BAILEY UPDATE UPDATE

OK, 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.

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...

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 he can kick Milo's ass.

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.

Tell me they don't have minds.....

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.

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.

GAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! I hate it. It's so freaking unfair.

LIVIN' IN THE BIG CAGE

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.

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!

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!

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)

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....

TERRIBLE TWOS

I 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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yep, Rocky cage-raged all the way home, too. When we got home, everyone slept like a baby.

STOLEN: ANOTHER PIECE OF MY HEART

Misty, 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.

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.

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"...

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.

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.

WISDOM POINT EARNED

LOOK!!! It's Snow and Ziggy, all curled up and cuddly in the Sacred Hidey Hole! Momma is soooo happy!!! Whew!

And the Moral of the Story is: Patience is Key When Dealing With Stubborn Ferret.

I was at the rescue on Sunday, helping with clean day. It's hard work, but I really love it. The people are awesome and the ferrets are a joy. I also brought my three foster girls home! They are adapting well -- of course they are separated from my boys - at least for a couple of weeks. They are just beautiful. I'll post pictures soon!

Last Thursday, little Milo (my baby) decided to come down with stinky diarrhea. He was playing and eating - didn't act sick at all. I waited until Friday morning, and he still had it, so I took him to the vet on Friday afternoon. We went into the exam room and, while we were waiting for the vet, Milo pottied on the floor. And...it was perfectly normal! It was a miracle!! LOL! Dr. Taylor looked him over real good and said he thought Milo had a little angry colon. So we had to withold treats for a couple of days to make sure his potties really were straightened out.

He's fine. I just know to never take a chance with diarrhea in a ferret. They can dehydrate very quickly. I'd rather take them to the vet and be pleasantly suprised (like this visit) rather than take any chances.

Time to go get the girls out! I'll post again soon!

AS THE POO FLIES

Wow, time kind of got away from me and I haven't had a chance to catch up! Not a whole lot new on the Ferret Front. Ziggy and Snow are still unable to make friends. ;( I've been faked out a couple of times, thinking they were past their little squabbles, but, no....they are still at it. Zigs is the main instigator. He owns the house and everything in it, so poor Snow can't go anywhere without Ziggy trying to push him out. Snow has stopped trying to go into the Hidey Hole and often finds refuge in his own cage. But, numerous times I am having to pull Ziggy out of Snow's cage and tell him, "No, sir!"

The squabbles are still far away from any sign of play. Tails puff and sometimes there is a spray of very stinky poo. I tried letting them "fight it out", but it was obvious that isn't going to work. So now I have to step in and scruff Ziggy, tell him "no" and try sending him in another direction. Yesterday evening, we broke up a fight and I held Snow on top of Ziggy while K. held Ziggy. Needless to say, that hurt Zig's feelings. I'm hoping he will get bored soon and decide to at least tolerate Snow. UGH! It's just like having bickering two-year-olds...

And I hate being a bad guy and getting on to little Ziggy, who is really very sweet.

All my other guys are doing great and getting along with Snow fine. He's shy and pretty much still keeps to himself. He likes his cage and chooses to sleep there, even when I let him know it's OK for him to come out. Sometimes he sleeps in the hammock under the bed with George. Snow is also very sweet likes to be held. He's just had a rough time. He came to the rescue last July through another rescue agency that doesn't take ferrets. He was adopted in September and returned to the rescue in March, because the people couldn't afford to keep him. Poor little one. I think he's a bit uncertain and I don't blame him. Now he's with us and has a Wild Ziggy running after him!!

It's gonna be OK. It will just take some time.

In other news: I'm going to be inspected on Sunday to see if I am approved to do fostering for Dana. I have the cages set up, but need to gather a few more things. I'm very excited!!