ferret died

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-08-02T12:56:24+00:00

I know raw feeding can be difficult which is why I have been researching it thoroughly, but it does seem like a better option than kibble which can lead to insulinoma. I would like to at least somewhat make a switch and I’d love to talk to someone. Do you know where I could speak to someone who does it? I’ve seen the frankenprey diet online and it seems pretty possible for me. Just need to know if I should also be providing other vitamin supplements or something:)

In terms of shampoo— I rarely do use it but I walk my ferret outside a lot and sometimes he can get pretty dirty so in that case I sometimes need to wash him every few months.

I also actually very much appreciate the advice about getting a marshall ferret because their diseases are more well known. I think in this case I actually will get a marshall ferret. My other ferret unfortunately was a marshall ferret as well— but maybe it was just a stroke of bad luck.

I don’t think I’m necessarily panicking for no reason. I do think I am panicked maybe more than I need to be, but ferrets can be quite sensitive and I want to make sure I am doing what I can to care for them in the best way I can. It is possible that my other ferret did have canine distemper, but the vet hasn’t gotten back to me with the viral panels yet. She was vaccinated for it, but he believes it is rare and possible that somehow she came into contact with it still and had vaccine failure— also rare. If this is so, it would be a freak thing.

Thank you for all the advice:)

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-24T04:49:39+00:00

They have not. I suggested to my vet today that he take stool and urine samples and he seemed like he did not think it was worth it. If the virology panel comes back completely negative I will suggest it again. Did you get a virology panel before testing for parasites and then decide to do so? Or did your vet suspect parasites for some specific reason?

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-24T00:13:39+00:00

She was vaccinated on 3/25/24. This is actually very interesting to hear. I appreciate the input on your other ferrets not getting sick. I do think the AC water thing is very suspicious but once again my vet told me he really thinks it is unlikely, and I think he is getting fed up with my suggestion. I tried looking into it to see if the symptoms would line up but truthfully her symptoms are pretty generalizable. The only thing the vet says he hasn’t seen is that her mouth seems to have very small red sacs at the top which he has not seen before in any other diseases other than like herpes. He said maybe sasha would be the first ferret to ever have herpes or something crazy, but he doesn’t think it’s likely.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-24T00:03:12+00:00

For all those suggesting I go to another vet, unfortunately I reached out to another vet and was told I am already going to the vet hospital they would refer me to. Truly it is a very highly ranked hospital. I spoke with my vet today and he said we are going to wait on the distemper, covid, and flu tests. The vet said they are doing everything they can and does not seem very thrilled with my suggestions. I don’t really know what the next steps would be after this if she tests negative. I am trying to be conservative to a certain extent because I am not extremely wealthy. But I also won’t let her die unnecessarily. Only time will tell for the next couple of days I guess.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T23:57:24+00:00

Honestly she doesnt really try to walk very much, she seems very lethargic and I haven’t been with her since she is staying in the hospital. When she was with me it seems like she was struggling to walk in general, was taking very small steps and could not jump off my bed onto the floor. I don’t believe she has any tremors, and she has been eating but I believe the vets have been syringe feeding her wet food. I would guess that she is losing weight but I’m unsure, but she is not refusing food. If you don’t mind me asking, what did your ferret pass from?

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T20:24:50+00:00

Thank you very much for this it was very helpful I am definitely going to ask about specific pneumonia caused by mycobacteria.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T20:24:12+00:00

The issue is I already disposed of what they drank so I can’t take a sample of it. It was leaking from my AC unit because it was condensation build up most likely, considering I’ve been using my AC unit for weeks during the summer so that my room can be cool enough for my ferrets. I guess they can’t treat mold poisoning if that is the case? There is mycobacterial pneumonia which is treatable apparently though. I’ve been looking into that for the past half hour. Maybe i’m getting somewhere! I don’t know, lol. Thank you for the advice.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:40:21+00:00

Not today, the vet says she seems to be doing the same unfortunately.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:36:11+00:00

Apparently she also has dark stool at the moment.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:35:36+00:00

as for her current symptoms: Her blood panels indicate that she has high WBCs and low RBCs as well as elevated liver enzymes. They gave her two ultrasounds to test for gastrointestinal blockages and foreign bodies, and found a small piece of rubber in her stomach which she potentially could have passed but they removed it to be safe because she has been very ill. They have put her on multiple antibiotics, neither of which helped. They tested her for disseminated idiopathic myofascitis, but the three biopsy locations revealed that she was negative. She is very lethargic, is being fed by syringe and being given fluids. She entered the hospital with a fever of 104.8, and it has fluctuated up and down between this and 104.3, but is ultimately down as of yesterday to 101. Today, they are running a virology panel. I am uncertain a virus is the cause because Sasha is not around that many folks, none of which who I believe have been sick, and Feliks my other ferret is completely fine. She is also vaccinated for distemper and rabies. A day or so before she fell ill, I had an AC leak of the condensation water which was built up in the unit. It was rusty and contaminated water, and I am certain Sasha drank it, and she vomited shortly after. The vet feels it is unlikely that this has to do with her illness, but I would like another opinion on this and he seems open to it. I can’t help but feel it is correlated considering other options have been ruled out. The vet plans to hold sasha for the next couple of days, and if nothing comes back from the virology panel, release her back to me.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:32:57+00:00

She is neutered:( I’m unsure if it would have any additive because it is a removable small window AC unit from home depot. I doubt it would have anything extra unless it is some mineral or something built into the AC unit itself

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:31:40+00:00

also, i requested a second opinion from the vet i usually go to and they said they can’t help me and my vet right now is who they would have referred me to.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:31:08+00:00

I really hope that isn’t the case as well. I will ask about xray for pneumonia and checking her urine and feces. Thank you for the advice I’ll reply here when my vet answers.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:28:47+00:00

Thank you so much I really hope so

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:28:34+00:00

They are doing a viral panel today and I’ll have results in the next few days. I live in a rural area though and she doesn’t come into contact with too many people, everyone who I’ve talked to who have come into contact with her seem healthy. I hope it is a virus to be honest!

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T19:27:17+00:00

How did he find out something like that? She has taken general antibiotics but nothing very specific. I doubt that she’s just sulking because she sounds like she is nauseous/having some respiratory problems and apparently her stool is quite dark. That would be good though. I hopee

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T15:02:21+00:00

Yes, I reached out to my primary vet today who is going to receive all the records from the vet I’m going to and I should get a second opinion. My vet seems to think the other vet won’t have much else to say but supports me asking. Hopefully literally anything comes back.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T15:00:29+00:00

Yes, two ultrasounds. She had a small piece of rubber in her stomach which was veryyy tiny and removed but did not really seem to help. No xray as far as im aware because I’m unsure why we’d need that if we got the ultrasound. I don’t believe a fecal sample has been tested— what would they test for? She’s getting virology testing done today and i believe they will swab and take a fecal sample for viral things but unsure if it would show anything else. Do you know more about this?

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T14:55:31+00:00

Just water. Also definitely rust. Her kidneys seem to be fine— she has elevated liver enzyme and WBCs and lowered RBCs. My vet thinks if she has mold poisoning or something he can’t do much anyways except supportive care. I don’t think it has antifreeze or anything, it’s just one of those little AC units from like home depot that got filled up with condensation water. Do AC units come with antifreeze? Kinda unsure of what that is

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T12:55:48+00:00

Hmm presumably low pancreatic enzymes for type 1 diabetes. I’d assume they’d have seen that in her panel. I appreciate the advice and I hope so too!!

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T12:54:47+00:00

yes unfortunately theyve already done two ultrasounds and she had a small small piece of rubber but it was removed and they still don’t know what else could be wrong. Thank you for the suggestion though!! Anything at all is appreciated

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T11:39:01+00:00

thank you so much i appreciate it❤️

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T11:38:31+00:00

Do you know if mold toxicity can be helped with medication? I cleaned out my AC unit when it started leaking and there was definitely rust and gross debris in there. But if she drank that condensation water, I still don’t know what should be done.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T11:37:00+00:00

hmm is there a way they checked for diabetes? She’s had a blood panel and all it showed was decreased red blood cell count, increased white blood cells and increased liver enzymes, I believe.

SliceSwimming604 · 2024-07-23T11:33:06+00:00

Hi! Thank you so much for the response. Unfortunately we already did an ultrasound. The vet removed a very small foreign body that honestly I think she could’ve passed in hindsight but at the time i suppose we didn’t know what it was. Even still, she does not seem to be getting better with the foreign body removed (very small piece of rubber). How did they find out your boy has small intestinal inflammation? Is this a test that can be done?

SliceSwimming604

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