Muffy Before Lupron |
Muffy After Lupron |
Many of you are aware of the situation in Austin where a shelter of 84 ferrets had to make immediate disbursement. Sixteen of these beauties came to Dallas and I am happy to report they were tested for ADV, all were negative and all are now in happy homes. Three of these went to first time owners and I must say I was certainly impressed with the amount of studying they all had done prior to contacting us. So we can now close the curtain to having met another crisis and coming through with flying colors. I want to personally thank all those who volunteered their time and energies and monies and their hearts.
Coming up for our next meeting, we are going to be doing the Arts & Crafts Classes again. By popularity, we will be doing the etched glass, which will be taught by yours truly once I learn how to do it myself, the clay statutes, taught again by Karrissa, and the new items will be ferret socks (pending obtaining the pattern) taught by Chris and ferret sun-catchers taught by Larry. I am really excited about these classes as they are fun, plus you have something to show for your efforts. More details of the cost of materials or what to bring with you will can be found on the back page, and directions can be found with the meeting info on page 2.
Again, we encourage anyone with ferret news items you feel would be of interest or have suggestions/ideas for articles or meetings, to contact us.
Enjoy those ferrets AND may the fur be with you.
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Muffy Before Lupron |
Muffy After Lupron |
Muffy started to loose hair on her body when she was 3 years old. I took her into Doctor Kendrick for an adrenal sonogram and confirmed that she needed surgery right away. Dr. Kendrick told me they almost lost her on the table. When he opened her to do the surgery, her little body gasped for air and quit breathing. She had a puncture hole in the wall that separates the lungs from the rest of the chest cavity. Consequently, her lungs could not keep the compression, she was dying because her lungs could not work right. He stitched it up and somehow got her breathing again but could not do the adrenal surgery until the puncture wound healed.
We waited six weeks and she went in for her adrenal surgery. Her hair
was really starting to fall out. After the surgery, it started to
come back but it never came back all the way. I took her back in
and found she had another adrenal tumor near the heart somewhere as best
as he could see. The way it was positioned, it was almost impossible to
operate again. She became completely, I mean completely, bald except for
her head, tail, and around her feet. She was a sight but still so cute
and lively that she stole everyone's heart that knew her in spite of her
strange, kind-of ugly, little body. I decided to try Lupron injections.
Well, in a month, her hair started to come back; little sprigs sprang out
like a man's sparse beard growth. Oh how funny she looked but her hair
just kept growing! I thanked God and watched that funny little fun
loving wild child grow back this fluffy full coat of fur that she still
has to this day. She is six years old now and no one has told her she is
not a kit anymore so please do not tell her. She can still fly through
the air with the greatest of ease! So, once a month, she and her companion
Snowy, who is really an old lady now, go back to Dr. Kendrick for their
Lupron injections. She is one of my little miracles.
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Lupron is also known to affect the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by increasing its circulation levels. This leads to the return of hair for the naked ferrets. Also, by limiting the testosterone production in the male ferret, it decreases the shows of sexual aggression often seen as an indicator of adrenal disease.
However, it must be stressed that Lupron may mask the symptoms of adrenal disease, but it is, by no means, a cure and may come with many side effects.
For more information on Lupron and adrenal disease, visit: Miami
Ferret
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Linda recollected being owned by her first ferret, which actually was prompted by Audri, her daughter. Audri had a strong desire to be owned, which resulted in 2 years of research and “begging” her parents for a ferret. Audri’s aspiration to become a Vet finally led to Linda giving in and getting a cage (to be left under the tree by Santa Claus on Christmas night). The ferret itself, named Precious, was a Canadian immigrant, selected from a litter at a place in Killeen. It was love at first site.
Precious, who is now 6 months old, turned out to be a biter for a while, but quickly adjusted to her new family and the biting ceased. Of course, as Linda soon discovered, it is contrary to the Laws of Ferrethood for one ferret to live in a loving home alone, and soon after the arrival of Precious, Linda was on the phone to Millie in search of ferret brothers and sisters. Two ferrets were soon found who had been “imprisoned” in their cage by the owner at the whims of her wicked roommates. And so Cowboy (aka: Spunky), who is 4 or 5 years old, and Cheyenne, who is 5 or 6 years old, came to live with Precious as foster children, and eventually became permanent family members.
Linda’s family enjoys having ferrets. The family living room has
become an obstacle course of various boxes and playtime is enjoyed by all,
including the family cat (the dog sits out playtime by going outside).
For any potential owner, Linda advises doing research and evaluating whether
ferret behavior is a good match for the potential owner’s lifestyle.
For current owners, Linda offers no advice. Sorry, folks....you’re
all on your own!!
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I'm sure all of us have been entertained by the wild and wacky antics
of these endearing creatures. Have you ever stopped to consider the behavior
or perhaps the emotions from the ferret's point of view? Pet owners have
a tendency to want to humanize their animal companions - to believe they
see the world as humans do, have the same wants and needs as people. Some
even dress them in human type clothes and call them "my baby", "my son",
or "my little girl" and there is nothing wrong with that. Surely, our furry
friends enjoy the sharing and attention. But have you ever considered reversing
the game and try to pretend YOU
are a ferret?
What you might discover is there is a rhyme and reason to what a ferret does and that this "dance" is very ancient, the result of millions of generations of ferrets. It is probable animals do not reason, using deductive logic as humans do, but rather relying on instinctive knowledge. For many years neurologist pondered the function of a very small vestigial portion of the human brain. Once the analog was identified in the animal brain it was learned this was the center that stored instinctive knowledge. In the ferret this area is very well developed. Ferrets are instinctive foragers and employ a cache and hoard economics explaining their constant searching and hiding. This behavior results in a great deal of trial and error "experiments". It has been suggested by some researches that this is also a way of mapping the ferret's domain.
