My very sick ferret, Chaos.

**Queen of Poop** · 10-25-2005, 08:23 AM

Has he had adrenal surgery??? My Sebastian did the exact same thing after his adrenal surgery, we recently put him on steriods and he is now doing fine. His blood work showed nothing wrong but he went from 1400 grams to 940 grams in a very short time. My vet decided to just try the steriods and it has been a miracle. Prayers for you and your baby.

**new mom to a veiled** · 10-25-2005, 08:43 AM

I'm sorry, I don't have any advice for you. I just wanted to say I'm sorry your having such a horrible time. Thoughts and prayers for you and Chaos

**lv4dogs** · 10-25-2005, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Queen of Poop

Has he had adrenal surgery??? My Sebastian did the exact same thing after his adrenal surgery, we recently put him on steriods and he is now doing fine. His blood work showed nothing wrong but he went from 1400 grams to 940 grams in a very short time. My vet decided to just try the steriods and it has been a miracle. Prayers for you and your baby.

Nope he hasn't had any surgeries before, always been a really healthy boy. He was pred (steroid) for about a month, it didn't really seem to make a difference though.

**Queen of Poop** · 10-25-2005, 10:42 AM

Which pred was he on? Both kinds. My vet has advised that if one doesn't work either both or the other one might work.

I've been fattening up Sebastian with "chicken soup". Both boys just love it. It's a good reward for his having his pred twice a day.

Chicken Soup
1 jar chicken broth baby food
1/2 tsp nutracal
1 can vanilla ensure
1/2 cup whipping cream

Smells awful, they love it and it gets them fat really quickly.

**lv4dogs** · 10-25-2005, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Queen of Poop

Which pred was he on? Both kinds. My vet has advised that if one doesn't work either both or the other one might work.

I've been fattening up Sebastian with "chicken soup". Both boys just love it. It's a good reward for his having his pred twice a day.

Chicken Soup
1 jar chicken broth baby food
1/2 tsp nutracal
1 can vanilla ensure
1/2 cup whipping cream

Smells awful, they love it and it gets them fat really quickly.

Hmmm, I'll have to call my vet right now. I didn't know there was 2 different kinds of pred. I don't know which one he was on, I thought there was just one pred. (time to go back to work at the vets I think lol)

Yeah, my ferrets used to get a duck soup like that, then I learned more & realized that raw meat is better. I don't think I ever make the same kind of soup twice, I don't measure & I like it to be vaired so they don't get imprinted on one soup.

I grind up any kind of meat, sometimes multiple kinds (beef, chicken, veal, lamb, venison, etc....) bones & all!
I always add some nupro to it.
Now I have carnivore care added to it for, mainly for Chaos but it's a good supplement for the others to help fatten them up for winter too.
I also add whipping cream to it sometimes (when ever I think they need to be fattened up)
Sometimes I add some crushed kibble to it.
Sometimes I add eggs to it (shells & all, ground up)
Sometimes I add ferretone &/or ferretvite

I know there are some other ingredients that I sometimes add.

**Scooby4** · 10-25-2005, 05:04 PM

I wonder if the ferret hasn't gotten a parasite from the meat? Raw meat has many parasites in it which may cause some digestive problems. If it was a tape worm you may see it by now. There are still "hook worms" or others that could easily have gotten into it's system.
By the way, I didn't choose the "Chef's Blend" dry cat food for my ferret. She chose it! Believe me, I've tried to switch her off the stuff but she won't eat anything else.

My cat won't touch the Chef's blend at all.

So I must buy separate foods for both.
My ferret was extremely small and I was worried. However, about a month ago she took on a growing spurt and has just gotten to "normal" size. She also roams free in one bedroom because of the dogs. My father had let her roam everywhere and she got into everything!!!

**lv4dogs** · 10-26-2005, 08:36 AM

He's had a few fecal checks, all came up negative but we dewormed him anyways, he's also been on 2 different antibiotics as a precaution because no one can figure out what is wrong with him.
Actually a lot of meats are safer now a days. And animals have different digestive systems than us, they can shed off many possible problems better than we may think.
I know a TON of people (including myself) that feed their ferrets, dogs, cats etc... a raw diet and they do well on it.

We went back to the vets last night, got him on some more pred. And of course another exam/consultation and another CBC (complete bood count). The vets, my ferret friends & I are all really thinking it is some sort of cancer. Possibly lymphoma as it is often known as "the silent killer" and can strike without warning and sometimes the tests don't pick it up. Usually though, within a couple months of illness you'll at least start to see other signs/symptoms that will help you diagnose it like enlarged lymph nodes, the blood work will start to show more signs, etc... So far nothing, but it has just been about 2 months, maybe he's just a real trooper hiding everything, hanging in there as long as possible???

**beeniesmom** · 10-28-2005, 12:59 PM

I just saw this....

So sorry about Chaos.
I was hoping he had gotten though the difficult time you told me about. I see that he is still having trouble. I hope he will be better soon.
He looks so cute from the pics. I love his little nose!

**lv4dogs** · 10-28-2005, 01:00 PM

Chaos is still with me but he hasn't improved any at all.

We saw the vets again yesterday, we are really thinking it is some form of cancer as thats about the only thing it can be with no results showing up on anything.

He's a trooper thats for sure. As long as he's comfortable he'll be here with us. But we are just taking it day by day. Cherising every minute of it.