Iz had toz goz

I stayed as long as I could.

Knowing your heart would shatter when I left.

You gave me your very best even to the end.

There wasn’t anything you could do but love me.

My short life I lived a lot.

I meet people both old and young and made them smile.

I helped you show the world that my kind isn’t as bad as the media portrays us.

I got to travel to so many states for different events.

My first was Bark World and my last HollyWoof

Know that I am near with only a thought.

The pain will ease in time but your love will always be strong.

While you might not want to dance now don’t forget how to Weasel War Dance in the sun.

Remember the good we did together and know that your love carried me on my next adventure.

Manny

Woozel Wednesday

Woozel is another term many ferret owners use to describe their beloved little fur ball. Which makes sense as they are related to the weasel.

We are on our count down to Blog Paws and on the list of things to do was getting the 3 M's their vaccinations and health certificates.

Many people don't realize that ferrets can be exposed to many cat or dog viruses and occasionally get them. The only thing is that many of them are 100% fatal to ferrets no matter how fast it is discovered.
The two main diseases ferrets should be vaccinated against are rabies and distemper. There didn't use to be a vaccine that was made just for ferrets for either of these diseases and while the canine (puppy) vaccines have been used the effectiveness is relatively unknown.

Many ferret breeders/owners were glad to see the release of vaccines make especially for ferrets. Unfortunately the company that makes the distemper vaccine for ferrets has deemed the manufacturing of the vaccine to expensive and has stopped production. Leaving major shortages across the United States.  (Are you listening Merial?)

The reason I bring this up is because we are back to using puppy distemper vaccine for the 3 M's and only certain brands are recommended for ferrets none of which our vet uses.  But thankfully our favorite vet Dr. Sam Doverspike knows that we travel and has given the boys the vaccine he knew that while there are risks I would be ready for them.

Marcuz loves the taste of his vet and always gets in a few licks before trying to take a taste. Marcuz will be turning three this year and that means he is moving out of teenage years and into senior it also means he is a candidate for certain diseases that are very common in ferrets.  One of which is adrenal disease.

One of the signs is called Rat Tail and as you can see Marcuz has one but that is the only sign he is showing and we'll be monitoring him to make a decision about how to proceed. The two major options are an implant and/or surgery both of which can wait a little bit.

Manny has a slightly enlarged spleen also a known issue with ferrets and will be monitored closely. Manny turned 4 in January and really is considered on his way into seniorhood. But you would never tell from the way he was exploring the vet's office.
 

Marylin was the healthiest of them all but then she is only celebrating her 2nd birthday on July 1 at that time she will be a teenager.


While I know my boys are headed into a realm I don't want them to go I've been there done that with adrenal and know what to expect and how to deal with each coming event. The enlarged spleen is new and I will be compiling mounds of research just to keep informed and stay educated about it.

With a total of six shots my fur babies are ready for travel and have their health certificates to prove they've been seen and are allowed to travel the states.

I love that our vet office loves pets as much as we do even the light cover in the bathroom shows off their great sense of humor.




Have a Chittering Good Day,
Jo
15 days and counting.

Ferret Giving Tree 2013

What is the Ferret Giving Tree? It is a place where shelters can put up homeless ferrets many of which have medical issues and will more than likely stay with the shelter until they pass over the Rainbow bridge. Some of the stories are heartbreaking and others just make you want to go strangle the person responsible for their pain.

Most shelters run on the kind donations of others and are often in need of items they just can’t afford due to the medical cost of these furry little critters. That is where the Ferret Giving Tree comes in.

Started in 1998 by Kristine in hopes of giving the ferrets special gifts that they might of never seen otherwise. The first year saw over three hundred ferrets listed on the tree and the numbers keep growing each year which is sad as that means more and more ferrets are ending up in shelters for many different reasons but the two main reasons are inexperienced owners and medical/age issues.

The Ferret Giving Tree is opened each October to the shelters to place bios of several ferrets on the tree and each tree holds the names and pictures of fifteen ferrets. The tree(s) are then opened to the public on November 1^st so each ferret can get his or her very own Santa. Some stay as secret Santa and others relish in giving something to these little guys.

I have participated in the Ferret Giving Tree the last two years with only being able to be Santa to one ferret this year I will be able to choose several ferrets so now my dilemma is choosing which ferrets and or shelter I wish to donate too.

I picked seven little fuzzies from Richmond Ferret Rescue League this way I only need to ship one box and I can include a nice surprise for the Shelter Mom.

The seven little darlings I have picked are

Silly Willie

Cooter Cutie

MoJo

George

Roxy

Bacardi, and

Miss Prissy

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Medical Care

Not all veterinarians take care of ferrets. Having a vet that knows about ferrets is a plus when you have to take your fuzzy butt to get his/her vaccines or they are sick or injured.

