My very sick ferret, Chaos.
I haven't mentioned him on here, mostly just from PM's, on my LJ & some ferret only communities.
(semi-copied from LJ because I am very sad right now)
Chaos is awesome, he is my first ferret, the ferret that got me into ferrets, my favorite ferret, my buddy. He is a 4 year old Marshall Farm ferret.
To make a long story short, for about 2 months now he's been nothing but skin & bones. I've seen a few different vets (many times each) and even a holistic vet. I've had everything done that I, the vets & my ferret friends can think of, fecal samples, x-rays, barium x-rays, blood tests, exams. He's been dewormed just in case, been on a couple forms of antibiotics, pain meds, tummy meds, supplements, force feedings, sub q's. NOTHING is working.
The only guesses the vets & I have is that it may be
A. a food absorption problem, but diet & supplements are not working so that's starting to be pushed off the list
B. a blockage that is not being detected by barium x-rays, reg. x-rays & palpation
C. Cancer
The only real option I have left is to hope that he gains some weight so that we can do an exploratory surgery. But after 2 months of him eating like a pig he's not gaining anything, so this route looks slim, or at the very least lengthy.
If it ended up being the later of the bunch I'm afraid that even if he did make it through the surgery I'd probably help him to the bridge right then & there.
I don't think he's in a whole lot of pain. He doesn't flinch or anything like that when you hold or palpate him but he is not his normal self, he has to be somewhat uncomfortable, you can tell that just by looking at how skinny he is & how he acts. Sure for a day or two here & there he perks up a little bit, and last weekend he did have a few really good days in a row, otherwise he's very lethargic, no sparkle in his eyes, weak, not wanting to eat & literally skin & bones. I'm scared to even hold him sometimes, I'm afraid I'll break him he's that skinny.
I feel awful, so awful I don't even want to post this but I will.
How much is too much? I know no one can really answer this but me but I have to ask. I just don't know what to do.
Money was not an object, but it is kind of starting to become one. I've spent thousands of dollars on my boy and have not found anything that helps even a little bit. My funds are running out.
I thought he was giving me a sign a couple times to help him to a better place but then he'd perk right up. The last few days I haven't really seen a sign from him but he does not have that sparkle in him.
If he was in obvious pain I'd end that but he appears to not be in pain, he's just not himself.
I thought I had it hard before with some of my rats but this has to be the hardest decision yet, by far.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...k/f4125464.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...k/f412546e.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...k/f412545e.jpg