The delightful ferret gyration (weasel war dance) we all enjoy is an example of ferret body language. These postures and movements are used to convey mood, intent or warning, especially to other ferrets. Actual ferret sound is limited. The happy chortle and warning hiss are usually reserved for when body language is not enough. The ferret brain - although smaller - is very similar to the human in morphology and, unfortunately, preferred as an animal model by many researchers, particularly for the study of neurotransmitters and psychoactive drugs. This being the case, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that the ferret may (does, in this writer's opinion) possess emotions similar to those of people. It is also probable the strongly developed instinctive portion of the brain is used to sense the mood and emotion of those the ferret encounters.
In conclusion, try considering the world, and yourself, from your ferret's
perspective. I believe it will help to form a closer bond and perhaps better
understanding. You might even try arching your back in a bow and
walking backwards very fast the next time you are approached by someone
you want to avoid or hopping up and down while at the same time moving
side to side the next time you are excited. This might help to give you
that ferret feeling and at the same time eliminate a lot of people you
don't want anything to do with anyway.
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Where did you grow up?
Early years, I was an Air Force kid, I spent time in Washington, Japan,
California, Oregon, New Jersey, Georgia, Alabama and Texas.
Where did you attend collge and Vet School?
Texas A&M 78-82; 82-84; 84-88, externship was done at Houston Zoological
Gardens.
Where have you previously practiced?
El Paso at a private practice, the El Paso Zoo, and the El Paso Animal
Emergency Center an Relief. In Irving, worked the exotic/emergency overnight
at the AMSH, have been in clinics in fort Worth and Arlington.
Where are you currently practicing?
In Mansfield, TX at my clinic Country Club Pet Hospital.
What is your favorite animal?
Ferrets - these are the toughest, life-loving animals around.
What pets do you have at home?
Dogs, cats and birds.
What hobbies do you have?
Reading, camping, swimming, computers and skiing.
What general informaion about your family would you like to share
with our readers?
I met Becky about 6 months before starting Vet school. She graduated
with a bachelors degree in 1986 while I was in my third year. She moved
to Midland - we maintained a long distance relationship during the last
2 years of school then married in June of 1988 - 10 days after graduation.
We have three children - Amber (12), Hannah (8) and Joshua (6). After several
failed clinic purchase negotiations, I opend CCPH in April or 2000. Since
then, life has been a blur.
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Hello, Salty Dogs here, how cans I fix dat broken heart?
Of course, little lady, I tinks yous gots a legitimate complaints here. But, if'n yous de ones dat gets blamed cause you screams when hegets close ta ya , den yous got to learns ta do some counter moves ta lets him knows dere is goings ta be consequences.
Now you gets over ta a bookshelfs, bat dose big beautiful red eyes de
ones a guy cans drowns in, and when he comes over, brags on all dem muscles
and asks for a demonstrations of hows strongs he is, asks him to push all
does books off dat shelfs - tells him yous gonna waits over in de corner
and watch If'n you really wants him in troubles, when dose books
hit de floor, runs over real quicks before de humans gets dere, burrows
under de books and starts to drags youself around, dat oughts ta
do it and mights gets ya some ferratone. Also , watch for de
car keys and whens you can nails dem, drags em over to hims and ask him
for a
little assistance, tells him yous scared dey will find dem in your
hideyhold ands woulds he mind hiding dem in his - den as he starts off,
accidentally knocks over a lamps or sometin dat makes lots of noise
to brings dat human running. Yous gots de ideas, its gonna takes
him awhile but he's gonna get de ideas too.
When you gets rid of de lug, you calls me and me and you will takes us a little trip tru de tunnels. Bye bye Hot Cakes
RRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Hello, Salty Dogs here, how cans I fix dat broken heart?
WHO IS DIS, you's who? Whats you means yous gonna sues me?
whats you gonna do ta my nose? What lawyer? Just a minutes
here, I's innocent, it was all hers fault, she leds me on. No I ain't
gots no insurance. HEY listen to me's. Waits don't hangs up!
GRANDMA, dids you forgets ta pays de phones bills again, dey done cuts
us off.
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First of all, Red Oak has no regulation on ferrets whatsoever. In fact it was difficult even to find an animal control division. Finally, I got a return call from the home of someone who handles that area and she told me they could care less whether anyone has any ferrets at all. So if you want to raise ferrets, go to Red Oak.
In Allen it was different story. Of course Allen is quite a bit bigger than Red Oak. In Allen all ferrets have to be vaccinated and registered. They also have a limit of 4 animals per household including ferrets. Fees for registration are $2.00 each for spayed/neutered and $5.00 for all others. For registration, you need to go to the animal shelter on the NW corner of Allen Heights and Bethany.
Ferret kisses until next time.
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Spooky Otter, age almost 7 (male, sable - born October of 1995), of
Cedar Hill passed away July 14, 2002 after a brave battle with adrenal
disease. Otter (originally named Yogi) was adopted from Beggars and Thieves
(ran by Patty Isrealson) when age 2. He won second place in Cup Tipping
at the 1999 Ferret Olympics and tied his pal Skooter Bailey for third place
in the same event in 2000. Rita, Ashley and Rascal await him at the Rainbow
Bridge. He is survived by Skooter, Daisy Mae, Misty Pandora and Bart Barham
of Cedar Hill.
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