STOPPING THE BLEEDING

Gee Whiz, has it really been two months since I've written here? OMG, don't know where the time goes...

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.

And while I am talking about Misty -- she had a growth on her back foot. I think it is called a sebaceous adenoma, 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 still 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.

My goodness. Never a dull moment.

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

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.

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!

GEORGE'S BIRTHDAY

Today is George's third birthday! Happy Birthday, little fuzzy man. I'm so glad we have George. He came to live with us last November. He came from a home with nice people, but he belonged to their teenage boy who'd lost interest in him. I can't imagine...

Anyway, they posted a notice on the Ferret Association meetup board looking for a good home. They lived very close to me, so I contacted them and, pretty soon, George was ours!

He is a delight. He is very laid back and very smart. He can leap tall buildings in a single bound. He could eat a whole pack of N-bones in one sitting if I let him. When he wants a treat, he sits down at our feet in the kitchen and looks up at us and moves his mouth, like he's trying to talk. We call it "meow-meow"-ing (after the cat food commercial where the cat would sing, "Meow, meow, meow, meow...") I need to get a video of him doing that...

George loves Duck Soup and Ferratone and shivers when he knows he is gonna get some. He is a bit of a wiggle worm when held and will make his front legs like an airplane.

He gives the best kisses ever. He is a good friend to the other ferrets and to us, too. George is my sweet boy!

THE WAITING GAME

My days are packed lately, and I haven't had a chance to write. I'm taking care of Cupid and trying to take care of my own body, which is still not feeling too smurfy due to some asthma issues.

We went to the vet yesterday and she determined that Cupid has cardiomyopathy and insulinoma which is not being controlled by the prednisone. She increased the dose of pred from .2 cc to .25 cc 2x/day. We took him off the Carafate, because it hasn't helped his teeth grinding. He is not a good candidate for insulinoma surgery, so basically, we wait. There is nothing more to do. I'm adding Carnivore Care and Totally Ferret Complete Nutrition, alternating these in his Duck Soup feedings.

He has continued to lose weight. Dr. Dori explained that it is due to the heart disease. It's just using up all of his calories. It's horrific how thin he is. He is just sleeping. Walking is getting difficult for him -- he is so weak and stumbles when he walks. He can't make it across the living room floor before laying down.

I also took Ziggy to the vet with Cupid yesterday, because he was due for his annual distemper shot. Well. He had a bad reaction. He started throwing up and he zoned out. Dr. Dori had to give him a shot of Benadryl and a cortisone shot. That was scarey. Now he will have to be pre-medicated every time.

I'm hearing the pitter-patter of little ferret feet as I type. I look down and George is checking out my humidifier. He is beautiful! His summer coat is almost in and he is almost all black, except for his white markings. And shiney!!! Need to get a good pic of him, for sure.

Feeling: sad, ill, tired

HOW I FELL IN LOVE

This is Rocky (aka, Rocky Mamoo, Mamoo, Mamoozle, Rock Star, Barn Owl). He was my first ferret and will be turning two years old this coming Wednesday.

I'd never met a ferret until I was introduced to Delilah, my son and daughter-in-law's ferret. Something happened when they handed her to me -- it was as if I'd found my Spirit Animal ! I fell in love and did not want to let her go. It took some convincing, but my husband finally agreed to letting me get my own ferret.

I did a lot of reading and research about ferrets before I actually bought one. I bought the book, Ferrets for Dummies and read it cover to cover. Then I bought the cage and set it up.

I'd been looking at the ferrets at Petco (note: this is before I knew anything about rescued ferrets) and there was a certain one who I really seemed to connect with. I visited him a couple of times (only through the glass, though - they wouldn't let me hold him yet) and chatted with the Petco folks about ferrets. Finally, the day came when I was ready to bring him home. Thankfully, my little friend was still there.

I pointed Rocky out and told the guy he was the one. He took Rocky out of the tank, along with another ferret he thought I should look at, too. Rocky literally reached for me. It was the coolest thing. We both knew he was meant to come home with me!

I have never experienced a love for a pet like the love Rocky and I share. He is my sidekick, my muse, my best buddy. He speaks to me through his eyes and expressions. He can be silly, mellow, wild, contemplative. He is very smart and is a master at climbing and jumping. It's both amazing and frightening. Rocky taught us the rules of ferret-proofing, for sure. My poor husband had to build barriers and fashion blockades around appliances. Knick-knacks and candles became a no-no. Rocky taught me what happens between a ferret and a vase of flowers on the table (the ferret wins) !

Rocky can roll over, stand and (sort of) jump through a hoop. Favorite treats? N-bones, Foamy Fries, raisin Bandits and these things we call "crunchies". Oh, and Ferratone and Duck Soup. Rocky loves blanket fights and rides, running the tunnels and climbing. He's very gentle and has never bitten. He is Alpha to the rest of the business and is a wonderful friend and teacher to them all.

I sometimes call Rocky my little barn owl, because of the coloring and alert expression on his face. All I have to do is fluff the hair up on the top of his head and, ta-da, he becomes Barn Owl. He is a beautiful Siamese point sable. During the winter, his coat becomes cream-colored with black-brown legs, tail, mask and tips. As he sheds his winter coat, a black saddle appears on his back.

See the resemblance? :)

Rock Star was an only ferret for about ten months...and then I got Ziggy. A few months later, Cupid and Dave moved in. A couple of months after that George found me. And, of course, most recently, little Milo Mouse. (They call it "Ferret Math" and there is no cure) Each are unique and I have a special relationship with each one. Rocky will always be my first, however, and will always have that number one space in my heart.

Happy Birthday, Little One!