Piper

Question
QUESTION: Hi, and thankyou for your quick response to my previous question on Piper. Piper has never had a swollen vulva. She hasnt any symptoms of adrenal disease.No hair loss. Only the vulva infection.She was desexed due to infection at 9 months old as clavulox antibiotics were not working.Then baytril antibiotics. I recently made a home for 3 ferrets from the NSW Ferret Welare Society, one is blind,has deformed back legs probably due to rickets,partially deaf and has rotten teeth (which he has seen vet about), the other 2 are cousins and both are only 3 years old and have adrenal disease which they have been given a SUPERLORIN IMPLANT.Their hair is growing back well and they seem healthy and happy.These 3 ferrets had been on the list for re-homing for a long time and no one wanted them due to their problems so I took them.So I have 7 ferrets. I am concerned as you are that the continual antibiotics given to Piper will build a resistance, I have never heard of a vinegar douche which I will try, thankyou. So is it just a few drops in a syringe of water, slowly admimistered , how many times per day, 3. Is this right? I really appreciate your help.Have a few questions on PAWS the blind ferret which I will do seperate. I just need to find another avenue to help Piper rather than antibiotics continuously.thankyou heaps.
Regards, deb,snuffles,bundy,piper,gibson,ivy,shaka,paws

ANSWER: Hello again, Debbie and Piper,

I would start out at three per day and see how it goes and then, as the days go on and if the infection seems to be getting better, you can try reducing it to two times a day and see how Piper responds to this. If the infection starts to get worse again, I would take her back to the vet.

By the way, I must say that you are really amazing to have taken in so many ferrets that many others obviously wouldn't take in. That really warms my heart. I feel like this is a very short reply, so if there is something I am forgetting to address, please don't hesitate to ask! Good luck and please let me know how everything goes, even if you don't have any other questions!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews

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paws   QUESTION: Dear Emilee, thankyou for your help it is very much appreciated.I am not amazing to take in these ferrets who have problems.I am very lucky as they are so beautiful and have turned into loving playful friends.It is amazing what can be changed just by supplying love, affection and time to a abused or distressed ferret.I slept on a mattress on the floor to watch cricket last night and woke up with the blind ferret,PAWS, asleep under my chin. I cannot describe how it melted my heart that this ferret who once bit everyone now considers me hes friend and never ever bites anyone anymore.He follows me everywhere via scent and just wants company.Is beautiful.He is a different ferret to the one I bought home,cranky,stressed and lonely.I spent 8 hours a day for the 1st 2 days showing him affection,teaching him to play just being with him.Now he is forever near me and I have never come across a ferret that chatters like him.He talks non stop as he follows me around and the longer between cuddles the louder he gets.He is very funny.
Shaka and Ivy with adrenal cancer have turned into loving very playful ferrets and love getting into bed with me.Shaka will sleep between my feet.Ivy just wants to clean me and licks me for ages until she considers me clean enough.It is amazing how much love they have to give.
It is a very big shame that there are so many ferrets like these 3 that are left in shelters due to their problems or age. I wish people could understand the unquestionable love these animals give when given a home and love.
Sorry about me raving on, they are just so worth everything.

As to Piper I have been using the douche which of course she hates.It is rinsing alot of pus out of her which is great.Unfortunately I can only get it done twice a day as I need help holding her.
I was wondering if it would help her to have a product like a digestive tract conditioner,acidophilus for ferrets, which you can buy but is hard to find. Will this help her cope with antibiotics while not inhibiting the antibiotics in anyway?
Thanks again,
deb,snuffles,bundy,piper,gibson,ivy,shaka,paws

ANSWER: Hello again Deb, (and Snuffles, Bundy, Piper, Gibson, Ivy, Shaka, and Paws :) ),

Acidophilus is a good option if the antibiotics are making her have diarrhea, or if you've noticed any changes in her bowel movements lately. Are the antibiotics changing her poops or are they normal? If they are normal, then I wouldn't worry too much about it, but if you have noticed some consistent diarrhea, then you can get some acidophilus capsules (that you can just break open or if you get the pills, you're going to have to crush them into powder, so the capsules are a bit easier!). They should be available at a health food store. As far as I know, the refrigerated kind is the best kind to get. You can mix that into some baby food if she likes that or some Swanson chicken broth (broth, not bouillon, because that is way too salty) but just some pure chicken broth. Swanson is the best because it is pretty low in sodium. If you're worried about the sodium amount in it, you can just add a bit more water to it and that might help. Mix one capsule in a soup of at least around 8 ounces and do that a couple times a day and see if that improves the diarrhea. Again, I would only worry about doing this if she is having a diarrhea problem. If not, I don't really think that is necessary. If she is having problems, and this doesn't clear it up if a few days, I would consult your vet and make sure she is drinking enough water so she isn't getting dehydrated.

How is she doing with douche? Is it clearing up the infection, do you think? Has she been to the vet lately? Let me know how everyone is doing! I know exactly what you mean about older ferrets not getting adopted. Oftentimes, those ferrets are the ones who need love the most and have the most to give. I hope everyone is doing well and don't hesitate if you need anything else or just want to give me an update! (And never worry that you're "ranting"! I agree with you!)

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews

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piper   QUESTION: hi again emilee,
i wiped sme of the pus off piper and rubbed it between my fingers. there is definately hard small pieces in it. tiny bits like grains of sand, some are dark.
the last pus was dark olive green.
the vet said to finish her antibiotics before bringing her back for the 5th time.she still has around 10days antibiotics left which will mean nearly 4 months of antibiotics.
piper is still fine within herself.playful,happy,eating like a horse,gums pink but i am so worried about all this pus and the constant antibiotics.
why the grains of hard bits in her pus from her vulca?
deb,snuffles,bundy,piper,gibson,ivy,shaka,paws

Answer
Hello again Debbie and the crew :),

I am so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I thought I had answered this question, but apparently it never went through! I am so so sorry. How is Piper doing? Has anything changed? Unfortunately, this is where my expertise hits a proverbial wall. I have never experienced anything that you have describing. I have never heard of any reason why a ferret would have these specific problem. I am so sorry! How is she doing other than that? Is it still grainy? I really wish I could be of more help with this specific problem. Please let me know how everyone is doing and best wishes to the crew!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews