I wrote the response "Lupron to the Rescue," though it seemed to be appended to "Queen of Poop's" posting somehow. I am new on here, and still figuring out how this works....

I am so sorry he's not recovering more quickly. But thrilled at the progress you are making. That is so exciting! Our little furries have such wonderful personalities, it is so hard to lose them .... I lost my little Bandit 3 years ago, and I still miss her. My remaining 4 were depressed quite awhile after that.

I know some ferrets will not eat anything new, especially if they don't feel well. Another thing you might try, which may not have quite the punch as "chicken soup" but he may be more likely to eat, is a simple broth. You know the crumbs and powder found in the bottom of the bag of ferret food? Dissolve that in warm water. It's a familiar flavor. You can start him with an eyedropper full, to perk up his appetite. Then move on to some in a bowl with ferretone added. Bit by bit, add more ferretone, then solids. My bunch also like stew. At the end of our dinner, we take tiny scraps of meat and mix that into the broth. You can be pretty inventive, as long as the base flavor is familiar. For a more novel treat, a tiny bit of vanilla yoghurt is good. My 4 love it. It's super easy to digest, and the enzymes are good for tummy problems.

I am glad the Lupron injections are helping. They do take a few days to a week to start working. But then there is steady improvement. The eyedropper routine can be a hassle, but doing it repeatedly through the day is worth saving his life. And it wouldn't be the first "fur-person" who lived due to this routine. I know, it doesn't seem right to force him, but you should do what's best, just like with kids - whether they like it or not. Fuzzies are really smart. They'll realize later it was your efforts that saved their lives. My Butterscotch can attest to that.

The suggestion for the "after surgery" pad is excellent. And it works. They can be found at places like petsmart or petco. Do they have those shops there? Also, ferrets like to burrow. You can take a shoebox (lid fixed on), basket, or anything similar, poke a small hole in it with a knife, then use the hole to tie it to the side of the cage so it won't get knocked over. Then fill it full of scraps of towels, blankets, or similar materials. Using the shoe box cut a round hole in one side just big enough for a ferret to go through. Initially, you may have to place your baby in it, but once discovered, they'll love it. Both Butterscotch and Latte use this kind of arrangement, and don't get cold anymore. Butterscotch burrows to the bottom, and Latte rolls up right in the middle of his "blankets."

Ferrets are very sensitive creatures. They can get depressed. And like people, feeling an emotional attachment can speed their recovery. I have lot of hammocks, sleepsacks, and other store-bought ferret toys and sleeping arrangements. But an old shirt you have worn and not washed added to their bedroom can quickly become a favorite blanket. I even confiscated a pair of my husband's socks for my little ones. They seem to find our personal items comforting.

Also. Does your little one shiver all the time? Or just when they are waking up? Many ferrets experience what is known as "death sleep." They sleep so deeply, that their body temperature literally drops, so they wake up cold. Even when it's not cold outside. Butterscotch is like this. I can pick her up, carry her all over the house, pose her, do whatever I want, and she doesn't wake up sometimes for ten minutes. Then when she come to, she'll shiver for several minutes before warming up, then is ready to take off.

A space heater may or may not help enough. One close to the cage is probably not a good idea. It causes a too localized temperature change. With a weakened system, your baby could catch cold. And the heat can dry the skin and make him itchy. On rare occasions when it gets too chilly in my little ones' room, I'll put a space heater in a far corner on high, then an oscillating fan in front of it to move the air around evenly. It seems to help, though admittedly, I am unsure how much.

Anyway, I hope these ideas help. And I applaud your efforts! I know my little guys are worth it! Let us know how you are progressing!

Debbie - "GenDebra". Mom to Latte, Butterscotch, Tony, And Thunder.