CALIFORNIA FERRET VET

Question
I AM IN NEED OF A VET FOR MY FERRET IN MY AREA. I AM IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA.  I BELIEVE MY FERRET(MOJO) HAS ADRENAL DISEASE.

Answer
Hi Cheryl:

So sorry to hear that you think your little Mojo has adrenal disease. Fortunately, even though ferrets are not legal in your state, there ARE vets in California who WILL treat them.

I was able to get a list of ferret vets in California on the "Ferrets Anonymous" website:  http://www.ferretsanonymous.com/  which has ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION that folks who have ferrets in California should have on hand.  The Ferrets Anonymous group has been very very active in the past in attempting to get ferrets legalized by arranging all kinds of events over the years. Even tho they have not yet succeeded in making ferrets legal, they have certainly gotten a lot of media attention to the plight of ferret owners in California and people all over the country and the world watch California voters and wait for legalization.

Here is a shortcut to the CALIFORNIA VET LIST you requested:

   http://www.ferretsanonymous.com/vets.html

I hope you will take time to make yourself familiar with the Ferrets Anonymous website - you'd be surprised how it may come in handy, especially since you live in California - ALL the information on their website applies to you and could affect your pet's status at any moment. You just never know when the information they have could suddenly become urgently important, if you know what I mean. God bless them for all they do for ferrets and ferret lovers!

Here is some information about adrenal disease for you in case you need it:    

http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/adrenal.html

I wish your little Mojo the best of luck in surgery....remember, it's always a good idea to get more than one estimate - costs can vary SO greatly.  I'm not sure how they are in California, but in Phoenix, AZ they can be as low as $250, and that's quite possibly enough less even to justify a trip and motel cost. I've seen them over $1,000 also! IF California prices are nowhere near that, that *somewhat recent* approximate $250 adrenal surgery cost I quoted (second hand, so double-check) was given by one of these two vets if I remember right:
                      
Wayne A. Svoboda, DVM          
Palm Glen Animal Hospital
7771 N. 43rd Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85051
602-841-1200

OR

Dr. Todd Driggers, DVM
Foothill Mobile Exotics
Office: (480) 706.8478
Emergencies Only: (602) 351-1850
www.exoticanimals.org

I *THINK* it was Dr. Driggers - he is absolutely THE BEST vet you can get in Arizona and probably in the whole western U.S. and is also one of the least expensive, just FYI :-)  When my ferret had his surgery last December, my vet actually 'telephone' consulted with Dr Driggers several times since my own health did not allow us to travel to Phoenix for my ferret to have surgery - we had the 'next best thing' available for him. My own ferret vet is excellent, but did ask some opinions of Dr Driggers also. Dr Driggers is an awesome ferret vet whom I have used many times and I never hesitate to recommend...he is TOPS in ferrets AND his prices are always the most reasonable, so IF you can, he's always the best bet, just FYI :-)  Dr. Svoboda is also a GREAT FERRET VET!!  Either one would be an excellent choice for a ferret vet. Being in Arizona myself, I can speak firsthand and recommend both of them very highly and without hesitation.

Do check with Ferrets Anonymous before bringing your ferret to Arizona (forgot about that) for surgery - they can advise you in regards to any danger your ferret may be in in regards to crossing the Arizona/California border inspection stations and any information you need in regards to that. They can help with ALL information you need to know - read the website and/or contact them with any questions. They are great folks willing to help in any way.

Hope that helps.  Let's help get little Mojo right up, dooking, dancing and playing & healthy again!  If there's anything I can do to help  things in that direction, please don't hesitate to ask - if you need help in setting up a special post-surgery "hospital cage" for Mojo; it needs to be ready *before* surgery - I'll be happy to help, just let me know!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers