Sick Ferret Please Help

[Rowan 308]

I have been keeping ferrets for over 30 years but have never seen this.

One of my hobs starting very slightly foaming at the mouth last night.

tonight he is coughing , foaming at the mouth , not constantly, staring blankly into space , slow movement and has lost condition in the last 24 hrs .

I have tried to feed him but he has no interest at all , I have managed to force a small amount of malt paste into his mouth and also syringed a very small dose of metacalm and some water down him , but I am very concerned .

Vets first thing tomorrow , but sometimes with exotic!!! ferrets they are as good as useless , sorry to any vets out there , but I am at my wits end , any advice please.

[Jamie m 668]

Check he doesn't have something stuck in his mouth a piece of old bone or something ,

[longside 1]

Don't like to say this but last year i had to put down one of my ferrets,start when feeding would start to foam at the mouth and go into like a coma it happened every time it tried to eat.hope its not the same

[Rowan 308]

Have checked in his mouth nothing visible , I am fearing the worse I must say , but also trying to be optimistic .

I have tried to look on the net , most sites mention hypoglycaemia with dire outcomes .

hopefully I can bring him round , but if the vet says he is suffering then,,,,i shall miss another loyal hunting buddy..

 

will let you all know for future reference one way or the other.

[mhopton 807]

Have a really good look for ticks even in his ears feet under his tail just look and then look a gain then again , even the cleanest of pens and ferrets get them even when they haven't been out ' eggs could be in the straw ???

[richie1984 191]

Hi pal just Google it it's common it's called insulinoma you need to go vets straight away and decide what's the best it's caused by very low blood sugar and small tumours that need removing.Google it. rich

[steve66 3,648]

If its low blood sugars , try feeding a sweet liquid , then to the vets

[AndyKelly 251]

sounds like he has got to hot and its brought an insuloma fit on golden syrup on gums usually works

[Rowan 308]

Bad news , to cut a long story/day short he had a tumour in his throat and I had to have him put to sleep .

He was a great character always first to the front of the run when I approached, a very willing worker and just great to have around. .

[richie1984 191]

Shite that mate.sorry for your loss good ferrets are worth there weight in gold and some are right characters.atb rich

[Rowan 308]

Thanks Richie, yes they are great characters , I've had some great laughs with them , watching them bounce about chortling to themselves.

Every hunting man should have at least a spell using them , they really are great, but a huge loss when they pass.

[bhawk 64]

Sorry to hear of the loss. Now i dont want this to sound harsh, but its also a learning opportunity, i always take instances like this in, you never know when the knowledge could save another hunting companion. Poor little critter, never good to lose a furry friend

[Rowan 308]

Just the reason I've placed the outcome on here incase someone , god forbid , has the same problem.

 

The cancer must of just grown so quickly , he literally went down hill within 24- 48 hrs max.

[CFK27 0]

It happened to me last week. This might sound stupid but I gave mine pancake syrup and the next day he was fine. Still took him to the vet and he gave me some medicine. Hope it's nothing serious.