My Ferrets are Sick

[HisNameIsHarley]

My baby ferret I just bought has a horrible upper respiratory infection and has passed ADV (ferret version of parvo virus) to my older ferret. The vet has told me that it is very unlikely that my other ferret will survive the parvo.. So some intense prayers would be a blessing.. Don't bother reading through everything else unless you really feel like reading forever.. I only wrote it all down bc it helps me to get it off my chest..

I posted before about my new ferret baby I brought home on the 24th of this month but things have really taken a turn for the very worst. The day I picked him out I noticed he sneezed a lot more than normal and that he was very lethargic while I held him but the pet store people just said that that's his personality. When I asked about the sneezing and the weird noises that he was making they said he makes them just to be silly and that he is perfectly healthy and ready to go home. So $140 later I brought him home. I introduced him to my family, took pictures and let him get to know my other ferret. Everything was great until yesterday when I checked on my baby ferret and saw that both his nostrils were packed tight with ooze and his eyes were runny and yellow.. So I took him back to the pet store I got him from to ask some questions. The owner was out of town bc of some deaths in his family so one of the other employees was there and told me she didn't have a clue and told me I could probably just trade him in for another one. That to me was very unsettling bc why would I want to pick out another ferret from the very same litter that was probably sick too? So I told her I didn't want to do that. She took my name and number and told me she would give it to the owner, Joe, when he got back and he would give me a call. (didn't happen) So I made an emergency appt. at a vet about an hour from where I live called Blue Ridge Vet bc they are the only vet within hours and hours who have vets who specialize in ferrets. Well the appointment was horrible. I decided this morning right before I left that I had to bring both of my ferrets bc my older ferret wasn't himself and was sneezing and had pooped out some totally disgusting mucus like poop.. So I brought both and after an hour of questions, needles, fecal tests, bloodwork and tears the vet concluded that the baby ferret has a horrible upper respiratory infection, was extremely malnurished and dehydrated and needed immediate warm fluids by injection. And she said that the baby ferret is a 'carrier' of ADV (ferret version of the parvo virus) and that he has passed it onto my older ferret. She said that a lot of baby ferrets pick it up and never suffer from the virus and simply pass it on to other ferrets (btw my doggies and kitties can't get it). The worst part came when she explained to me that there is no treatment for the parvo in my older ferret (1yr old) and that very, very few adult ferrets survive it. At this point I'm falling apart and can't stop crying. They ran a fecal test which came back negative for any parasites or abnormal bacteria and they explained that my older ferrets mucus like yellow feces is caused by the ADV. She also explained that all I could do for him is give him an antibiotic, just like the baby, to help fight off the upper respitory infection he's beginning to show signs of and attempt to keep him eating and drinking. She also gave me syringes to give him pedialite and gatorade if he stops drinking and some special wet food to feed him by hand if he refuses to eat. She had to inject some warm fluids into the baby ferret bc when you tug/pull on his skin it wouldn't snap back into place, it just stayed pulled back That was really tough bc everytime they pushed more into him he cried and writhed even more..

We had plans to go away for the weekend to see my mom get her All-Star pin (we're in 4-H.. not sure if anybody even knows what that is) at Jacksons Mill, WV but can't go now bc I have to keep an hourly watch on them. My mom has been waiting her whole life to get this award and I can't see her recieve it..

I went back to the pet store today bc the owner was back and spoke to him and he made photo copies of my vet bill ($170.00) and said he would fax/email them to Wilcox? I'm guessing that this is a middle man ferret broker perhaps? He said if he was sick Wilcox? was responsible. He asked me to call him back tonight around 7 so I plan to.

I'm really upset bc everybody claims to not be at fault for my ferrets illnesses and I find that to be rediculus. The Marshall guaranatee only cover genetic defects, not viruses or influenza etc. Dog Gone Pets claims it's Wilcox's fault. But all I know is that I paid $140 to by a ferret that was promised to have a clean bill of health. I then had to pay $170 for a vet visit. (which I didn't have enough money for and thank God the people there are so understanding and sweet and have worked out a paying program for me) And if my ferret stops eating and drinking I HAVE to rush him back to Blue Ridge where he will be put on an IV and put under a 24 hour watch which costs $300 per day. And since my bf and I have to stay home and take care of the ferrets every hour by the hour we can't make it to our weekend trip which we already payed for and we can't get our money back, $155. And beyond all the financial losses I have to miss my mother getting her pin and my beloved ferret is unlikely to survive this virus And I don't want to point fingers at anyone in this situation and I don't want to make anyone out to be the bad guy but I do feel that I deserve help. I feel very betrayed and left out in the cold. I only bought another ferret so my ferret would have a companion and now he's dying bc of it.. I feel so lost..

