Gizmo update

[CC]

Well Gizmo came home from the vet today. He isn’t handling surgery as well as Mojo did. He has been sitting on my lap crying since I got home. He did at least eat. Remind me when I tell the man here to give a sick ferret food that I should give detailed instructions, it must be mixed with water, warmed and hand fed to the little guy. The man put it in a bowl and set it in the cage for him. So of course Gizmo didn’t eat anything until I got home. Had to vent that before I called the man an idiot to his face. He is worried about Giz too. The vet said he was ok but never had a ferret cry, and swear he is saying ouch in a whine over and over. I will probably go sit with him on my lap and read while softly telling Giz to hush, hush its ok. Seems to calm him some. He doesn’t want to be alone.


Never want to go back to that place again.


They shaved my belly and if that wasn’t bad enough gave me a big ouchie.


Its time for me to put on my pitiful face so I can get babied some more.

[gkhouston]

1. I'm glad he's home, CC

I bet he'll perk up once he's gotten plenty of chow and TLC from Mama. :-) Also, once he's had a chance to get rid of that "funny vet smell".

on edit: this was doubly nice for me to see, as I'm just now catching up on a lot of KOEB chatter and was sitting here bawling over Blue.

[Clark2008]

2. Awww... sweet Gizmo

Hoping Giz continues to recover nicely. :loveya:

[CC]

5. Thanks Clark

and hope you are doing ok. Not sure on the Giz if his crying was worse or when he stopped. Had to jump up and check him when he stopped. He is still sleeping pretty much all the time but is at least not crying and barely wheezing when he breathes. Saw where Ramzey has seen all dogs go to heaven. I can't sit through that one with out crying. Can't sit through,think it was called coming home (another dog movie with a cat too) without crying cause the dog always sounded the way I always imagined a dog I had would have if she could have talked. I still like you idea of wild flowers. A friend here said definitely ask the extension service and to check and see if they have native wild flowers seeds for free or even low cost. Alot of states are trying to get native plants back into the eco system and offer free seeds. Hug that cocker of your extra and give Ramzey extra kisses, you need them as much as he does. Big hugs to you all.

[RevCheesehead]

3. "Mom, you'd never believe what they did to me!"

Glad to hear he's doing better. I'm sure he'll perk up in a few days.

Some critters don't take anesthesia well, and it takes longer for it to get out of their system.

BTW, Ferrettessa: your idea about the baby food was perfect for Roo. He is a big fan of Gerber's Sweet Potatoes and Corn mix. :)
(and he's doing much better, now that I'm back home!)

[Berry Cool]

4. Take good care of him now

Sounds like he could use some babying!!

[WhirlyGirl]

10. Sounds like a few people HERE could use some babying! ...

. . . I've been so glad the group was here this week to comfort and encourage our members who have been going through difficult times.

:loveya: :grouphug: :loveya:

[CC]

6. I'm glad Roo

likes the baby food, though you should try chicken with gravy or turkey with gravy also. Gerber stage 2 foods. Everything here goes wild for either, warmed of course. Giz has stopped his crying and is barely wheezing. He does like his special sick ferret food. (chicken or turkey baby food, nutracal, Hills Science diet A/D, real chicken broth and ground kibble mixed with some water, blended in a food processor and warmed. A real smelly mush they all love) I make a bunch up at a time and freeze it in ice cube trays. Saves time and keeps it consistent. The vet added the A/d for now but he said Giz had gain another 1 gram of weight in a week so to keep giving him what I was giving him. Gave you all the ingredients in case you want to try it for Roo. My cats are slightly jealous of the ferrets getting it so have made them some with cat food as a treat. That also helps for when they are sick since they like it already and think of it as a treat.

Hope you mom is doing better, keeping her in prayers along with you and your dad.

[RevCheesehead]

8. I almost hate to admit it, but I'm spoiling him rotten.

He still has his bad tooth, so I'll take some beef or ham (whatever's on my plate), partially chew it, and give it to him. I told my parents I'm his "mama bird." :)

I'll get to the store tomorrow, and try some of the meat foods. He just really likes his sweet potatoes, yogurt, and milk!

[CC]

7. Gizmo has stopped his

crying, a sound I can live without ever hearing again. Honestly did not know ferrets cried, knew they dooked, hissed and could scream rarely but not cry. Will have to tell Claudia (Vet tech and ferret rescue owner/angel) she could of warned me. He is hardly wheezing and has been eating plenty. He mostly sleeps which I figure is good for him. Thank you to everyone for being there and caring. (Course I lurked for so long I knew it was a caring group before I jumped in) You are all special people and it is great to be reminded how many there are in the world, specially when all the tv has is the evil regime stuff and being stuck in a red county full of idiots that like this regime.

[RevCheesehead]

9. did you ask for some pain meds for him?

When Oreo had surgery on her paw, she was pretty miserable (a part of her claw still remained - or grew back - in her front paw). Her vet gave me liquid pain meds, which I popped in her mouth every 12 hours for a couple of days. It really made a difference, and in a few days, she was doing so much better.

Give the little Giz' a kiss on the head from the Cheese. :hug:

[CC]

15. Giz says thanks for the

kiss. And no pain meds for him. He bruised really bad from the surgery and even the iv and having blood drawn. That was because he had been on an anti-inflammatory for a week. The vet was more concerned over bleeding than pain (since ferrets don't have much blood to start with) Pain meds thin the blood and decrease clotting so he had to suffer. He is much better now and the bruising is going away. The baytril (antibiotic)and prednisone plus prilosec for ferrets seems to be 3 drugs to many according to his taste buds. Vitamin and ferretone chasers help keep him from refusing the stuff altogether.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. I'm glad he's better and that you are able to comfort him

I read somewhere that ferret kits cry. Perhaps in his misery he sort of regressed for a while and wanted you (his mom) to take care of him? Poor little guy.

[WhirlyGirl]

12. It's true, Hope - adult animals and birds imitate babies when they ...

. . . wish to be comforted or fed.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. The healing power of TLC is universal. I'm glad he got it when he needed

it. CC really knows how to care for her furry family members, and that's not just the "practical" stuff like diet.

[CC]

14. This was a totally different cry

When I got Lilbear he was really too young to be sold and was being kept in non ferret safe conditions. (I am still trying to educate that pet store owner). He cried for about 2 weeks, specially if he was put in a cage. He would climb to the top of it in the corner and cling there and cry like a little bear cub. That is how he got his name. The ferret I had with me at the time that hated other ferrets actually picked him out and wouldn't leave without him. Gizmo's cry was more like a child in pain. But he is feeling better now though still healing and I am breaking the vets rule of keeping him caged since now he feels well enough to claw and bite at the bars. Figure he is safer sleeping behind the computer in his favorite spot that fighting to get out of the cage.


Here is a picture of Lilbear about two weeks after he came home with Stormy (aka the Stormers, Screaming Storm etc.) He couldn't have been more than 6 weeks old then according to the vet. He should of been at minimum 8 weeks before being sent out for sale and preferable 12 weeks. He is doing great though and now really a big bear, one of the biggest ferrets I have.



The ferrets, and rest of the zoo crew are my kids. What can I say.

[WhirlyGirl]

16. That picture is so dear!

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. That's really interesting - there's a lot more to "mere" animals and the

more alert birds (like those in the parrot family) than even the experts write about. I'm sure the other ferrets understood exactly what that cry meant, and so did you. I'm glad he's better, and I'm sure he's happier in his favorite spot.

Thanks for these pictures, they're wonoderful. The baby snuggled up against his adoptive step-parent/friend really says it all. The little fellow feels safe and warm now, so much better than in that scary pet store, too soon away from his mama.

Have you seen the movie "The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill"? If not, I strongly recommend it. It's a documentary, but more than a documentary. It's got a slow pace and gradually dawning insight, some real zen moments. Here's the web site: http://www.wildparrotsfilm.com. As an appreciator of parrots yourself, you will understand more in this film than I did, and I already enjoyed it very much.

Again, thanks for the explanation and the pictures. I'll look forward to more of them.

[WhirlyGirl]

19. I just liked "Paulie" LOL!

[Catchawave]

17. For CC and Gizmo

:hug: