update on Kosmo

Question
QUESTION: Hello Jacquie, Hope that you are well. since I last spoke with you, I have driven over 100 miles to take Kosmo to a ferret specialist. She diagnosed him with lymphoma, treating him with steroids and he also tested highly positive for distemper, evidently he was not vaccinated properly. She warned me that he probably would not live more than 2 weeks, that was 10/22/07. He is still thriving in spite of all this , if you can call it thriving, he still plays, does his weasel dance and eats all that I feed him, has had no weight loss but also not much reduction in the size of his lymph nodes on the steroids. She recommended not to euthanize until he is very ill. I have not successfully weaned him off soup on to kibble. Part of that is my fault because in anticipation of his crossing over the rainbow, I wanted to give him as little stress as possible for his last few days and didn't continue to force the change to kibble. The Dr said his throat was constricted some with the lymphoma and this affected his being able to swallow kibble. We hoped if we could reduce the swelling we could encourage kibble, I still keep his normal kibble and totally ferret available to him at all times but he makes no attempt, nor does he acept hard treats, I'm uncertain about his future. Do you have any suggestions? Since distemper is usually deadly... I am at a loss as to what I can do, if he is going to live I want to get him back on kibble, because it is very confining to me to have to be home for feedings every 4-5 hours, obviously I cannot expose other animals to him so I cannot take him with me and  when my dgt visits she has to leave her animals some where, which is inconvenient. Any thoughts and suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks so much-Pam

ANSWER: Hi Pam:

I am soo very sorry that the news on Kosmo is this bad! My heart breaks for you.  No doubt the reason he is still 'thriving' at this point is a direct reflection of the love and special care you are giving him. He *wants* to live...and a well-loved ferret who wants to live will fight courageously for every day he can spend with you. Kosmo is definitely one of those precious ferrets who love you SO much that he is outliving the odds, which are certainly against him.

I think it's great that you have not tried to change him back to kibble. He *needs* to have some A/D soup (or gravy) at least four times a day everyday.  The most I can tell you about the inconvenience of that is that my precious Kylie passed a way just a few months ago; I had handfed her four times a day for the past four years because she had irritable bowel syndrome as a result of a reaction to a distemper shot.  She struggled to be with me until the final day when I had the vet help her to the Bridge.  I can't begin to tell you, but I was so lost for weeks afterward.  I had so much time to myself and everytime feeding time came and went I just missed her SO much.  So, no matter how much you dislike those feedings right now, I can guarantee you that when Kosmo makes his trip to the Bridge, you will miss these precious moments you have with him right now.  Enjoy them; make the very very most of them. The ferrets I have been most attached to in my life are the ones I had to handfeed for years..it builds a bond that is just undescribable.  Yes, very inconvenient at times, but incredibly close bonds are formed amidst inconvenience.

The only thing I would recommend.....at least, I would do it.....is to have blood drawn for a second distemper test. It's hard to believe that he has that and is not sicker than he is!  Occasionally we do find that tests are read wrong, handled improperly, etc and it *may* be an error that he has distemper. Unless you DO get a negative distemper test, however, please know that distemper is SO VERY CONTAGIOUS that you will even carry the virus on your shoes/clothing when you leave your home and go out to the grocery or any other public place.  If you can even leave a pair of shoes outside, bathe just before leaving the house, walk out the door and put on the "outside" shoes, then go do your errands - otherwise, something this simple actually could cause a distemper outbreak in your area. Hopefully the vet explained all that to you, but I just want to reinforce how imperative precautions are.  If your daughter visits and even walks on your floors and wears the same shoes outside, she will be tracking the distemper virus to her car, her home, and anywhere else she goes.  If you can't have an 'out of the house' pair of shoes, please at least put some bleach water (1 part bleach, 8 parts water) to spray on your shoes as you leave the house (and be sure to change clothes so no virus from handling Kosmo can be on your clothing).

Because distemper is such an incredible danger to all, I would definitely get a second test on it.  I hate to see you going to all this precaution for a possible error in the test.

It sounds like Kosmo is absolutely living every single day he can and enjoying it.  Typical for a ferret, he will look healthy probably until he suddenly stops eating, becomes weak and very ill.  It will *probably* happen very fast and could begin at any time.  I do understand how stressful it can be living each day and wondering if it will be the last 'good' day for him.  The best suggestion I can have is to enjoy every single day and take one day at a time with him. Love him, give him kisses and treats, his daily 'soup', and lots of 'out' time playing and doing whatever in the world you can imagine that is fun for him. My kids love cardboard boxes taped together and made into a 'condo' with windows, doors (cut only three sides so the windows and doors 'open' and he can look out or get out of them).  

It's really important that you treat Kosmo as if he does have distemper until you find out different. I've never heard of a distemper shot not taking.  However, if you do take him locally to get another blood test, let the vet know that he has tested positive for distemper - they will probably have a different way for you to enter and leave the office - they won't want you to have him in the waiting room and they will take special precautions if they know in advance. Otherwise you risk the lives of every other pet in the room, k?