[rrosenberry]

I'm sorry, for all the stuff you have going on... poor thing.
I did read it all~ But there is nothing they can do for either ferret? And they will both die? Is that what you said? That is horrible if I'm right.. Don't forget to tell the person when you call,,that NOW your other ferret is sick because of the sick one they sold you,,, Don't forget abt the purchase price when you mention the medical bills... I'm so sorry.. I hope I'm wrong on my understanding of their future.

[lily's mom]

Awww Sweetie, how sad!!!! Bless you heart! I am sending hugs and prayers your way.

[HisNameIsHarley]

The vet said the baby ferret should survive his upper respiratory infection even though it is very bad. My older ferret however who has contracted the ADV has a very low chance of survival.. I love my ferret so much.. I really hope he can pull through.. When I went to the petstore I told Joe (the owner) every little detail and told him to call the vet and talk to her. (they already know each other bc he takes his ferrets to her too) The bill he photo copied and faxed/emailed to ?wilcox? included the bill for my older ferret too. I personally doubt that I will get any help in the end of all this and definately don't think I will be covered for my vet bills for either ferrets. Especially not for my older ferret even though the vet said he HAD to have gotten it from my new baby ferret. Bc I don't socialize him with any other ferrets and haven't had him outside and I haven't handled any other ferrets either. With the exception of wed night (25) when I took my ferret and my baby ferret to my aunts house to play with their new ferret (who was also purchased from the same pet store) So now we're watching my cousins ferret with crossed fingers hoping and praying that he doesn't get sick too..

As far as reciepts and bills.. I always save them.. So I'll have them at hand if needed.

Thank you for the concern and kind words .. Right now all I have is prayers to go on..

[YorkieShadow]

Im so sorry. How sad. I will keep both your Ferrets in my thoughts and prayers.

[red98vett]

Oh no ....you just got that baby Ferret and I know how happy you were ...I'm so sorry - these pet stores should be accountable for the pets they sell and that's so sad for you - both your ferrets AND the money....and sorry about missing your moms ceremony....That's really awful and I AM so sorry. I know people get very attached to their ferrets...and I hope your older one is one of the lucky ones that CAN survive this.

[HisNameIsHarley]

I just got off the phone with Joe, the owner of the pet shop and he made a lot of phone calls for me and talked to Marshalls who has agreed to pay the vet bill. Which is a good plus. But what I'm worried about is, what if over the weekend or later they don't get better or get worse and I have to take them back to the vet? I don't know if they're going to cover those too. I'm supposed to go pick up the paper work from Joe tomorrow morning (he wrote up a letter for me to send to Marshalls) and when I get there I'll ask him about whether they'll cover other bills if necessary. He said he could call them again so maybe I'll have him do that. I do feel a little relieved in the money department but as far as emotionally I'm still in the gutter. The baby is eating some and taking pedialite and gatorade every hour when I give him a syringe but he is still so dehydrated. His skin still won't snap back into place when you pull on it so I'm really worried but atleast he's still eating and drinking. My older ferret is getting worse.. He can barely eat what pieces of food I give him, he only drinks if I force pedialite down is throat and he won't even get up out of his hammock.. I'm going to give them their second round of antibiotic for their upper respiratory infections in a half an hour. And I'm going to get up every hour tonight to check up on them and give them pedialite and food..

Keep your fingers crossed..

[chattiesmom]

Oh, man, I am so very sorry. Ferrets are such fun critters. I sincerely hope that your adult is one of the exceptions and pulls through.

Since the pet shop owner has said that someone was going to pay the vet bills, get it in writing, asap,before they can change their mind. Don't let it turn into a he said/she said thing, your word against his.

[HisNameIsHarley]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Oh, man, I am so very sorry. Ferrets are such fun critters. I sincerely hope that your adult is one of the exceptions and pulls through.

Since the pet shop owner has said that someone was going to pay the vet bills, get it in writing, asap,before they can change their mind. Don't let it turn into a he said/she said thing, your word against his.

My thoughts exactly ^ I plan on getting everything worked out by tomorrow.

A plus for tonight.. My baby ferret is eating his ferret kibble on his own and drinking too. His skin is still not snapping back like it should but it's getting a little better bc he keeps getting pedialite/gatorade every hour. My adult ferret seems to be a little more active and fought my boyfriend and I off pretty hard a minute ago while we gave him his medicine (now that's more like him!) He too had some pedialite and has eaten some softened kibble on his own and has taken some water from his feeder bottle when I brought it to his face. And right as I came back upstairs to cover his cage for a couple of hours (I've decided not to even go to sleep.. it'll be easier than falling asleep and having to get back up every hour.. well atleast I think it will be) I checked his poo corner and he had his first relatively normal poo! I don't like the idea of getting myself all excited and then getting let down if things take a turn for the worst so I won't get to worked up.. But I do feel a little relieved seeing them both eating and drinking some on their own and poo'ing pretty normally. Ferrets usually have a bowel movement about every 2 hours, so even though they aren't going as often as normal I'm just glad they're going.. But especially with my adult ferret bc the vet told me that if I couldn't get his diearhea to stop he would be fully dehydrated within hours.. I'll keep praying that your prayers keep on doing the trick! Thanks so much everybody!

[MeganS]

aww, I'm so sorry LeeAnn! Thats terrible! I feel so badly for you. Good luck and let us kno what happens.

[luvmymonkies]

LeeAnn, I am so very sorry for what you are going through. It is so heartbreaking. You are being a really great mommy through it all, I must say. You are doing everything you can do and that's what counts right now. I am praying that this will all continue to get better. Please keep us updated. I'm pretty sure I'll be here all night too

[Kari]

I am so sorry to hear this...bug hugs to you and kisses for your lil guys, dont know if you knoww this but marshalls is like a pupy mill but only ferrets. I got a ferret because it was so stnking cute and i loved hime very dearly and after i got him i did the research.

[HisNameIsHarley]

Thank you guys for all the support! It really does mean so much to me.. So many things have been going wrong but I always know I can count on the YT'ers here!

Both the ferrets made it through the night and recieved hourly amounts of pedialite and gatorade and have still been nibbling on their food on their own (although my older ferret has been taking to his water soaked-warmed up food better than his dry kibble so I'm sticking with that for now) and have been drinking their water too. This is honestly longer than I thought my older ferret was going to hold out and it was so refreshing this morning at 7am when I flipped the blanket off his cage and for the first time he perked up his head, crawled across his hammock, grabbed the cage bars and did his little "jail break" shake where he rattles the cage! hehe His eyes just look brighter and I really think he might pull through. His eyes seem brighter and he's more 'aware' of everything around him. I had to run the shower for the baby (his cage is in the bathroom for the time being so I can run the shower on hot to steam up the whole place to loosen him up) this morning bc his nose was packed with buildup again and his eyes were teary/green this morning but I can't expect that to clear up after only two doses of the medicine. He let me wash his face and clear his nose up and as soon as I did he took some orange gatorade and went straight to his food bowl! Lets keep hoping that they just keep improving!

Marshalls.. Yea, I know they're a ferret mill. . which is why I refuse to buy/feed my ferrets the marshall brand of food but it is very hard in this area to find ferrets who aren't marshalls. And the fact that I know he (the baby) had come from a great big producer was another factor in my decision not to trade him in for another one. Bc I just had this nasty feeling that the pet store would ship him back to Marshalls with the impression that they would nurse him back to health and them re-sell him and once he got there they would just destroy him.. I don't know if that's a realistic fear or not but something in my gut just told me.. "Don't leave him behind".. My new baby ferret has these two dots on his ear that are apparently the marshalls tattoo and if marshalls tattoos all of their ferrets then my older one isn't a marshalls bc he has no tats. So I'm not sure..

[red98vett]

What a good mom - it looks like you're doing a wonderful job and GOOD LUCK - sounds very positive !

[HisNameIsHarley]

Originally Posted by red98vett

What a good mom - it looks like you're doing a wonderful job and GOOD LUCK - sounds very positive !

Thank you!!!!!!!!! I just went up to feed my adult some more wet kibble and he made a run for it! haha He bolted off my lap and took off for my basket of laundry! He's definately beginning to get his spunk back! But I won't let him run around like a mad man just yet.. In case he wore himself out too much and might get more dehydrated..

I don't like to get my hopes up only to have them dashed.. But I just can't help but smile right now just knowing that my little furballs are improving!