tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35165741844400393152023-11-15T10:42:08.624-06:00THE FERRET FACTORBe Afraidz!
Be Very Afraidz!friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-41889246365321426912014-09-30T11:48:00.002-05:002014-09-30T11:48:35.264-05:00WHERE THE HELL YOU BEEN????Whoa. Time to pull this blog out of the closet and dust off the cobwebs. I am so over Facebook, I could hurl. Pardon my dust while I try to get this thing running again........friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-58497417788855698312010-08-23T21:32:00.007-05:002010-08-23T22:14:27.365-05:00PUTTERING IS A GOOD THING...<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/THMv2CiifoI/AAAAAAAAChU/82A-P-TY_nI/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508799374645427842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/THMv2CiifoI/AAAAAAAAChU/82A-P-TY_nI/s320/005.JPG" /></a> <em>George (foreground) and Dave sleep in the</em><em> sock nest.</em></div><br /><p><em></em></p><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;">I took Dave to the vet today so she could give him a check-up and see how he's doing. He's actually doing quite well -- he wakes up from his naps and putters around and he's eating good. Dr. Dori said his heart and lungs sound pretty good. He does have some sores in his mouth, on his upper gums. So, we are giving him Clavamox for that. We are decreasing the Lasix and weaning him off of that to see how he does. </span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;">Dr. Dori showed me Dave's x-rays and, yeah, it looks pretty bleak. She notes two growths (probably tumors) -- one in his heart and one under his trachea. ::sigh::</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;">So...I'm cherishing every day he is with us. Right now, he has a good quality of life. I hope it stays that way. Still, how do I prepare for this, the inevitable? How do I stop the heartbreak of loosing him?</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;">Anyway, I snapped the photo above this evening. The "sock nest" was created when Dave came to us with his cagemate, Cupid. They stole K.'s dirty socks, took them under his desk in his office and slept there. After Cupid died we never picked the socks up, but Dave didn't sleep there much. Lately, though, I've seen him back under there, usually curled up with George or Misty. It's bittersweet.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;"></span></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/THM1rJChqLI/AAAAAAAAChg/a3cXfg8BRrk/s1600/We+luff+our+Sock+Nest.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508805784481409202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/THM1rJChqLI/AAAAAAAAChg/a3cXfg8BRrk/s320/We+luff+our+Sock+Nest.JPG" /></a><br /><p><span style="color:#000066;"></span></p><em>Cupid and Dave sleep in the sock nest. After Cupid died, Dave stopped sleeping there.</em><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-80373684386898887902010-08-09T13:53:00.006-05:002010-08-09T14:28:22.894-05:00About Dave Bear<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/TGBV9eqNpXI/AAAAAAAAChA/kWGrHl7iqGI/s1600/Little+Dave+Plays+With+His+Ball.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503493259337246066" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/TGBV9eqNpXI/AAAAAAAAChA/kWGrHl7iqGI/s320/Little+Dave+Plays+With+His+Ball.JPG" /></a><br /><div>His favorite places to sleep are the sock nest under K.'s desk, the big plastic container in our bedroom or the toy box we converted into a Hidey Hole. Sometimes he'll surprise me, though, and I'll find him in a ferret pile in the hammock under the bed or sleeping in one of the crinkle tunnels.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Even though he's blind, he gets around just fine. A few bumps into the walls at times. Or a bump into the Thing that mommie put in his path that wasn't there before. But he just good-naturedly finds his way around it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He hits the potty pad more often than his comrades, none of which are blind.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He knows exactly when it is time for his Duck Soup and comes straight to the kitchen and waits for me. My favorite time of day is sitting with Dave in my lap as he gobbles up his soup and then washes his feet.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He loves boxes. K.'s trash can. And WalMart bags. And "crunchies". And N-Bones. He lets the other guys steal his treats and he just comes back for more. He "hides" his treasures in the middle of the living room floor. We just pretend we don't see them.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He lets me give him his medicine, even though it's yukky. He knows I'm taking care of him. Plus he always gets Ferretone after his medicine.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>He's gained a lot of weight and waddles. He's losing his beautiful coat. And he is just so beautiful to me. He shows me unconditional love, because I, too, have have gained a lot of weight and waddle. But Dave doesn't care. I'm Mommie and he loves me.</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-75406214976178484742010-08-03T19:55:00.005-05:002010-08-03T23:03:33.465-05:00BAILEY MUST'VE STOLEN MY CALENDAR<div>Holy Cow, where does the time go?? My last post was in January?? Really??? :::hanging head:::: Aarrrrgghh. Let's update, shall we?<br /></div><br /><div>Well. Bailey, my champagne baby who got scalped by Milo, is now a part of the Wildkatz and he and Milo are BFF's. (Go figure) Bailey is the wildest of them all and he loves to find trouble. He loves to sneak in Keith's office, climb up on his desk and knock everything (including the wireless keyboard) off. He also enjoys erasing the greeting message on the business phone and stealing the computer mouse and Keith's glasses. He will attempt to steal the TV remote and it's a game of tug-of-war trying to get it back. He loves, loves to run and quite often we will just see him hauling ass through the house. It's hysterical. He's such a little clown!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Angel, my little girl who had adrenal surgery last November, never regrew her hair (except on her tail). Dr. Dori felt a lump upon examination and suggested a second surgery, which we did. That was just this past June. Turns out Angel was growing a tumor on her right adrenal and bone was forming around it! Weird. Now the little stinker is growing her hair back and she is going to be a beautiful DEW!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Oh, and we went to Shreveport in April for the First Annual Ferret Fun Rodeo. We had a blast! Smokey won 1st Place for Longest Kisser; Bailey won 1st Place in the tube races and 2nd in the bag races; Angel won 1st Place for Smallest Female Ferret; Angel and Smokey took 3rd Place for Opposites: Big and Small. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That pretty much brings us up to date -- at least with the Big Stuff. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But, there is one more Big Thing, and this just happened today. Dave, my blind guy and oldest by estimation, has insulinoma and I've been giving him prednisone for about a year. Lately he's had some hair loss on his back and head, a sign of possible adrenal disease. We felt that he was healthy enough to withstand exploratory surgery to remove the tumors, so it was scheduled for today. Just as they were about to put him under anaesthesia, Dr. Dori noticed Dave kind of choking and she realized he wasn't breathing good. So she did an x-ray and ultrasound and discovered a large mass that is either in his heart or his lungs, which is constricting his breathing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Needless to say, the surgery was cancelled and she started Dave on Benazapril for his heart and Lasix to help get rid of the excess fluid.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/TFjjXwVpdGI/AAAAAAAACg0/nDHO3H7p8Yg/s1600/002.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 285px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501396942085256290" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/TFjjXwVpdGI/AAAAAAAACg0/nDHO3H7p8Yg/s320/002.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Bottom line: my little Dave doesn't have much longer. And my heart is breaking.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-27050145227362553452010-01-29T23:38:00.003-06:002010-01-30T00:50:24.867-06:00BUDDY T. FERRETSo I went to the Houston SPCA tonight after I got off from work. I wanted to see this little ferret, Buddy, they've had posted on the website since December. Plus everybody on Facebook is like, "Yeah! Get him! Go for it!". I love my ferret friends....<br /><br />Anyway, I went, but they couldn't find him. No ferret anywhere. So that means he was probably adopted out and someone didn't update their computer. So, hopefully, he has a forever home and is happy -- that's all I care about.<br /><br />Weird story, but there was another black & white sable on Craigslist by the name of Buddy someone was trying to rehome. That posting was removed, so I'm assuming he was adopted too.<br /><br />So...good news for two black & white ferrets named Buddy.<br /><br />I have created playgroups for my guys...in hopes to diffuse some of the bickering and rumbling that is going on --- and attempting to avoid anymore partial scalpings. So far, it's working well. Ziggy and Milo don't have to get all worried and anxious and go aggresive on me; and the others can relax and play alittle bit without having to outrun Milo!<br /><br />I'm hoping this will help socialize Smokey, too. He's one of my former foster fuzzies (now adopted by me) and cage-mate to Angel, my adrenal girl. Smokey doesn't care for other ferrets, except for Angel and Baby. And he is very protective of them. He can get a little pissy with other ferrets and tends to run back into his cage when they are out. I'm hoping that, in time, Smokey will become the caregiver to all his playgroup friends and get over his insecurity.<br /><br />Well, time to wrangle them all up and get to bed!friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-21871210154715716302010-01-27T13:57:00.004-06:002010-01-27T14:23:17.249-06:00BAILEY UPDATE UPDATEOK, so the swelling and scabbing was just too much. I decided to get Bailey in to the vet first thing this morning and I'm really glad I did. The wounds were abscessing and infected. Dr. D. shaved his little noggin and drained the wounds. Now you can clearly see two teeth punctures from the sabre-toothed ferret that got hold of him. Not pretty, but it looks better than the mess he had before the vet cleaned him up.<br /><br />He got a shot of penicillin and some oral antibiotic (Clavamox). And she told me to put Preparation H on his wounds. Apparently, it's not just for hemorrhoids anymore...<br /><br />We got home from the vet and Bailey was war dancing and dooking and crunching his kibble. Now he is blissfully asleep, dreaming, I'm sure, of the day <em>he </em>can kick Milo's ass.<br /><br />Milo, interestingly enough, has been searching all over for Bailey (I have Bailey separated from the others - in the back part of the house). He's seemed a bit anxious. This morning he came and laid at my feet and then rolled over on his back. Awwwwww!!! So I picked him up and gave him lots of lovies and told him that I still love him very much, no one is mad at him and everything is going to be OK. Then, he just bounced off and went to play with the others, all happy again.<br /><br />Tell me they don't have minds.....<br /><br />I'm still thinking about the poor little ferret, Buddy, who is stuck at the SPCA. Man, I dunno. I so want to go get him, but, considering all the 'trauma drama' that just went down this week; not to mention the fact that I had to pay the vet with a post-dated check today....I have no business adopting another one. Hubby would really be pissed and I really need to consider the expense of these guys. It's important to me that they are properly cared for. That they get to the vet when they need it, they get their shots, their heartworm preventative...decent food...all that. AND my attention and time.<br /><br />It breaks my heart, but I can't save them all. I want to. But I can't. I'm not doing myself any favors by looking at sites like the SPCA and Craigslist. It just adds to my heartbreak. Now, I have this little guy that I've never met, pictured in my head, sitting at the SPCA -- waiting for someone to love him.<br /><br />GAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! I hate it. It's so freaking unfair.friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-29264677798005855772010-01-26T12:33:00.004-06:002010-01-26T13:11:42.305-06:00BAILEY UPDATE<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/S18-RLg6JxI/AAAAAAAACgg/ZiZNfvq7egk/s1600-h/002.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431128140501624594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/S18-RLg6JxI/AAAAAAAACgg/ZiZNfvq7egk/s320/002.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Bailey spent the night in a medical cage in bed with me last night, so I could keep an eye on him. He did fine. He stayed alert and ate like a little piggy. Poos are normal, no blood from eye, ear or nose, so that's good. He was all about getting out and playing this morning, which I let him do (he is separated from Milo, of course). He loves playing with Misty and Angel, so I have them in the playroom and Milo and Ziggy are in the living room with me.<br /><br />I stayed home from work today so I can keep an eye on Bailey and be able to get him to the vet if needed. He's got an open wound, which I'm cleaning with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment. He also has a big goose egg, which is the greater of my worries. Hopefully, he would have demonstrated having a more severe internal head injury by now, but I'll feel better after the 24-hour mark.<br /><br />I really didn't see that the rumbles between Milo and Bailey were that bad. I'm praying it was an accident due too overzealousness on Milo's part. But I just don't know. Milo is going to be separated from Bailey for a while. After Bailey's head heals, I'll try reintroducing them under a CONTROLLED environment.<br /><br />Woe is me.</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-45182641245013641012010-01-25T20:20:00.004-06:002010-01-25T20:27:40.049-06:00BAILEY IS INJUREDShit, crap. I wasn't watching close enough. Milo got ahold of Bailey and, I guess, bit him on top of the head, next to his right ear. He has two blood blisters and it looks awful. I found him hiding behind Keith's bookcase and he cried when I dragged him out. I cleaned it up, checked him over, fed him some duck soup and put him in his cage. He ate some kibble and is now sleeping. I'm jsut watching him now and praying we aren't gonna have an emergency vet visit.<br /><br />It's my fault. Should've been paying closer attention. I feel awful.<br /><br />:((((((friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-30968739837361998972010-01-24T20:47:00.004-06:002010-01-24T21:47:44.561-06:00A FERRET NAMED BUDDYOne thing I do is watch craigslist and the SPCA listings to just keep myself informed on the state of homeless ferrets and ferrets needing to be rehomed. OK, I hate it, but I won't get on my soapbox. I did that with my very first post. Check the archives (January 2009) if you are curious as to what I said about the evil craigslist....<br /><br />Anyway, I'm looking at the Houston SPCA listings and they have one little ferret named Buddy. They don't have a photo of him and they don't state his age. He's been there since 12/8/09. All by himself. I haven't laid eyes on this little guy, but my heart is just breaking for him. The SPCA doesn't have facilities or personnel to let Buddy out of his cage for playtime. So he's been in his cage since December. And God knows what the situation was that brought him there in the first place.<br /><br />Every day I look to see if Buddy's listing is still there, or if he's found a home. Every day his listing pops up. I just can't stand the thought of this little one all alone, caged....cared for I'm sure..but missing out on love and enrichment. It brings me to tears.