I think what you are doing is perfect.  Kosmo seems happy, healthy and loves life.  For that you can definitely take full credit.  Trust me, you will comfort yourself after he is gone by remembering this very very special time with him.   

Continue to keep him isolated from others and their pets unless/until you get another test just to be *sure* he really is distemper positive (IF you decide to re-test).  Otherwise, the best you can do is exactly what you are doing right now.  Know that every single day with him is a gift and may be your last.  Take LOTS of pictures so you can remember this time and the wonderful gift you are giving him.  No doubt he will decline rapidly, so as soon as he stops eating or appears to be in any kind of pain or distress, please please don't hesitate to get him in to the vet IMMEDIATELY and help him cross the Bridge before he has to suffer.

Bless you - you're such a good ferret mom. Please believe me when I tell you that you will cherish this time when you look back on it later. When his time is here, you would give anything for one more day; one more 'inconvenient feeding time'....I've been there too many times and there is no way to have even one more fun minute with them once the 'time' comes. The rest of the world will still be there long after your little guy has left this world.  DO remember to do special things for yourself when you get a minute to yourself. Take a hot bubblebath or read a book you enjoy. Just don't forget to be good to YOU too; that is SO easy for 'moms' to do when our babies are sick. In order to be there for him, you MUST be good to you. He will 'feel' your stress if you get all upset, so stay as calm as possible; keep relaxing music on, maybe put the Christmas tree up early (my kids LOVE the lights!!)  We even drive our kids to look at the Christmas lights every year :-) because they enjoy it so much. I roll down the window and they are just entranced by the light displays!

I will keep you and Kosmo in my thoughts and prayers - please, please update me of any changes?

God bless..and hang tough my friend.

Jacquie Rodgers

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jacquie,
just an update on Kosmo. Kosmo is going on three years old and I have had him about 7 months.

Despite his lymphoma and his diagnosis of distemper in October 2007, Kosmo continues to thrive and still has an amazing zest for life.

He eats well and he still loves to play. His favorite fun thing is for me to pull him around the house on a towel, he has a special towel that I leave out just for him and he will go lay on it and look at me--that's my cue that it is time for his "magic ride".

His poop is normal and he pees well. He is well hydrated.

I give him 2.5 mg of prednisone a day for his lymphoma, but it hasn't seemed to help much. He and I are taking it a day at a time, thankful for each and every day we have together.

He continues to make me laugh and amazes me with his intelligence. He is my first ferret and he became sick just a few weeks after I got him so we have had to learn a lot about each other. I think we are just now to the point where he really trusts me. He follows me around the house and we talk and play. When he wants to eat he licks his lips and waits for me to prepare his food for him. His weasel dance is as jubilant as ever.

I still have to feed him the "duck" soup and he will occasionally eat it on his own without me holding him now(this is new). He is fat--I guess due to the high caloric content of his soup. I don't worry too much about that. I'm just thankful that he is still with me.

His neck remains very large, swollen and he cannot swallow any hard food. He likes me to massage his neck.. especially with my cold hands. I was told in October that he would be dead in two weeks from the very highly positive level of distemper that he had. I prepared myself for the worst.

I am just so thankful that he and I have had the time to bond in spite of his illness. He loved the Christmas tree and lights, he even opened several of the gifts when I wasn't looking. The little stinker!

He hides my things, I know he wants me to think I'm losing my mind--little does he know that I lost it a long time ago--my daughter beat him to it. LOL
I want to Thank You for all of your encouragement. Kosmo and I greatly appreciate it! Pam

ANSWER: Hi Pam & Kosmo:

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for this update!  I am so happy to hear that Kosmo is still with you and obviously so very loved and thriving in spite of all he has been through!  It is obvious to me that the two of you have overcome some incredible obstacles together and what an incredible testament to the power of love these very special little ones are capable of!

It's just amazing that he has far outlived distemper! I can't help wondering what your vet would say as far as life expectancy at this point. Many ferrets never get to experience even one day of the bond the two of you share. He is such a lucky little guy to have found you! What a blessing!

I am so grateful to have shared even a small part of your time together. I apologize for 'disappearing' for a while; after losing my precious little Kylie, last summer, now my last ferret, Gilbert, has been very ill and I almost lost him over the holidays. Like you, I am treasuring every single day with him right now. Unless someone has been in these shoes we wear, it's impossible to understand the real meaning of  treasuring each and every minute of each and every day.

One thing I would like to share with you that Gilbert & I discovered recently, Pam. I put Gilbert into bed with me (which we do often) and let him spend the night there (which we had never done)!  We have a ramp so the kids can get on and off the bed easily without getting hurt, so I leave that up all the time. Before putting him in bed with me for the night, I blocked off the bedroom doorway, put several litterboxes in the bedroom, in addition to his water bowl and food bowl. When I go to bed, I take Gilbert with me. Now that he's used to sleeping with me, he LOVES to race me to the bed, run under the blankets and snuggle with my feet...and sometimes I wake in the night with him curled up on my chest, rolled over on his back and stretched out all the way across my body!  It's so incredibly 'intimate' to share this time with him, to feel him breathe and snore right next to my face! As an 'only ferret', I just didn't want him to feel alone. In opening my bed to him, it opened a whole new level of closeness that I have never experienced before in over 14 years of living with and loving ferrets.  If you haven't already tried it, I would strongly recommend you take Kosmo to bed with you. It's funny - they act like spoiled children, you can't say 'no' once you let them in once, but you won't want to either.  I'll be interested to see if Kosmo enjoys snuggling as much as Gilbert has.  When you think about it, ferrets always pile in a big heap when it's time to sleep so they all keep each other warm; it's very 'normal' for them to pile right onto us and snooze. I still feel it's quite an honor to be 'piled upon' :-)  It sure warms my heart!

Thank you so much for the update.  I hope and pray you and Kosmo have many years of love and happiness together. I believe that love can heal a lot of things that medicine cannot. Kosmo obviously couldn't be more loved. What a lucky little boy - and what a lucky lucky  mom you are too!  

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jacquie--I want to say Thank You and let you know how much I have appreciated your suggestions and just for being there for me and Kosmo. We are truly grateful! It's tuff being a new mom.(lol) You have taught me so much. I think of you as a dear friend. I can see what a wonderful person you are just by the way you talk about your ferrets.

I am so sorry that Gilbert is ill and I will pray for his recovery. I will pray that you and he will receive the same blessings that Kosmo and I have received, and that you and Gilbert will have many more days together. Like you said, you don't know until you've been there. These little guys certainly steal your heart! I know that Gilbert is loved tremendously. He is a lucky boy!

It is so heart warming to hear you talk about Gilbert and him sleeping with you. I can see where that would be an awesome experience. My daughter just told me earlier tonight that her little ferret Emma slept with her for the first time last night (Emma is 1.5 years old), she woke up with Emma curled up next to her. Normally Emma only gets in bed with her to attack her Achilles tendon. One time when I was visiting I had to get up and put on three pairs of thick socks so that I could sleep through the Achilles attacks. I have tried to get Kosmo to sleep in the bed with me and/or snuggle but he doesn't want to be that close. He allows me to hold him at times but not for long. As a baby he wasn't handled very much so I feel honored when he lets me hold him at all. He is all boy and doesn't like me to hold him back (lol) He has a fleece lined "sleeping bag" that he sleeps in. However, we are still building our relationship and maybe someday he will want to snuggle with me. I keep working on it. I did not think of a ramp for him so maybe that is something I can do. Thanks for all the tips. I hope that he does want to snuggle some day. We have made a lot of progress in the months we have been together so I have no reason not to think that we have even better days ahead. He will always be loved and when it is time to say good bye-he will still be loved and my love will go with him.

I plan to get him back to the ferret specialist soon so that she can examine him again. I think she will be amazed--he looks so healthy right now, other than his lymph nodes.
His coat is thick and shiny, his eyes are vibrant and clear, he eats good, poop and pee are normal. I just love the little fuzz butt! How empty my life would be without him.
May God Bless You and Gilbert!
You are in our thoughts-
Pam and Kosmo

Answer
Hi Pam & Kosmo:

No doubt your ferret vet will be amazed at what the power of love can do!  I do wonder if they could do anything about the swollen lymph nodes. It seems they could do something maybe to make him more comfortable - obviously he's not going to let it shorten his life! Isn't it awesome to be part of his miraculous little life? No doubt about 99% of his miracle is because of the love he gets from you.

About the ramp up to the bed - it is about 6" wide and I have carpet stapled onto it. There is a landing at the top with a "wing" on one side that slips between the mattress and box spring on my bed and one leg that sits on the floor to stabilize it at the very top. Since my nightstand is right next to it, it serves to stabilize the ramp, but if it weren't there, possibly one would need something else to keep it sturdy I suppose.

Being ALL BOY, I wanted to share with you that Gilbert isn't ALWAYS in the mood to snuggle :-).  When he's not in the mood to cuddle when I get into bed with him, I usually just turn him loose underneath the covers and he runs down to my feet and snuggles there. Only on the cuddle nights will he stay up by my neck/chin/chest. Probably about half the time at my feet and half on my chest or next to me....typical little boy. LOL  Just thought I'd mention that because I think all little boys are probably a little fickle. What seems like a great idea today will get pooh-poohed tomorrow...that's little boys!  So, you are not alone there.  I do think they get much more cuddly when they don't feel well or when they get older too, so that makes a difference too.  Gilbert certainly took to this quickly!  One night when I didn't come back to bed quickly enough, I found him laying at the doorway, head on his little paws waiting for me when I finally did go back!  So, they really do notice when we're not there!

Please do stay in touch.  I also think of you as a friend and would really like to stay in touch with you. (write to me again and mark it "PRIVATE" so it doesn't get posted publicly and I can give you my personal email addy, okay?)

Please give that little one a hug from me and Gilbert.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers