49:05 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
| i also kept faxxys little "friend" lol i read up on them though, and aparently we have about 150 diffrent types of bot flys in the world, and although most are located in tropical areas, we do have a few here in the good old USA. SO CREEPY |
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| 5 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:aggressive male not allowing introductions |
on: September 01, 2010, 07:44:02 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by Phyllis Spy |
Elmo's Bot Fly Story...
Elmo was found wandering in a park in Foxboro and picked up by the ACO in Wrentham. Joanne and I picked him up from the ACO's home on Labor Day two years ago. We immediately took him to the shelter where he was made comfortable. A couple of days later, Diddy called me to say that Elmo had at least 3 or 4 "mast cell tumors" and that he was going in for a vet check. Well, those "mast cell tumors" turned out to be a total of EIGHT bot fly larva. Several were on his scruff, but most were on his tummy around his penis. The first larva came out pretty easily as it was located on his scruff and with the help of lots of Ferretone the vet was able to remove it. However, he had to go under anesthesia for the removal of the remaining 7 larva. After going on YouTube to get more info on bot fly larva, I was amazed to discover that they are found mostly in tropical areas. The only way I can figure out that they are found here in MA is that people traveling to tropical areas (Costa Rica, the Caribbean, etc.) bring them back in their clothing or such.
Elmo is fine and the bot fly larva are in a plastic jar at the shelter. No.... the bot fly larva are not available for adoption  And, Elmo was adopted by me and is very happy and healthy without his "companions".
This is another reminder of the need to carefully check any ferret found outside, especially during the summer months.
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| 6 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:stitches |
on: September 01, 2010, 07:32:28 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by Phyllis Spy |
| Here is picture of "socked" ferret..... |
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| 7 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:stitches |
on: September 01, 2010, 01:25:38 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
yeah, we tried the surgical sock, made almost a shirt out of it... he was out of that in all of 3 seconds. he is leaving it alone tonight, but hes also clearly not feeling great after having to be put under 2 times in 2 days  my poor little man. hes such a trooper though, i know that if he would just leave the stitches alone he will be just fine. |
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| 8 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:stitches |
on: August 31, 2010, 11:26:36 pm |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by alanjojo |
When my Homer had a mass cell removed it was in the scratch area and my vet put a which I assume was a surgical sock cut and made to fit and we used the white tape that doesn't hurt.
It was a life saver, he wasn't happy at first but did get used to it. Will try and find pics to show.
Joanne |
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| 9 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / stitches |
on: August 31, 2010, 08:06:49 pm |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
| so, Fax had a bot fly maggot removed yesterda and when i woke up this morning he had ripped all of his stitches out!!!!! hes restitched now, and, although these stitches seem much tighter then the last, im still worried about him ripping them back out. the cone of shame only lasted about ten minutes at most and the dressing they put on hime this time lasted about 3 seconds. whats a good way of haveing a ferret leave stitches alione?? he has a drain in it so it cant be coverd up and i need to do warm compresses, so vetwrap is out of the question. what do i do??? |
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| 10 |
MaFF / Shelter News / Re:Latest Surrender... |
on: August 31, 2010, 01:22:16 pm |
| Started by Phyllis Spy | Last post by Flanker679 |
| That's horrible and makes me so sad and angry at the same time. Poor baby. Hopefully he is learning that it isn't always like that. |
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| 11 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:the perfect travel carrier? |
on: August 31, 2010, 07:58:27 am |
| Started by JadeWolf | Last post by Phyllis Spy |
| I use a medium-size dog carrier that has enough room on the floor for a corner litter pan. I attach a hammock at a height that gives them enough room to move around underneath. I use plastic cups that attach to the door for food and water. During the winter or on rainy days, I cover it with a fleece blanket. This carrier goes every where with me and stays in my car at all times (set up for any emergency). It is roomy enough for two ferrets to spend the day in my office on days when I have a vet appointment or when they need 24/7 care. |
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| 12 |
MaFF / Shelter News / Latest Surrender... |
on: August 31, 2010, 07:48:35 am |
| Started by Phyllis Spy | Last post by Phyllis Spy |
This past Saturday MaFF was at PETCO North Dartmouth for a scheduled A/E Day. We were all busy with answering questions and playing with the ferrets, when two ladies came in with a ferret. At first I thought it was their personal ferret, but soon found out that they were looking for help. It seems that the brother-in-law of the younger lady called her to say he had taken a ferret away from someone who said they were going to feed the ferret to their boa constrictor!
