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.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Two of my foster fuzzies:

(L) Baby (aka,'Koosh") , (R) Smokey

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.

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.

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!

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...

CAN WE SAY "NERVOUS BREAKDOWN"?

Oh the drama. Rocky went missing last Sunday night. I went to put everyone to bed around 11:30 and couldn't find him anywhere. Ended up waking up hubby and we both began to tear the house apart searching for him. He was nowhere in the house. We thought back and realized I'd seen him last around 8:30 when he was helping me do the dishes and we played a bit in his pirate ship. I expected after that, he went to snooze in the Hidey Hole or his hammock under our bed.

Hubby remembers coming in about that time and opening the door that leads to our garage. Our garage door was also open. Could he have slipped out then?

We were out looking for him at 2 AM and I was hanging up "Lost Ferret" signs and posting on craigslist at 3 AM. I was in shock, felt like I was going to pass out, throw up - the whole bit. Harsh words between hubby and I added to the already nightmarish situation (we were both really scared).

I didn't really sleep; laid there, dreaming half-awake. Later on, Monday morning, I thought I'd just dreamed I'd lost him. But then the cruel realization hit me that it was indeed so. No Rocky came trotting in the kitchen to beg for treats. No Rocky running in-between my feet trying to trip me. No Rocky.

I was in total shut-down, sobbing hysterically all day Monday. I had a false alarm when someone posted on craigslist that they'd rescued a ferret the same night I lost Rocky. I contacted her, and it wasn't anywhere near where I live -- it wasn't my baby.

I was freaking out because of the heat and the dogs and the fact that little ferrets can't survive long on their own in this big world. I wondered if he missed me as much as I missed him. I put out a carrier, food, water and Ferratone for him. I even put ferret poo in the garden, praying he'd catch the scent and come back.

In the evening on Monday, my husband, son and I went out looking again. I was headed toward some bushes at a house when I looked up and noticed a car that pulled up to one of my signs. The lady was dialing her cell phone. I ran up to her car. "Did you find a ferret?," I asked. "Yes, I did", she said and she pointed to Rocky's picture and said, "That's him!"

Needless to say I about peed myself and jumped in her car (no pee in her car) and she took me to her house, which was about five houses down and across the street. There was Rocky, hiding under her shed. She noticed him peeking out at her while she was mowing.

He was a bit dirty, tired, hungry and thirsty and scared. Otherwise, unharmed. I am soooo grateful. I really didn't think we'd ever find him. It's so hot, no one is outside. He would have been so easy to miss.

I had prayers and postive, loving wishes from people all over the world. It is all of that outpouring of love that helped bring Rocky home to me. I believe that with all my heart. I am just overwhelmed with the power behind all of the energy that went out to us. Thank you, a million times over.

As for the lady who found my guy, her name is Rachael and was very sweet and (hopefully) didn't think I was too much of a lunatic. She got a reward of my undying gratitude and $ 100. And now Rocky owes me $ 100. LOL!

It is so good to have my Mamoo back home again!

IT'S NO HAIRBALL

Well...so much for writing everyday! Ah! Life is busy -- especially since I started fostering Misty, Oreo and Vestia. It is just like having a day care now, only with 9 ferrets! The boys want to play with the girls. The girls tease the boys through the gate. Somebody poops in this corner. I clean it up. Somebody digs ALL of their food out of their bowl, thereby carpeting their cage with kibble. I clean it up. Somebody poops in another corner. I clean it up. Somebody gets in a squabble. I break it up.

Then I'll get a big wet kiss or somebody will weasel dance me and it makes everything worth it, tenfold. I was created to be a ferret mom, that's for sure. I totally love this.

The situation between Snow and Ziggy is much improved. We still have moments of disapproval, but nothing like before. They are actually sharing the same cage now. Well...they were until a day ago.

This is where my drama with Snow continues. I've only had him, what, 6 weeks. He has been fine health-wise. I had an appointment for him to get his yearly rabies vaccination. The night before his appointment (this past Sunday) he began to have labored breathing and went "flat". And he kept trying to go to the potty pad over and over.

I thought he had a hairball, seriously. Dr. Dori checked him out yesterday and told me that he has a "really bad" heart murmur. So she put him on Lasix and Benazapril, which seems to have already improved his breathing.

I can't even find the words to explain how sad and devestated I feel around this. We only recently lost our Cupid to the same type of illness and it was hard. This feels downright unfair. The positive aspect of this (and I reaching here) is that little Snow is younger thn Cupid was and doesn't (at least I think) have any other illnesses, like insulinoma to further complicate the heart issue.

Honestly, I love the little DEW and albino ferrets. But I don't know if I ever own another one after this. It's too heartbreaking.

so there is happiness around the FriskyBiznus House of Ferret. And there is sadness and fear - a repeat of the slow loss we just went through with Cupid.

I will post some foster pics up soon. And if anyone ever misses me here on my blog, you can find me on Facebook! Feel free to friend me!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ORNERY

VS.

Not a huge amount of improvement with Ziggy's dislike toward Snow. He will behave a little and not terrorize poor Snow too much, but then will turn around and drag him out of the hammock and get Snow squealing. Still puffy tails with an occasional poo.

The best I can do is scruff and drag Ziggy when he is being ornery and lay Snow on top of him, in a dominant position. I really can't say Zigs is being mean; he's being like a pesky little brother. Snow isn't wanting to dominate Zigs; he just wants to be left alone. So Snow won't back down. Much.

I'm going to hold out hope, but this may be the best I can ask for -- at least until Zigs gets bored with Snow. Actually, this morning I was very proud of Ziggy. Seems that the first thing he does when I open up the cages to let everyone out is to go up into Snow's cage and bug him. I always pull him out with a stern "NO!". This morning I watched Ziggy go into Snow's cage and I said, "Ziggy, no sir. Come out of there right now." And he did!!! He got a lick of Ferratone for that one.

So, we are just taking things one day at a time. Surely this little conflict can't last forever....can it????!

EVERYBODY DUCK!!!

Misty
Vestia

Oreo

The above photos are of the thre little girls I'm going to foster! I took these at the rescue, so when they get over here, more photos are sure to follow!

I've been pondering the Duck Soup issue and I don't think I'm ready to take it away from my guys right now. They love it, it's healthy for them and it is a special time I have with them when I give it to them. I won't be doing it daily with my foster girls, so that is kind of good. But my little ones just love it and why take away something that is good for them to have?

Go, Duck Soup!

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!!

SNOW IN MAY!

I spoke with Dana tonight and told her I wanted to get Snow over Memorial Day weekend, but she's got people coming to adopt this weekend. I don't want to take the chance of losing him, so I emailed her and told her, "nevermind, I'm coming to get him this Sunday". :D

He came from Citizens for Animal Protection, so she doesn't know his story. He's somewhere between 2 and 4 years old, so we'll say he's 3 years.

I haven't mentioned this to my husband. I know. I just don't want to stir him up over Cupid again. No ferret will ever replace Cupid and I'm not suggesting that's what I'm trying to do. Little Snow stole my heart, so I just need to quietly go get him and bring him home....Besides...K. might as well get used to coming home and find me with new ferrets. That's the nature of rescue.

Ugh. I was cleaning cages tonight and accidently vaccuumed up a little bitty stuffed walrus and it is stuck!! K. is trying to get it out now.

BUT RED IS YOUR COLOR

This is Snow, one of the rescue ferrets, demonstrating the thrill of Ferret Spa Day. He's a cutie-pie....

Tonight was ferret spa night - ears, nails and coat conditioner finalized with a nice brushing and a lick of FerretVite for good behavior. I actually came out of it without blood (mine) this time.

I completed the bedding set I had to make today, as well, and I am very pleased with it. I really wish I had a little girl ferret to justify flowers and cute girly patterns, but whoa is me...I got five stinky boys.

And they looooove their momma. Except when she puts a wet q-tip in their ear. Then, momma is barely tolerated.....

Pics of my bedding set.

Speaking of tolerated: My new Duck Soup recipe isn't going over as well as I thought. Ziggy is turning his nose up and will only eat it from my finger. George, Rocky and Milo eat it, but with a total lack of enthusiasm. Dave, God love him, laps it up like there is no tomorrow. I have a huge batch in the freezer they've got to eat. I'm hoping they will start to like it as time goes on....

Silly ferrets.