EMERGENCY FERRET INFO!

Question
Hi my name is Alysia. I have 2 Ferrets. The oldest ferrets name is Harrie and he is 5 yrs old. I just recently bought the second one his name is Bear and he is a little over a year old. Harrie (the older one) seems very sick. His nose is dry. He is not eating and barely drinking. His weight is very light. His hair is becoming very stiff feeling and rough. He doesnt have energy at all. Harrie will take a few steps and then lay flat on the floor and not move until i pick him up. He has VERY runny stool and VERY orange yellow pee. When looking at Harrie it looks as if he is dazed. Bear (the younger one)is fine. Eating and drinking is regular. The baby is fine and the older one is the one I'm worried about. is he just old? or is he ill? Harrie has had preexisting injury when he was around the age of 2.5 or 3. He scraped his bowels before causing him to stool blood. The food he eats is advanced nutrition ferret food and we put ferret vitamin liquid in his water. Harrie lives in a penthouse cage (3 levels), he stays in my bedroom. All the symptoms are related to Harrie not Bear....

Answer
Hi Alysia, Harrie and Bear,

I am so sorry to hear Harrie is not feeling well. It *sounds* like it may be possible that Harrie has worms. That could be why he has the dry, brittle fur and the diarrhea. It could very well be something else, but it sounds like it could be intestinal worms. Have you noticed any worms in his stool? If he has a preexisting condition with his GI tract, this is a serious problem. Even if it is not worms, Harrie sounds like he is in trouble and really needs to see a vet right away. Do you have a vet yet? Here is a list just in case you don't:

VETS CANADA:   
* http://www.ferretrescue.ca/start.php
* http://tinylink.com/?TlVyYKa6e0
* http://www.ferrets.org/Veterinarian_Listings.htm   (British Columbia)
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/sask_ferrets/

VETS USA:
* http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
* http://www.ferret-universe.com/vets/vetlist.asp
* http://www.ferretsanctuary.com/vets.shtml
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/

VETS  UK & IRELAND:  
* http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/vetlist.htm

VET INFO/ LIST OF FERRET GROUPS/ CONTACTS IN UK, ITALY, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, NETHERLANDS, GERMANY & DENMARK:       
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-overseas.html (scroll down page to find the one you are looking for)


It is important that you realize that Harrie is sick and the only one who can make him better is a proper ferret vet. He can only be made better by medication a vet prescribes. Please get him to a vet as soon as possible.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help. If you would, please keep me updated on Harrie's condition. I wish you the best of luck and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews


-----Follow Up------

Hi Alysia,

Did you get Harrie to a vet? I so hope you did make it in time. Harrie's symptoms pointed to sever dehydration. That is a SERIOUS problem in a ferret. He should have been given fluids in the time before you took him to the vet. The vet should have administered sub-q fluids (fluids given right under the skin) or IV fluids. Please tell me you made it to the vet in time. Please tell me Harrie is okay.

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews