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Post by 5heyman on Feb 18, 2014 17:36:31 GMT -5
Our ferret Charlie is at the vets - the vet has done xrays ect. and is not sure what the problem is but she is not really responding to antibiotics, anti-inflamatory, sugar water, etc. The vet has suggested exploratory surgery.
Charlie is 5.5 years old, she has a large belly (vet thinks may be fluid). She has slowed down a bit over the last 5 months or so (as have our other 2 , assumed it was age). She has always gained and lost weight regularly but this time has not lost it again just remained chunky. She has been eating regularly until yesterday (took her to vets) and was quite lethargic.
The xray showed a slightly enlarged spleen (vet says can be normal), no masses so not sure if any tumors, may be ulcer.
Don't know if exploratory surgery would be to hard on her but not doing it may be the death of her too.
Any advice?
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Asyia
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Post by Asyia on Feb 18, 2014 21:50:05 GMT -5
I wish I had some insight or advice for you, but I don't. This is hard decision and really only you and your vet can decide together what the best course of action should be - unless someone else here has experience with this type of situation?
Is this a well experienced ferret vet? That could make all the difference. Is she not eating at all? What about drinking? Did the vet check her heart rate? I know that seems like a given, but when my Snoopy started acting strange, getting lethargic, etc, it was his heart.
I hope someone can give some insight soon.
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Post by 5heyman on Feb 18, 2014 21:57:58 GMT -5
Charlie had surgery, it was a golf ball size tumor in the middle of her abdomen. The vet said she can't do anything for her and it is best to put her to sleep while she is still under as she will be in a lot of pain when she wakes up. RIP Charlie
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Asyia
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Post by Asyia on Feb 18, 2014 22:26:56 GMT -5
Oh no I am so sorry to hear that. I know when I took Snoopy to the vet for just a check on his lethargy and it was found to be his heart, they thought it best to put him to sleep while there. There was no warning, no preparation, and no idea that it was going to end that way. It's never an easy decision, but you did what was best for her, saving her the pain. DIP Charlie
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Post by ordinarygirl on Feb 19, 2014 9:11:36 GMT -5
oh no! I'm so glad you came here for advice but I'm sorry it went down as quickly as it did! It sounds like the surgery was, afterall, the best course of action even so it resulted in Charlie heading to the Bridge. Do they know what kind of tumor it was? How long it was there or growing for? I'm very sorry for your loss. DIP Charlie
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Post by 5heyman on Feb 19, 2014 20:02:56 GMT -5
We don't know what kind of tumor, the vet opened her up, saw the tumor and closed her back up. It could have been growing awhile because of its size but she ate, pooped and played like she always did. She did slow down her playing a bit but so did our other ferret the same age as her so we figured it was age related. She did gain weight and we just called her tubby, she was always gaining and losing weight over the years so we didn't think this was any different. It was two days ago when I went to feed them in the morning that she was lethargic and limp and didn't want to eat. The vet said the tumor probably ruptured. Our other ferret Darling had a tumor on her spleen but we didn't find that out until after she died, we were told she had the flu as all her blood work was normal and she didn't appear to be in pain and nothing showed on the xray, we brought her home and she died 3 days later. It is so hard to lose them!
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Post by ordinarygirl on Feb 20, 2014 9:26:03 GMT -5
It's definitely so hard to lose them I'm sorry for your loss
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Post by ozzie2013 on Feb 20, 2014 14:30:34 GMT -5
So sorry to hear of your lose. It's good that you share your experience with everyone here don't go it alone. We as ferret lovers understand each other in our happiness and sadness from our home Ozzie Lucky Star Powder and Polley we send Huggs and Forever Prayers for you. Amen
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Post by unclejoe on Feb 21, 2014 15:46:04 GMT -5
I'm really sorry. Many of my good ferrets friends and I have lost a beloved ferret in the the past few weeks. NOthing makes it any easier, except support from others who understand. I hope your heart is able to heal some soon.
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judy
New Member
Tamma 6-4-09
Posts: 4,247
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Post by judy on Feb 21, 2014 22:50:07 GMT -5
I'm so sorry about Charlie. I agree you did the right thing to let her go painlessly and unafraid. Easy to say but try to focus on her life and not her death. I'm sure she had a wonderful time with you and would not have wanted to be anyone else's ferret.
RIP Charlie *Hugs* to you.
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