News M05

The Biggest Little Ferret Shelter & Northern Nevada Ferret Network Monthly Newsletter

Members of the Biggest Little Ferret Shelter and the Northern Nevada Ferret Network write this newsletter.

The NNFN, Northern Nevada Ferret Network is a group of ferret enthusiasts who get together and talk ferret talk, how to raise money, how to spend money, ideas, how to get the needed education about ferrets out there, etc.

The BLFS, Biggest Little Ferret Shelter is a no-kill ferret shelter where no ferret is denied the right to be a ferret. www.renoferrets.org

New volunteers always welcome! The NNFN is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

To contact us email redferret4@yahoo.com Join our Yahoo group at nnfn@yahoogroups.com or visit www.nnfn.net.

A whole year has now passed since the rescue of our first miracle ferret Buddy. Buddy came in day before dead. He was completely bald, and had a bad cough. He was taken to the vet the very next day. An ultrasound was done, and in addition to being (obviously) adrenal, the vet said that Buddy also had cardiomiopathy. If Buddy were to have surgery, his chances of surviving were slim, if any. I couldn’t let Buddy not have a chance, so I asked my vet to please try, knowing that his chances were few.

After a 110 minute surgery, Buddy miraculously pulled through. The vet called me at just past 9pm that night. The Board members and I were having a board meeting, though we all know we were really just awaiting the phone call. As soon as we heard he pulled through, we were all overjoyed, though we knew the first night is the toughest, and we weren’t out of the woods yet. His tumor was huge, and his left kidney had to be removed as well. Buddy has been doing great since his surgery. Thanks to his wonderful new mommy, who gets up in the middle of the night to put nitro in his ear if he has a coughing spell, and who spoils him rotten, Buddy is still with us a year later.

Since our first miracle surgery, we've had quite a few others. Unfortunately, there's been a couple sad stories, those who didn't pull through for us, but there have been many more miracles than not. We decided to show you some of our miracle kids, their before and after pictures, and a few who didn't pull through.

Adrenal disease is very real, and life threatening. If you see symptoms, take your ferret to the vet ASAP. The longer you wait, the more risk you take wiht the life of your beloved pet. This disease can (and will) invade vital organs and cause very serious and sudden health problems.

Buddy when he arrived at the shelter

Look at Buddy now!

Buddy is glad to have his tumor out

Buddy is a walking miracle. Even though he takes meds twice daily for his heart, is now insulinomic, and only has one kidney, he is still living happily a year after his miracle surgery. Thank you to his wonderful mommy who spoils him rotten!

Elvis when he arrived at the shelter

Elvis after full recovery

Elvis was one of four rescued from RAS. When they came here, Elvis went in for surgery immediately. After a full recovery, he was adopted by a wonderful family. Unfortunately he is no longer with us, he had a sudden emergency and nothing could be done for him. He was sadly helped across.

Once the adrenal tumor starts to grow, they’re on borrowed time, but wouldn’t you want them to have as much quality time as possible? Don’t wait until it’s too late for them.

Left, Lilly after surgery. Above, Lilly now. What a difference!

Lilly was rushed in for surgery two days after she came to the shelter. Another walking miracle. She almost didn’t pull through the first night, but the next day, she acted like she never had miracle surgery at all!

Isabella came with Isaac. Both were rushed in for emergency surgery. Isaac didn’t pull through, but Isabella did. They were both left in the drop box at RAS. We’ll never know their history. Though Isaac is deeply missed, Isabella is doing wonderful.

Isabella shortly after surgery

Isabella before surgery

Even though there is always a risk with surgery, we feel not doing surgery is even worse. We opt for surgery because they tend to have a better life afterwards. Not always, but usually.

Mandy right before surgery

Mandy about a month after surgery

Mandy’s tumor & left kidney

Mandy’s tumor wouldn’t even fit in one of those neat jars the vets have, so we had to compromise, anyone for some salsa? Okay, bad joke. This is a result of Lupron shots. It’s the size of a tennis ball, almost ½ lb! We had no idea she had received Lupron. Had we known, we would have taken her in for surgery much sooner. Lupron masks the symptoms but doesn’t slow tumor growth at all. She shouldn’t have, but Mandy lived for four wonderful months after surgery, then in a matter of just a few hours, her liver and remaining kidney failed. Her mommy sadly helped her cross the Bridge.

When Maggie first came in, we weren’t really sure what to think of her tumor. Once removed though, she lived a very happy life for about 10 months. Then her tumor grew back. It was removed again, but this time not such a good outcome. It took her a month before she felt good again, and a month later the tumor grew back a third time. The only option was to remove part of her jaw this time. We felt this was not any type of quality life for a ferret. We decided to let Maggie be in peace instead.

Maggie after first surgery.

Maggie’s third tumor

Maggie when brought to the shelter

Maggie’s second tumor

The two pictures to the right are Spazz. He came from RAS too, left in a drop box. He went in for surgery immediately, but didn’t pull through for us. Our vet was very upset, he couldn’t believe it. He said everything went so smoothly, and was sewing Spazz back up when he willed to let go of this world.

To the right is Al. He was rushed to ER due to dehydration and a prolapsed rectum. Unfortunately, he only got worse at the vets. We had no idea what was wrong with him, but the necropsy revealed bone marrow cancer, in addition to other illnesses. Who would have known?

Amaretto went in for a check up, he had a little trouble breathing. After an x-ray revealed nothing, the vet did the ultrasound. It showed an adrenal tumor slightly smaller than a golf ball. 3 cm in diameter. He went in for surgery the very next day, and also had an insulinomic cell removed along with a fatty tumor on his back. He never had hair loss, but he did show aggression, and had a strong smell.

Aubin is Amaretto’s best buddy. He is patiently awaiting his adrenal surgery here at the shelter, but unfortunately it will be a long wait.

Above is little Luke with Batty ears. He battled Lymphoma and lost. As heart breaking as it was, we helped him cross the bridge. His lymphoma had attacked his stomach, preventing him from absorbing any nutrients. No matter how much he ate, it didn't matter.

Isaac before surgery and the rainbow bridge

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