URGENT!! VERY ILL FERRET is DYING !

Question
Hi jacquie!
My ferret is 5 yrs old, he was hospitalized last year for 3 days because he wasn't eating and was peeing weird, the vet told us he has some adrenal problem, when he came back he was back to "normal", he wasn't the same as he used to because he wouldnt play as he used to and was getting cataracts. He cant see well but still walked around the house and played around.s About a month ago he stopped playing with our other ferret and wasn't as active as usual. We took him to his favorite place, the park, and didn't play. 3 weeks ago he started walking like he couldn't use one leg, but he was still "walking" and eating, today in the morning we noticed he was urinating and pooping on himself, we figured its because of his leg. Then we noticed he wasn't eating and didn't wanna open his mouth, and didnt move at all. I bathed him to clean him up and for him to swim (which is something he likes) but he didn't move or did any of the things he usually does when he's in water. He moves his head to the sides and cuddles to sleep but still doesn't wanna eat. What's happening to him? What should I do? We still paying the bill from last year and my father doesn't wanna take him there again. :-( I don't know what's wrongs with my baby or what to do.

Answer
Oh   kathleen, my heart is breaking for you.  I have been down this route and it is so sad and can be so damn expensive when you get a misdiagnisis.  I suspect you have a misdiagnosis, but please know that I am NOT a vet.  I am going to try to help you tho, because your little one has hours to maybe a day to live if he doesn't get proper care.

The best thing right now would be to get him some sub-cutaneous fluids.  I suspect he has not been eating/drinking as he should and I suspect he has blood sugar problems, which would explain his leg weakness and lethargy (weakness), and disinterest in his usual activities.  THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO GET TO A DIFFERENT VET - AAN EXOTICS VET, WHICH I SUSPECT YOUR PREVIOUS VET WAS NOT.

However, if you absolutely cannot do that, before you give up on him (understand that he could die before you even get to ciomplete my recommendations if he does not have proper vet care...this is just my opinion in trying to help and I have no training,but I am a ferret mom who has taken care of a few sick ferrets,but not without vet guidance).

If you do not have Hills A/d on hand, try to call your or any vet vet and see if they will sell you some.  Just say your ferret isn't eating well and it has worked before.  This stuff is really good.  If not that, Carnivore Care is something else they may sell you.  You can only get these at a vet office.

IF they will not sell it to you without an appointment, or they are closed for the day when you get this message, get to the grocery immediately and get chicken baby food meat in jars.  In the baby food aisle.  Not as good, but better than nothing and will hold him overnight till you can locate some A/D or Carnivore Care.  You are also going to need a big feeding syringe if you have it.  If you don't, use your finger .  Warm about 2 ounces (4 big tablespoons) (for about 8 seconds in microwave) of whatever food you have gotten and add enough water to make it gravy thickness.  Re-warm if you have to.  He will take it better if it is warm....just not hot.

Hold him on your lap and have paper towels handy when you do this.  Be sure it is not hot!!  Dip your finger in it, or draw some up into the syringe and put a SMALL amount in his mouth to taste it.  He may spit it out at first.  Give him a few seconds and repeat, even if he continues to spit it out.  If he likes it, feed as much as he will eat every two hours.  If he does not like it and spits it out, shakes his head, etc, continue to TRY to get the two ounces down him at least 3 or 4 different times in an 8 hour interval.    Also offer him cool water in between licking the food from your finger...if he takes that well, offer water from a small dish while he is sitting on your lap so you can see what he is eating/drinking. Keep a small dish of fresh water in his cage at all times.  They are more likely to drink from this than from a drip bottle, especially if not feeling well.  Keep kibble in his cage also, so he can eat IF he will, but count them, so you know if he ate or not.  When ferrets are very sick, they will stop eating.  We can often get them going again, but if you wait too long, they get too weak and their bloodsugar gets too low, then their legs collapse, etc like you are seeing.  If you can get him back on a high protein diet, even if you have to hand feed him 3 times a day (I did it for 4 years for one of my ferrets), he could still have a good happy healthy life, IF it's not too late.  He is waaay too young to die!

If he absolutely refuses to eat or drink anything despite all your efforts in a 12-24 hour period and your dad refuses to allow you to take him to a vet  (he will DESPERATELY need sub-cutaneous fluids by this time or he is going to die a horrible painful death), BEG, BORROW OR SELL whatever you must to take him to be put down as quickly as possible...he has already given up on life; is beyond saving and is suffering terribly.  Ferrets hide their pain and illness until they are in the final throes of death...and then it can be horrifying.  I witnessed this early in my ferret owning years and NEVER want to see it again..  Fluids under the skin will help him and may save his life IF done soon enough.  Once the dying process has started, however, he will refuse to eat, drink, and will not act himself at all.  If this happens and nothing I have recommended works, and you really cannot take him for vet treatment, please please, it only takes a few dollars to have that last mercy shot that ends their pain. Some vets may not even charge OR may let you pay over time or volunteer in their office to pay for that last shot..whatever you have to do, it will be worth it, please trust me on that.  You have obviously loved this precious little guy and I beg you to be his best friend to the end if it is his time.  Stay with him when they put him down....DO NOT LET THEM GIVE HIM WHAT THEY CALL A HEART STICK, which is a shot into the heart.  These are horribly painful and a horrible way to die! An inexperienced vet will offer to do this...don't let them!   Discuss it before you even take him in and ake him to a vet who will simply give him an overdose of an a surgical anesthetic and your precious little one will simply fall asleep in your arms in a minute or two. You can then either send him off to be cremated for about $50 or you can bury him in a special place.

Please write again and let me know how this turns out.  I feel so bad that this is all I can do to help.  I am keeping you and your precious little one in my thoughts and prayers until i hear from you again.  God speed, my friend.  Time is of the essence...please hurry.

Sincerely,

Jacquir Rodgers