Vets that take care of ferrets are often referred to as an exotic vet.
This does not mean that the ferret is a wild animal. There are two categories of exotics. Wild exotic and domestic exotic, all the word exotic refers to is the fact you have decided to have an unusual pet.

Be pro active in the care of your ferret. Don’t know what something means then ask. Most are willing to tell you what they meant and how it will affect your ferret.

I have had both good and bad vet experiences. The bad vet had only her opinion and would not except any other possible outcomes, my new and great vet not only tells me what he thinks is going on with my fur babies but will discuss different options with me.

I am constantly asking questions and doing my own independent research about ferrets, something more ferret owners need to do.

Ferrets need to have a rabies vaccine and canine distemper and should also have a heartworm preventative as all of these can prove to be fatal for your ferret.

Ferrets are prone to certain issues such as:

Adrenal
Insulinoma
Mast cell tumors
Juvenile carcinoma

These four top the list of medical issues. There is also the flu, bruises, broken bones, teeth, hearing, and eye problems.

Ferrets can get/give the flu from/to you and while you can treat the flu at home you need to be aware of any changes that don’t seem to be part of having the flu.

This is just a brief overview of some of the medical care a ferret could need in his/her short lifespan. By being proactive in your ferret’s healthcare you know you are doing the very best for them. Medical care can range from a hundred dollars: Basic office visit, to the thousands: surgery or nercropsy

While there are a couple of pet insurances that do cover ferrets be sure to read the fine print as they don’t often cover certain surgeries or types of care.

Have a Chittering Good Day,

Jo

Feeding the Ferret: The Ugly

     Humans are able to eat almost all foods without giving it much though but we must be aware of what we can give our pets without dire consequences.

      We know better than to give our pets even a tiny taste of some foods but we may not know the dangers of other foods until it is too late.

     Pet owners should know that chocolate is toxic to animals. The compound responsible for the toxicity is Theobromine. According to Vet Medicine, the toxic dosage for a dog is between 100-200 mg. It would take less to kill a ferret.

     Everyday in America new sugarless products emerge. These products contain the ingredient Xylitol. The most used item containing Xylitol is chewing gum. Chewing gum is a problem for ferrets in that they don’t know not to eat it. It can cause obstructions that can be fatal to a ferret. The Xylitol in sugarless gum has been linked to hypoglycemia better known as low blood sugar in animals. Ferrets with insulinoma are at higher risk.

     While not a lot is known about ferrets and how they do react to certain foods there have been incidents where a ferret has had a food allergy and like humans, it can be fatal.

     Peanuts may seem harmless but in reality, the hardness and small size can cause a host of problems including but not limited to intestinal blockage, choking, and seizures from allergic reaction.

     Popcorn may not seem like it could cause a problem but kernels that haven’t popped can choke a ferret. The soft part of the kernel once ingested can swell and cause blockages. Most popcorn is salted and buttered and this can lead to unhealthy weight gain.

     Seeds aren’t digestible and could cause blockages along with the possibility of choking.

     Avocados are poisonous to cats and with ferrets being even smaller; I would personally avoid giving any to a ferret.

     Onions contain disulphide that could lead to anemia.

     Corn is a plant material that isn’t digestible and passes though the intestinal system whole and can cause the soft lining to protrude though the anus. Known as a prolapsed rectum.

     Vegan pet food is on this list because of the controversy about how beneficial it is to animals such as cats, dogs, and ferrets. Which are carnivores and need meat in their diet to have proper nutrition.

     Sugar laden things such as candy, soda pop, energy drinks, and alcohol can cause blood sugar related problems along with tooth decay.

     Black licorice interferes with blood sugar levels. Which could be problematic to a ferret with insulinoma.

     Candy is known as lick and sticks in our house because my fur children don’t eat it. They will lick a pilfered piece until it is sticky and then leave it where I will usually step on it in my bare feet.

      Energy drinks have been linked to impaired adrenal responses in humans. Along with the adrenal interference, the sugar content would cause problems with a ferret that also has insulinoma.

     Alcoholic drinks convert into sugars and should never be given to animals.

     Dog food should never be given to a ferret as source of food because it lacks an amino acid called Taurine. An absence of taurine can result in eye problems that could eventually lead to blindness, hair loss, and tooth decay. It could also cause an enlargement of the heart in cats and possibly in ferrets.

     The ASPCA now has an Animal Poison Control Center that is open 24/7 year round. You can find some information on their site at http://aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control or if it is an emergency you can call (888) 426-4435. There could be a charge of $65 to your credit card for the use of the service. I didn’t find any information about ferrets so I am doubtful of how much knowledge they have about them.

     I hope you have found this series informational and given you some new information about giving our furry friends foods.

     Any remarks, thoughts, ideas, links to other blogs or websites are welcomed and appreciated.

Jo

     Please visit these places as they are great sources of information.

Veterinary Medicine http://vetmedicine.about.com

http://aspca.org

Adrenal Claims Another Soul

     For those that have been following this blog for a while now knew that my little girl Gweny had Adrenal disease. I think she may have been the runt of her litter but she had spunk. She ruled the boys with an iron will and when need be teeth. She made up for her tiny size by doing things in a large way.

     But the disease that only took the hair from around her tail and left the rest of her body sparsely covered won at 1 a.m. I checked on her at 12:30 a.m. and at that time she took my finger in her tiny paws and shook it gently her way of giving kisses. I told her it was all right if she went I only hoped that would be painless.

     She stopped eating her duck soup at 10 p.m. and snuggled up to her baby doll while still in her Santa hat. That is how I found her with her head in the lap of the doll and the hat like a sleeping bag.

     I know she was met at the Rainbow Bridge by her brothers; Bandit, Blizzard, Ashes, Mouse, and Galahad along with all the other animal pals waiting for their humans to come for them. I am sure she has all the shoes she can hide and is playing with everyone.

     While my heart feels like it has been ripped out again I know in time that it will heal and that I will never forget my dear little girl Gweny.

Jo

Adrenal Disease

Warning some pictures on this post show graphic details of adrenal surgery and of ferrets with the disease.

 

     Adrenal disease is seen often as high as 70% in ferrets on average over the age of 3 years old and most being female.

     There are a number of different beliefs in what causes this devastating disease. Ranging from household light to a ferret’s diet but there is no concrete proof as to what does cause it.

     Adrenal disease affects the adrenal glands. These are two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. 

     The yellow marks the right and left adrenal glands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The adrenal glands consists of two parts, the internal medulla and the outer cortex. Each part does something differently.

     The internal medulla is responsible for producing adrenaline and noradrenaline. The cortex produces three types of hormones: Glucocorticoids, mineralcorticoids, and androgens.

     Glucocorticoids include hydrocortisone, cortisone, and cortisterone, which causes the liver to increase glycogen levels raising blood sugar levels and also acts like anti-inflammatory agents. Some ferrets with adrenal disease display an increase in activity and are very energetic.

     Mineralcorticoids are regulate the salt and water in the blood and extracellular tissues. If these are out of balance then there is the possibility of electrolyte or fluid imbalances. These can affect different parts of the body including cardiac to urinary.  A lot of ferrets with adrenal tumors become very thirsty and have increased urination.

     Androgens include androsterone and testosterone promoting male characteristics and are necessary for the maintenance of muscle mass. Estrogen masks this in most females until it is depleted will show more aggressive behavior. Neutered ferrets will show sexual behavior and traits.

     Adrenaline and Noradrenaline are powerful hormones that increase blood sugar levels. Slow down the bowels, and increase blood pressure, heart, and metabolic rates, preparing a ferret for action.

     Noradrenaline is similar to adrenaline but is not as immediately powerful or as long lasting. This is the one that causes the buzz when the fight or flight reflex kicks in.

     Some of the first noticeable symptoms are hair loss , due to elevated corticosteroids, around the base of the tail. Changes in behavior. In females the vulva swells. An increase in body heat and uncontrolled blood sugars. Symptoms very from ferret to ferret and depending on what part of the gland is affected are not seen until it is too late to do much but make the ferret comfortable.

     Most adrenal disease in ferrets is due to tumors in the adrenal glands. Surgery can be preformed to remove the affected gland.(adrenalectomies)

     The left adreanal gland is larger to see and therefore easier to remove. (this is a picture of healthy adrenal glands)

     The right adrenal gland is attached to the vena cava, the largest vain in the body, making it difficult to remove all of the tumor and can lead to postoperative bleeding. (abnormal left adrenal: picture is enlarged to show detail)

     New techniques are being tried in the removal of the right adrenal gland. One of these is the use of cryosurgery, the freezing of tissues using liquid nitrogen.

     Cryosurgery has been used on/in humans for decades with great results and is now being used by veterinary surgeons in the removal of adrenal glands in ferrets. One vet in Miami, Dr. Charles Weiss, has performed this type of surgery on 35 ferrets with excellent results.

     My Galihad had adrenal disease and was already at end stage when he was diagnosed. Surgery was not an option for him at that point.

     Watching him loose his beautiful chocolate coat was the most difficult part before the last 2 days when his weight dropped from a healthy 3 pounds to a pound. 

     Not once did he let this disease run his life. He was active and happy up to the end when he went to bed for the night and didn’t rise in the morning this last April.

     Because of Galihad I know what to look for and how to deal with this horrible disease that no prevention nor real cure.

Jo