<br /><br />So I decided that if, by Friday, Buddy hasn't found a home, I'm going down there. I want to see him. Bring him home? Strongly possible. Huge risk because K. will be pissed. It's a chance I'm willing to take for the sake of this little one.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">IN OTHER NEWS: Bailey went to the rescue today to visit and get his mouth swabbed for his ADV test. Poor little guy was kind of scared -- all the new smells and ferrets and people chatting. But he finally warmed up and came home all worn out. AND>>>We adopted out three ferrets today!!! That was just awesome! I am very happy!</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000066;">Angel's little bruise (or whatever it is) looks a little better today. I thought it might be a mast cell tumor, but I'm really thinking it's a bruise. Still watching close. She may need a CBC to check her platelet count. She's had some bruising on her tummy a couple of weeks ago. They come and go fast, but I think it's a concern I need to take to the vet. We go Feb. 8. </span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">That's my news for the day. It sure is quiet right now. I guess everyone's asleep. Not a bad idea...</span>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-5792742287740790082010-01-24T02:41:00.003-06:002010-01-24T03:10:45.314-06:00LONG TIME, NO BLOG!<div>EEK! Has it really been since November that I've written?? Well, boys and girls, I have some catching up to do. First, let me say that it is 2:45 AM and what better time to catch up on a blog....</div><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, the last time I wrote I'd rescued a little ferret named Darby. Happily she has been adopted and hardly spent any time at the rescue before she found her forever home. I'm still very involved in rescue -- admittedly I had some bumpy times with it and had questions about whether or not I wanted to continue. But my passion and love are with the ferrets. I can't abandon them or the human friends I have made. I just need to get back up when I stumble, that's all.<br /></div><div>I think Angel had already had her adrenal surgery last time I wrote, too. Well, she's doing great in terms of energy, appetite and mood. She's still naked, even after a Lupron shot. And melatonin. Her vulva is slowly shrinking back down, which is good. Dr. Dori wants to see her again in February and I guess we'll see what she says. Maybe more Lupron? Maybe little Angel is just gonna be naked, which is OK, as long as she's healthy otherwise. She's really adorable, the little rat!</div><div></div><br /><div>Tonight I noticed some bruising on her torso. After a couple of phone calls and a on-line chat with a friend, I went back and investigated closer. Turns out a large mast cell tumor had popped up and the other "bruising" was simply dried blood from her scratching at the spot. I felt silly for thinking she had bruises or hematomas all over her, but relieved that that wasn't it! Anyway, I but a dollop of hydrocortisone cream on it and will watch it closely.<br /></div><div>I have another addition to my ferret business! His name is Bailey and he is a cinnamon kit, about 3 1/2 months old! He is just beautiful and a total wildcat! Here he is:</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430228244743878962" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/S1wL0WlAeTI/AAAAAAAACgQ/ev-_tILG6BA/s320/Bailey+20.JPG" /><br /><div>That brings me up to ten, yes <em>ten</em> ferrets. Every one of them is unique, each a blessing to me. I think K. will have my head on a platter if I take in any more. I probably should quit making promises that "this-is-the-last-one-I-swear".</div><div> </div><div>Having fibromyalgia and CFS presents a challenge to me sometimes and these little guys have brought me so much love, joy and healing. I can't honestly say that Bailey is the "last one". I'll explain that next time....</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-56749486807930568022009-11-16T21:50:00.005-06:002009-11-16T22:16:15.165-06:00OUCH! THAT REALLY HURT....<div>Some people who live in a neighborhood across from us found a little ferret. She just appeared in their garage. They've tried to find the owners, but had no luck, so she is coming into rescue. I have her right now (in strict isolation) and will take her to Dana on Saturday. She is a beautiful little thing - a silver mitt that looks a lot like Baby. From what I can tell, she is about a year old. God, the owners must be frantic. Brings back memories of when I lost Rocky over the summer. Devestating, for sure.<br /></div><div>The family that found her named her Darby, which I think is adorable and fits her. She's a little shy right now. No pic of her (I'm trying to stay unattached...mmrrrr) But here is a cute little pic I snapped of Angel and Baby hanging out in the hammock last night:</div><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404917202859089954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/SwIfjzzQYCI/AAAAAAAACcM/6fc1d2xedFs/s320/Angel+and+Baby+Hammock+3.JPG" /></div><br /><p>Speaking of Baby, that little rat bit me tonight. Totally hurt my feelings. My fault. Princess Misty was in Baby's cage, annoying her. I reached my hand in the cage to pet her and she didn't know it was me and swung around and bit me. Hurt like hell. :( I know she didn't mean it - she is a very sweet and lovable little girl. It was totally my fault for suprising her when she was already being defensive. </p><p>This is now the <em>second</em> time I have put my hand in the middle of a ferret confrontation and got the shit-end of the stick. The third time may just have me lose a finger....GAH!!!</p>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-29025107912545328362009-11-15T13:02:00.006-06:002009-11-15T13:20:08.962-06:00HAPPY FERRETS<span style="color:#330033;">I think little Angel was happy to be back in the cage with her buddies, Smokey and Baby. She was all curled up in a sack with Smokey this morning. She is looking great, too. She's putting some weight back on and is very energetic. I am sooo happy to see it!</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#330033;">Misty has managed to leave her foot alone, so no more bleeding episodes, thank God!! I just found some more bloody ferret footprints in one of the cages, though (from the other night when it happened). I'm thinking she scraped it and didn't actually bite it. Really, she's being very good about letting me put ointment on it and leaving it alone.</span><br /><span style="color:#330033;"></span><br /><span style="color:#330033;">I'm sewing a bunch of bedding from remnants of fabric I had (plus some new I just bought, ugh, can't resist cool fabric...) and am sending a box of hammies and sacks to a ferret rescue up in Baltimore that just rescued 40 ferrets. Need to get it done, so I can do something with this house for the holidays. I have crap strewn all over the place!! </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#330033;">There's today's update! All the other Friskies are just doing great, continuing to bring laughter, love and a whole lot of silliness to my life!!</span>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-12581574819282265512009-11-14T13:51:00.005-06:002009-11-15T01:03:08.455-06:00STOPPING THE BLEEDING<span style="font-family:lucida grande;color:#009900;">Gee Whiz, has it really been <em>two months </em>since I've written here? OMG, don't know where the time goes...</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Well, let's see, that last time I wrote, Misty had just been adopted and graduated to the Big Cage with the boys. Things are going well between them ~ even Misty and Ziggy are getting along for the most part. Misty still likes to show everyone that she is the boss by pooping wherever she pleases; like, say, the middle of the living room floor...But we are working on it. The thing about picking a ferret up when they are in the middle of "doing their business", is that they don't STOP doing their business and you wind up with a trail of business all the way from the original poop spot to the potty pad...not fun.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">And while I am talking about Misty -- she had a growth on her back foot. I think it is called a <em>sebaceous adenoma</em>, which is a benign growth that can get pretty nasty. I had it removed last Wednesday and everything was fine. Then on Thursday night she came to me wih blood all over her. I'm not kidding, she was covered. Needless to say, I freaked. I grabbed her up and saw that she'd somehow knocked the scab off the surgical wound and it was bleeding like a sieve. I'm by myself (hubby is <em>still </em>out of town) and I'm trying to calm her and myself down, put pressure on the wound, call Dana (because I'm panicking). Now there is blood all over Misty, me, the sink, the floor. I'm thinking she is seriously going to bleed to death. Dana encouraged me to keep putting pressure on it and then when it slows down, using cornstarch. I did that and it finally stopped. </span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">My goodness. Never a dull moment.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">I have also adopted the three foster fuzzies I had: Smokey, Baby and Angel. I adopted them and immediately got Angel in to get her adrenal surgery. That was about ten days ago and she is doing fabulously. She is busy as ever, prancing around like the little princess she is. Her prognosis is fair to favorable and I feel very confident about her recovery. I can't wait to see what she looks like with hair on her tail and back! :D</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">So currently, I have nine ferrets and no fosters. But I'm still very involved in the rescue. I struggled for a little while - things happened that caused some uncertainty on whether or not I would stay. But, it's my destiny to help these little guys out. Happily, it wll turned out for the good of all concerned.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">OK, I will be better at keeping up with this blog. I love writing about my furr kids - they are always teaching me new things!</span>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-66517418880955561952009-09-11T11:37:00.002-05:002009-09-11T12:04:07.017-05:00LIVIN' IN THE BIG CAGE<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3333ff;">In the spirit of keeping this little blog alive, I vow to write even though there's not much to write about! All the fuzzbutts are doing well, dancing and be-bopping their way through my heart on a daily basis. We still miss our Cupid McPoo and Snow Bisquit - not a day goes by that they don't enter my thoughts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">Misty has stepped in and made herself right at home and is now a full-fledged Frisky. She even shares the Big Cage with the boys and does a darn good job at keeping them in line. She's a typical little sister, with a "You aren't the boss of me" attitude that just keeps me in stitches. She's just awful about hitting anything that remotely looks like a litter box or potty pad, which has proved to be quite exasperating. Her biting habit has improved tremendously, although she still enjoys a little nip now and then!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">Dave, my blind guy who has just been diagnosed with insulinoma, seems to be doing quite well on the prednisone. He is nothing but sweetness in fur who loves to nap in his varioius napping spots and then wake up and amble around the house. If you hear a small "thud", no worries. That's just Dave bumping into something. LOL! I just love him to pieces!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">We went on a playdate a couple of weeks ago and Ziggy did great. No worries about him being aggressive. Not a problem. He's just a spoiled rotten little boy who dares to assert himself with certain other ferrets. Gotta love him! (And I do)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3333ff;">Hubby is doing an extended job out-of-town, which is robbing everyone of their run time in the mornings. I try to let them out while I get ready for work (can we say, "distraction"?), but it's only for about an hour and then they go back in their cage. Which everyone,. including me, hates, but I'm still not comfy with the free-roam idea. Maybe it's something I really need to think about though....</span>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-14805305228495252392009-08-31T22:26:00.003-05:002009-08-31T22:51:15.428-05:00O MY ZIGGY...<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/SpyZsFaQZaI/AAAAAAAACRs/1Y7uCH7oOYs/s1600-h/Sweet+Ziggy.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376341037819127202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/SpyZsFaQZaI/AAAAAAAACRs/1Y7uCH7oOYs/s320/Sweet+Ziggy.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Ziggy's mission for the night: create chaos wherever he goes.....<br /></div><div>Mission 1: Knock over Nathan's glass of tea and see what happens. Oh, wow! Look at that! The liquid stuff goes everywhere. Nathan appears to be angry as he frantically tries to dry off his calculator and textbook. Mom is trying hard not to laugh. Mission accomplished!!!</div><div></div><br /><div>Mission 2: Try to open the closet door by scatching on it as fast as my little paws can scratch. Return to door and proceed each time Mom removes me from said door. Door will not open. Fail.<br /></div><div>Mission 3: Knock all the books off Mom's book shelf and spread them all over the floor. Watch Mom throw up her hands and give up. Mission accomplished!<br /></div><div>Two out of three missions: Not too bad. Someday, the closet door will be mine......</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-18006998102314345842009-08-30T23:20:00.002-05:002009-08-30T23:42:18.515-05:00TERRIBLE TWOSI took Rocky, Ziggy and Milo to a ferret playdate last night and they had a blast. Well, all except the car ride. I swear, if someone asks me was having ferrets is like, my short answer would be, "It's like having two-year-olds."<br /><br />I had their travel cage all ready, complete with hammock, just in case someone (Ziggy) needed to go in time-out while we were at the playdate. I got the cage in the car and was about to buckle up when I saw poo all over the hammock. "Alright! Who poo'd in the hammock? Rocky, NO! Get out of the poo!!" So I have to pull the hammock out of the cage and take it back in the house.<br /><br />I had a light throw over part of the cage for the drive there, because, somewhere I heard it helps the stay calmer....NOT!! Rocky and Ziggy cage-raged all the way there. At one point I look over and see Rocky has a nail caught in the throw, which he had pulled partly through the bars of the cage. So he's just laying there being pitiful.<br /><br />Had to pull over and unstick his nail from the cloth. Cloth gets thrown in the backseat. Try to shut the cage door back, but trying to get all three ferrets to stay out of the door and not escape was like playing Whack-a-Mole.<br /><br />Back on the road. Traffic is diverted becasue of an accident. Pull over again, call my friend for additional directions. Cage rage continues. Rocky is panting. "Rocky, here, water! Drink!" Forget that. Pulled water bottle off cage, douse ferrets with water.<br /><br />Back on the road. Finally we make it to our destination, where we had a great time. By the way, Ziggy was a perfect gentleman, which shows me he is not aggressive...just a bit ornery at times.<br /><br />Yep, Rocky cage-raged all the way home, too. When we got home, everyone slept like a baby.friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-34941480972552161522009-08-28T12:03:00.004-05:002009-08-28T12:17:25.344-05:00TOUCHED BY AN ANGELSo, I'm a believer in the mystical. I believe there is some greater power out there, whatever one chooses to call it. I believe in spirits and angels. And I believe that, if I open my ears and eyes, the Universe touches me every day. Maybe it's something I hear in a conversation. Maybe it's a penny I find when I'm feeling broke.<br /><br />Yesterday, God touched me by leaving me the gift of a feather.<br /><br />It wasn't any old feather. It was a white one with a thin edge of black and it seemed to be stratigically placed in my path that led next to the garden where Cupid and Snow are buried. Now. Both of my little ferrets that I recently lost were white. Cupid was a dark-eyed white with just a touch of silver. Snow was a true albino ferret.<br /><br />So, for me, finding this pretty little feather, so perfect and so perfectly placed, was like finding a letter from my two fuzzies from across the Rainbow Bridge. "Dear Mom, we are fine. We love you. Look! We have wings now!"<br /><br />I placed the feather in a spot where I keep Cupid and Snow's photos. And I believe.friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-41246875927109673862009-08-25T15:57:00.003-05:002009-08-25T16:09:35.043-05:00MISTY'S FIRST NIGHT AS A FRISKIEMisty wan't sure what to think about the new cage in a new room. She hates being caged anyway - so spoiled. She'll dig her food and tear up her litter trying to get my attention. Admittedly, sometimes it works and I'll let her back out for a few minutes after everyone else is put down. A few extra minutes with mom all to herself and a lick of ferratone usually calms her enough that she will then sleep.<br /><br />Her and Ziggy are still working it out, but it's nothing like the issue I had with Snow and Ziggy, so it will be fine. I happen to love how she gets right up to Ziggy's face and chatters at him and how he just kind of backs off and saunters away. Too funny!<br /><br />We have a play date scheduled for this coming Saturday with some ferret friends, so I'm looking forward to that. Will probably take Rocky, Milo and George -- they are my easy-going guys.<br /><br />That's all the news today. More to come!friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-80134763416050664172009-08-24T21:30:00.003-05:002009-08-24T21:39:43.494-05:00IT'S A GIRL!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/SpNOeF4W4EI/AAAAAAAACRU/UZhZyU7U7QQ/s1600-h/Misty+Pink.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373725059264733250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/SpNOeF4W4EI/AAAAAAAACRU/UZhZyU7U7QQ/s320/Misty+Pink.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Whoo hoo!! Little Misty is officially a member of the Friskies! Up until now, it's been a "boys only" club, but she has been welcomed in. Tonight she spends her first night in her new cage, next to the boys! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>When I told her we would be her forever home, she gave me a kiss! So sweet!</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-14309645552905659392009-08-22T14:36:00.003-05:002009-08-22T14:58:10.591-05:00ONE CAN WONDERAll is quiet on the ferret front. My foster girl, Misty, seems to have stepped in and made herself right at home. She has become George's friend and my special little buddy. She seems to have adopted <em>us, </em>if that makes any sense. I never expected it...it just has happened that way. She's so happy romping with the boys (she's a tomboy ferret), and hates having to stay in the foster room.<br /><br />It seems natural that we become her forever home, but I don't know what Dana will say. I called and left a message telling her I want to talk to her about Misty. We shall see what she says.<br /><br />Dave is loving the fact that he is getting Duck Soup two times a day now, with his prednisone. He thinks he's died and gone to heaven! George manages to sneak in a few licks from Dave's bowl, too.<br /><br />Well, that's all going on at the moment. Until next time....<br />Dooks and Dances!friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-59153281164734165832009-08-20T19:34:00.004-05:002009-08-20T20:02:50.108-05:00BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY<div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/So3wBM_dA7I/AAAAAAAACRM/ztD0bFhhs6Y/s1600-h/Baby+and+Smokey+3.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372213833980773298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/So3wBM_dA7I/AAAAAAAACRM/ztD0bFhhs6Y/s320/Baby+and+Smokey+3.JPG" /></a></div><div align="center">Two of my foster fuzzies:</div><div align="center"> <em><span style="color:#000099;">(L) Baby (aka,'Koo</span></em><em><span style="color:#000099;">sh") , (R) Smokey</span></em><br /></div><div align="left">Last Monday a distemper shot for Rocky (which always makes me sooo nervous, but he did just fine). Yesterday glucose checks on Dave (my blind guy) and Baby (one of my fosters, who I call 'Koosh'). Baby's glucose was fine -- Dave, notsomuch. Dave's glucose level was 53, which points to insulinoma. So we broke out the Prednisone.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">I'm glad I had them checked. Dave shows no real symptoms...I just did it as part of a check-up because he turned 5 years a couple of months ago. When it read borderline, we waited and repeated it. Hopefully, we are catching it early. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">I had Koosh checked because she seems so non-energetic to me. Is happy just sleeeeeeping away. So I was worried. Now those worries are put to rest! (Better safe than sorry) Baby is just a little mellowed out girl...and I'm not so used to mellow! LOL!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left">Smokey (another foster, aka, 'Stretch' and 'Tex') has this annoying little mast cell tumor on his head he will not quit scratching. So I had Dr. Dori look at it. She said to just keep putting Benadryl cream on it. Dana said I can give him Children's Liquid Benadryl, too, which I need to do, I guess. Poor little guy...</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-69439407480905066092009-08-16T16:12:00.005-05:002009-08-16T16:22:51.673-05:00CALENDARS ARE READY!!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh2d4g1NfI/AAAAAAAACQs/7nNr9kMjgz8/s1600-h/Calendar+01.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370672811397690866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh2d4g1NfI/AAAAAAAACQs/7nNr9kMjgz8/s320/Calendar+01.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh3ME2YRfI/AAAAAAAACRE/JN653IHXgLQ/s1600-h/Calendar+05.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370673604983277042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh3ME2YRfI/AAAAAAAACRE/JN653IHXgLQ/s320/Calendar+05.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh28ItRseI/AAAAAAAACQ8/Tf93219iGGY/s1600-h/Calendar+03.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370673331140932066" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh28ItRseI/AAAAAAAACQ8/Tf93219iGGY/s320/Calendar+03.JPG" /></a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370673067930585042" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Soh2s0LCh9I/AAAAAAAACQ0/wSjFLzF51Ek/s320/Calendar+02.JPG" /><br /><div><br />WHOO HOO! The calendars that I have been sweating furr balls over are complete and ready to sell. These are custom calendars that I have created for 2010. Each month features a photo collage of our rescue fuzzies and the humans that take care of them. The proceeds go to help fund our rescue, Forever Homes Wanted Ferret Rescue. They are a bargain at $ 18. If interested in purchasing one, please leave your info in the comment OR email me at:</div><div><a href="mailto:susanmbaker@sbcglobal.net">susanmbaker@sbcglobal.net</a></div><div> </div><div>Please support your local rescue! Thanks!!!<br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-46099305526334157372009-08-15T12:29:00.002-05:002009-08-15T12:53:47.374-05:00STOLEN: ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEARTMisty, one of my fosters, has made herself right at home and is hanging out with the Friskies. Notably, Ziggy (the business' Chief Bodyguard) is beginning to accept her in without too much puff tail and hiss. Besides, I think Zigs has met his match with Misty. She gets right back in his face, no problem.<br /><br />Yesterday evening there was quite a chase-and-pounce scene, with Misty running with a Walmart sack and Rocky and Milo chasing after her. Made me laugh out loud. Later, I found Misty curled up in the Sock Nest with George.<br /><br />It's almost as if she knows we lost Snow and is stepping in to comfort us. What a beauty. Sometimes a sideways glance will fool me and I will call her "Snow"...<br /><br />She still has her moments where she will bite, but it isn't as hard and I honestly think it's out of orneriness and play. <br /><br />A couple of evenings ago I learned why you don't put your hand in during a squabble between two ferts. I got the bageezus bit out of my hand. No one meant to do it - it was my bad for being so careless. I got lots of kisses afterwards and learned a lesson.friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-16074146953436928412009-08-13T15:58:00.003-05:002009-08-13T16:05:08.895-05:00OH, MY ZIGGY...Of all the ferrets that seems to miss Snow the most, it's Ziggy. It's seems ironic because they didn't get along so great all the time. But the day Snow died, we laid him on his little bed and let the other fuzzies sniff him and say goodbye. Ziggy visited Snow several times. He nuzzled him and spent a lot of time hanging around him.<br /><br />Oh, my Ziggy. You never cease to amaze me. What goes on in that little head of yours?<br /><br />p.s. thanks to my friends for the warm comments and love....friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3516574184440039315.post-43304831875963089862009-08-09T12:17:00.004-05:002009-08-09T12:34:35.187-05:00GONE<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Sn8ImyfWocI/AAAAAAAACQk/h8koR8nn05k/s1600-h/Hai+(Snow).JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368018743330251202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VKuxFXV9EqM/Sn8ImyfWocI/AAAAAAAACQk/h8koR8nn05k/s320/Hai+(Snow).JPG" /></a><br /><div>Snow went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning at 9:00 am. I was packing things up to drive him to Gulf Coast when he died in my husband's arms. This has hit us way too fast. He was doing fine and the heart meds he was on seemed to be working very well. Just yesterday morning, he was bouncing around with everyone else, begging for treats. He gave no indication of feeling bad.<br /><br />Then around 4:30 my husband called me and said that Snow was throwing up and had diarrhea. It was full of blood and thick mucous. No vet was available for ferrets on Saturday night, except for Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists some 30 miles away in the Galleria. We decided to sit up with him through the night and keep him hydrated and try to get him somewhere this morning. But when I called, they still had no ferret vet on duty.<br /><br />We decided to try to get him to Gulf Coast, but he didn't make it. He was only 3 1/2 years old.<br /><br />My poor little Snow. I'm so, so sad....</div>friskybiznushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01022154314599627089noreply@blogger.com3