Lucy

Question
I have read your answers to various questions, and I commend you for your compassion, especially the one about when to let go and end your babies suffering. I think this something I have learned through the suffering and deaths of my two beloved cats suffering from cancer, I will no longer prolong, but will be strong for my babies because I love them SO-OO much. My question; I own a business, and have a busy schedule with work, household, 5 puddy cats, and one babish poodle. I would love suggestions on caring for my two  kidz (two sons are away at school teenagers) now ferrets are my kidz, Lucy and Jude. I rescued them from an unhealthy home life, and both were diagnosed with insulinoma. I am constantly fussing with Lucy's loose stools. Please suggest how I can help her be more happy, and healthy, they have vastly improved in disposition, and health since I got them, but I am new at this, and could really use support, and advice. I love them very dearly. Apologize for this being lengthy - God Bles, Jan

Answer
Hi Jan:

Thank you for the kind words. I am so very sorry to hear that you have not one but two little babies with insulinoma!

I wonder what food you are feeding Lucy and Jude. She could have irritable bowel syndrome, which makes them have diarrhea pretty regularly. Or, it could be a problem with the food they are eating. Especially since they are insulinoma kids, you  need to be extra careful that the first four ingredients are meat ONLY...i.e., chicken, chicken byproducts, chicken broth, chicken digest, etc. Their food should not have corn in it, as corn turns into sugar when digested. Hopefully you've already gotten all this information from your vet.  If not, let me know.  From what I have read (I've not had a ferret with insulinoma personally), insulinomic ferrets generally only live approximately one year, whether treated with surgery or with prednisone. Again, hopefully your vet has discussed these choices with you - if not, don't hesitate to write again and I'll give you more specific information.

You asked specifically for "enrichments", ways to help make Lucy and Jude's lives more enjoyable for them.  Your love, holding them close to you, talking softly to them, and playing with them are a great start.  I have a flannel-lined denim 'belly bag' and I LOVE to take my ferrets with me as often as possible.  Take a small container of water and a baggie of kibble with you and they will be great companions as you run your errands. They LOVE to go in the car (use a small carrier - seatbelt it securely into the passenger seat in the car so you don't have to chase them down when you're ready to get out of the car; they have ways of disappearing)  Both should have harnesses on and you should have their leashes handy.  Let them down to snoop as often as possible. They will also need "potty breaks", so don't forget - if they get wiggly, it means they probably have to go potty. My kids know if they wiggle, they get leashed and get time to snoop around away from the crowds so they can have a little privacy. They are usually quick to do their business and want picked back up into the bag. They are incredible little companions!  If you can take them both, do.  If you can't, maybe you can take one at a time for just a few hours here and there so that ferret has your undivided love for that short time. There are benefits to taking both; and there are benefits to taking only one at a time. You will figure out which is best for you and your little ones.

My kids LOVE to go in the bathroom with me - all of them have been that way....somehow they think that is a sanctuary where they have mommy all to themselves :-)  Especially, they love bathtime or shower time. They join me occasionally. They have a little (toddlers) step stool that I put next to the side of the tub and they love to just watch for a while; then once they become familiar with the routine, they will be more willing to explore (bubbles are fun to play in!) and may even want to get in with you. Ferrets that are elderly or not well often are soothed by a hot bath, just as we are. Never ever take more than one ferret in the bath with you - the ferret you are holding needs to feel secure and that he has your complete attention for these few minutes.  For the bath, run the bath until it is about 3 inches above your thighs and make the water nice and warm. (Remember that ferret's normal body temperature is about 103 degrees, so it's like us bathing with a very high fever...so make the water plenty warm. If the ferret shivers after initially getting into the water, it is probably too cool - if they start to breathe open-mouthed, they are overheated and need you to lower the temperature a bit.  Once used to being held close to my body and just dribbling water on them with my hand so they get the idea that it is going to be wet and warm; I gently put the ferret down - very slowly and stop if the ferret resists. If your ferret seems to enjoy being held close to your body and you getting wet with the ferret held firmly to your body, then you *may* want to see if the ferret is interested in sitting on your lap in the warm water while you gently splash water on his/her back.  Elderly ferrets, especially, seem to enjoy this. Most of mine, by the time they are old, are quite content when laid on their backs atop my thighs, with the water only washing over their bodies, not their heads.  Keeping my knees together, gently move the legs from side to side in the tub - with the water gently washing over them from one side, then the other side in a very soothing manner. My kids eventually are brave enough to 'get into position' quickly and hold only one of mommy's fingers as the water washes over their bellies. From the way they respond, I think their little bodies have aches and pains just like mommy's tired body does! I generally suds them up after they rest a bit, using Johnson's & Johnson's baby shampoo, then rinse really well under the tap (make sure the water is nice and warm but not too hot to burn them).  Once the ferrets are finished and out of the bath, I pull the curtain and take a shower...there are limits to 'sharing' LOL.  When they get out, use one towel to get the majority of water off them, then an additional dry towel for the floor so they can dry themselves and get crazy.

On the nights my kids don't actually bathe with me, they enjoy getting up on the stepstool one by one and having their little  faces washed with mommy's washcloth. Somehow they feel this 'bonds us' together. You can watch a definite difference in attitude as they romp with their little wet faces - it seems they grin from ear to ear.

Another way I like to 'treat' my kids is to take them outside - especially now that fall is coming. Since they can't be in temperatures over about 82 degrees, but they tolerate cool temperatures well, fall is their favorite month - so many smells out there!  Hopefully they have harnesses and leashes, and maybe even a 'ferret playpen' (wire panels by Midwest or Marshalls, both are similar and great!)  Here are some tips on taking your kids outside since the outdoors season is really coming for our little fuzzies:

http://www.ferretfacts.com/taking-ferrets-outside.html

Also, Bob Church, ferret owner/teacher has written articlesl galore on "Enrichments" - ways we can make our ferret's lives more enjoyable for them.  Here is one that talks specifically of making special little changes to their play areas that keep them interested and happy:

http://www.cascade-ferret.org/newsletter/cfn_3_2006.pdf

(Scroll to page 5 for Bob's article) I actually found this whole newsletter quite informative and entertaining and got all kinds of ideas from it!   Bob's series of Enrichments has been featured in "Ferrets Magazine" this past year, if there is any way you can get ahold of those (eBay).  

It would be an excellent idea to join the FHL (Ferret Health List), which is where folks with adrenal and/or insulinomic ferrets meet, share ideas to help the ferrets live the best lives they can.   

http://ferrethealth.org/archive/

You can search the archives for any information regarding sick ferrets and find information galore!  You may also wish to subscribe to it (upper left corner of page). There are also vets on the list, so it helps to bounce ideas off them occasionally.  You will be surprised at all the wonderful, thoughtful things people do for ferrets - even very very ill ones. Putting a flower (non-toxic, of course) in the hammy with them so they can enjoy the smell...too many ideas to list!

The best gift you can give your ferrets is time and touch and joyful play, and ultimately a place for them to feel safe and loved when they don't feel well - a 'mommy' to watch over them.

I send my prayers along to your two little ones, along with wishes for a healthy, happy life in their new home; that every day they live be lived to its fullest.  It sounds like they have a great mommy!  Please keep me updated, and don't hesitate to write again if I can be of any help.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers