Sick Jill

[Branch 0]

Hello!

I’m looking for some advice on a sick Jill.

She is showing sings of botulism only there has been best part of three weeks since she last had meat.

And that was a freshly killed rabbit in for two days as usual.

The Jill is off her food but thirsty, and is unable to move her hind legs for walking.

Has been like this for a few days now.

Apart from being off her food and unable to walk she seems normal i.e. alert and active (as active as a paralysed ferret can be!)

Any thought's please.

[pompey 0]

if i were you mate, i wouldnt waste anytime in getting her to the vet, it sounds to me like some sort of bowel blockage. can she still crap? at worst it could be viral and this puts the rest of your stock in danger.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Ye right. It does sound like Botulism. Only, in my own bitter experience, the ferret would likely as not be dead within " a few days ". Maybe not? I remember they can go on, from the very on set, for more than two days at least.

 

I'm afraid there's no good news, mate. If it Is Botuliam? There's nothing practical that can be done for her. A human would need artificial respiration (mechanical), heavy doses of sedative type drugs and Intensive Care round the clock. That could go on for ages - if they survived that long. Then the recovery to as near normal as they might ever expect can take for ever too. See what I'm saying?

 

Alternatively, it might be something completely differant. Either way, ferrets are funny things and sometimes die just to confound us. Loss of moterfunction is almost universal with them when they decide to go.

 

I'm sure ye local vet would just Love to put her on a drip and keep her in over night while sparing None of Your bank account on an amazing cocktail of supposedly used drugs and 24 hour nursing.

 

Your shout. But I'd be going to the Cabinet and putting a swift end to it all. The animal's suffering and, if it's Botulism, you ain't seen nothing yet. The end is hideous.

[socks 32,253]

could be Aleutian Disease ..........

[pompey 0]

bloody hell ditch shitter SUCH COMPASION. nothing like telling it as it is.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Pompey; Calm down. I've Had ferrets die of Botulism. Have you? If so, ye'd know what the f*ck I'm talking about and wouldn't be going on about " Compassion ". You watch an animal gasping loudly as it near breaks it's jaws opening them wide enough to Try to draw breath, as it's lungs become paralysed. You watch that. And let it happen. Then you come at me about " Compassion ".

 

Compassion is facing reality and doing what's best for the creature in our care. You have a better way? Go for it.

[pompey 0]

fair point ditch shitter. fair point.

[Branch 0]

Well this is what I thought DS as I have had Botulism before and it is a swift if a horrible death!

The vets around hear wont even take it out the box for the fear of them!!

So if it gets to the stage where I think she is suffering I will give her a quick end.

Its just she looks normal if you get me.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Its just she looks normal if you get me.

 

 

Do though, don't they, mate. Poor little sods. My wifes favourite 'pet' was curled up on my chest, in bed with us, when the paralysus finally reached his chest. I was dozing and awoke to the room filled with that ghastly sound. I looked down and .....

 

When, next night, I found one of my own favourite jills sitting up, swaying from side to side with that dismayed, confused look on her face .....

 

Thankfully, it ended there. Strange how it only took the two from so many. They'd all been feeding from the same bowl.

 

Incidently, if ye remember; Pompey's on the right track with the gut blockage idea. As ye'd know, the initial paralysus causes that blockage. They eat it but can't shit it. Seeing that? Ye'll know.

 

Aleutian tends to be accompanied by wastage of the rear quarters too. Look for ye signs and make ye desicion, mate.

 

I'm truly sorry there's no nicer answers that I know of.

[para1 11]

Pompey; Calm down. I've Had ferrets die of Botulism. Have you? If so, ye'd know what the f*ck I'm talking about and wouldn't be going on about " Compassion ". You watch an animal gasping loudly as it near breaks it's jaws opening them wide enough to Try to draw breath, as it's lungs become paralysed. You watch that. And let it happen. Then you come at me about " Compassion ".

 

Compassion is facing reality and doing what's best for the creature in our care. You have a better way? Go for it.

 

I'm with you on this one.