Since neither lady knew anything about ferrets, I suggested that they surrender the ferret to MaFF and that we would get him adopted into a new loving home.
His new name is Spencer and he is only about 1 year old.
While we were busy with the A/E Day, I placed Spencer in a carrier to rest for a bit and then decided to take him out for some exercise, food and water in a separate playpen. When I reached into the carrier to get him, he was so scared of coming out of the carrier that he latched onto the cuddle cup with all 20 toe nails. I can only imagine what "coming out of his cage" must have been like for him. It was as if he was saying "Please.... No.... Not that again!" Poor baby has been through so much.
Right now he is at a temporary foster home and will be transferred to the shelter in a week or so. Please keep him in yours prayers that he never has to go through any trauma again!
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| 13 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:aggressive male not allowing introductions |
on: August 31, 2010, 07:26:19 am |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
thank god i work at a vet! i woke up to find Fax out of his cone, and no stitches... hes coming in with me today to figure something out. HOW DO YOU KEEP A FERRET FROM PULLING OUT STITCHES?!
as far as the intergration process, i have had a one step forward, two steps back kinda thing. had a really positive hangout time in the bathroom with just Fax and Gully, no fights and plenty of ferretone, but the next day Gulliver attacked him again. il keep at it, and if it dosnt work, Fax still has a home with me, i have plenty of cages and plenty of love to give! |
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| 14 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:aggressive male not allowing introductions |
on: August 30, 2010, 10:11:26 pm |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by Kristin |
Poor little guy! He sure is lucky to have found you as his mommie. A less attentive or concerned owner might not have noticed the area and brought him in to get it checked out. Nice grab!
However, wait till Diddy tells you the story of the shelter ferret that came in with multiple Bot Flys. He is now Phyllis's litte boy Elmo, and boy did he have the hardest start! Diddy, you tell the story best. When you can, you should post Elmo's story here.
BTW, how is Fax getting along with the other ferrets now? Have you been working on their introductions at all? |
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| 15 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / Re:aggressive male not allowing introductions |
on: August 30, 2010, 03:15:03 pm |
| Started by PaigeMarie | Last post by PaigeMarie |
so, i brought Fax into the vet with what i thought was a badly infected bite on his back. next thing i knew he was being put under to remove a BOT FLY MOGGOT! i got to watch the removal since my grooming shop is out of the vet. poor guy has a big line of stitches and a drain and since he wont leave it alone, i had to make a cone of shame that i fashoned out of cardboard, string, and a harness. he took it like a champ and is eating like a good little man.
im just in so much shock right now, i didnt know we had bot flys here. and the thing was HUGE! Only i would not only find a strray ferret, but find a stray ferret with a rare parasite! poor little Faxxy has been through so much in his short life, il do everything in my power to makethe rest of it spoiled and indulgent! he deserves it. nothing gets this guy down!! |
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| 16 |
Ferrets / Ferret Care / the perfect travel carrier? |
on: August 30, 2010, 02:09:45 pm |
| Started by JadeWolf | Last post by JadeWolf |
I have had the worst time finding the right travel carrier for my ferrets. Will and Jack came from their last owner with a tiny carrier that just fit both of them; it's fine for trips under 30 min, but could never fit water, food, or litter. I now have two small/medium hard sided carriers, which are just a bit too small to fit the smallest litterbox we have and leave any substantial floor space. Also a one-story cage that takes up the car's whole back seat, which was great on a really long drive, but can't really be carried with them in it.
What on earth does everyone else do? I noticed at the SSFC event many people had hammocks rigged in the carriers, which I'm going to try. Are there good carriers, or extra-small litterboxes? Do I just resign myself to a big hard-sided carrier that's unweildy to carry? Thanks!
Jen |
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| 17 |
Ferrets / Hot Topics / Re:Question about insulinoma |
on: August 29, 2010, 01:06:59 am |
| Started by ferretlover | Last post by papaweasel |
Great info here and i agree- it is in NO way the worst news-
it is a very common disease in ferrets and can be treated medically & with diet to continue a good long life. I say 90 % ferrets that live over 4 years old are subject to have it, and IMO surgery is useless as they can never get all the nodules and thay grow back very quickly and by the time you see symptoms they are advanced & well into the disease as their bodies can adjust to a certain degree until the symptoms then become noticable. Other symptoms are loosing weight and a loose stool along with the other ones stated before.
It is very treatable. :-) |
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| 18 |
Ferrets / Hot Topics / Re:Question about insulinoma |
on: August 26, 2010, 10:43:37 pm |
| Started by ferretlover | Last post by Michele |
Well said, Katherine!! I've had ferrets live for years after a diagnosis of Insulinoma. I just lost one that had been living comfortably with his insulinoma (with the right care, feeding and meds) for almost 3 years--and another one that has been living with the diagnosis for almost as long-with other issues that will most likely cause problems long before the insulinoma.
In addition to the meds and appropriate diet -high protein, low carb-another key is paying attention to the little nuances of behavior change that start occuring prior to a major insulinomic crisis.
In addition to bringing Taz to your vet to have his Blood Glucose (BG) monitered regularly (you and your vet should discuss how often that relates to Taz)
Here are a few other signs that indicate that you might want to consider getting him in for a Blood glucose check:
If he seems very tired (more so than what is normal for him)
If he seems to be eating alot more (other than the normal seasonal change)
If he seems to Daze out every so often
If is head bobs
If his back end seems weak
This info is not intended to replace a conversation with your vet , but to give you some tips that may be helpful. I agree with Kathryn and believe that if you feel as though you need to get a better handle on Taz's diagnoses, the the best person to speak with is his vet. The office should have some literature that they are able to provide you, In the meantime, if you PM me with your email address, I can send you some info that may help.
Take care,
Michele, South Shore Ferret Care |
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| 19 |
Ferrets / Hot Topics / Re:Question about insulinoma |
on: August 25, 2010, 04:28:38 pm |
| Started by ferretlover | Last post by Kathryn |
It's always scary when a ferret is diagnosed with a terminal disease, but "the worst news ever" is relative to the individual. I can definitely think of worse. Living with insulinoma can depend on several things, including how early it was diagnosed, how well it is managed with diet and medicine, and how each individual ferret responds to the treatment and disease. All of these factors will play into your guy's quality of life. If Taz likes frequent meals of high protein/low-no carb food and tolerates the pred. and future drugs well, then he may do well for several months or longer. I suggest talking with your vet about the best ways to manager insulonoma and if you'd like, I can refer you to my vet who took amazing care of my Ruby when she had both adrenal and insulonoma. I also highly recommend Evo's canned diets which are all protein for managing insulonoma. We mix it in with the dook soup.
Good luck, don't stress too much and enjoy your time with Taz! |
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| 20 |
Ferrets / Hot Topics / Question about insulinoma |
on: August 25, 2010, 12:06:37 pm |
| Started by ferretlover | Last post by ferretlover |
Ok, need someone to really explain to me the effects of insulinoma in a ferret. When I had mentioned that my Taz was diagnosed, some of you at the South Shore Ferret event this past weekend said that’s the worst news you can get. Why? Because it really can’t be treated? Does having them on prednisone help slow it down? Or does it just help to keep them comfortable? I understand some ferrets only live a short time and some can last a year or so, it is an individual disease. But "why" is this the "worst news you can get"? Because it is terminal? Or because what it does to them? (which is...?)
I will be there for my Taz, he is now 5, but don’t want to get my hopes up if his remaining time is short. I will give him LOTS of TLC....
Thanks |
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