Fleas!!
So about 2 1/2 weeks ago, I noticed, to my horror, that both Rusty and Buster had fleas. First thing Saturday morning I went down to the pet shop and bought some Revolution flea stuff ($55!). The stuff is so expensive, but in the past it's worked well. I decided to buy the large dog size, because usually the concentration of the product and the cost is the same, whether you buy the large or small size. This time though the concentration was more intense, but I decided that it wouldn't make a lot of difference so I put it on my ferrets and then went out to church to make jewellery. One of the women at church had organised for us to make jewellery to send to the women who lost everything. And although I'm not a great jewellery maker, I made a few pairs of earrings.
When I got back I didn't really notice much, except that Buster looked a bit more sleepy than normal.
That night, I went out to the Beatnix with Elsie, and didn't get back until quite late (I think about 11ish but I can't exactly remember). Normally, when I get home that late, both ferrets are ready to play and have a bit of a romp, but Buster didn't come out. I reached in and pulled him out of his sleeping spot ( an old shirt in the back of the wardrobe which had fallen off a coathanger and been "commandeered"). I held him and he was barely moving. Usually it's a toleration of a couple of pats followed by a wriggle signalling "let me down! I have more important things to do than be patted by you!". But he just sat there, letting me pat him.
So as the night went on, I got increasingly panicked. Every other time I have had a ferret exhibit that behaviour, I've had to put them down. So I was really getting worried.
Eventually I rang the emergency vet at Crows Nest (there's no emergency vet in the east at all, and I'd had a bad experience at the Strathfield vet, plus at 2 in the morning it's almost easier to just duck across the bridge). The vet at Crows Nest (one of the vets in the practice) is also a recognised ferret expert in Sydney. They said to bring him in straight away, so I hightailed up the highway and thankfully found the practice really easily.
I waited for ages once I was there, dozing against the wall, and eventually the vet came and brought Buster in. She'd obviously spent the time doing some research, because she was fairly certain that I hadn't actually poisoned him.
Eventually she said we just needed to be sure he was eating and pooping, and seeing as a) I was absolutely exhausted and not thinking clearly and b) it was only $30 to leave him there for the rest of the night (the visit cost $225) I decided to leave him there.
I went back at 7.30am the next morning, so I wouldn't have to pay for a day of hospitalisation. Buster had been eating ok and pooping sort of, so I took him home.
Unfortunately, the welcome BBQ for the Dive Club was on that day, but I was so wasted that I didn't go. It was a shame because I was really, really looking forward to seeing Chinaman's Beach and going snorkelling. But what can you do! I had to be back at work the next day and I'd had a total of about 4 hours sleep.
Over the next day, Buster sort of pooped, but it was green. I google'd green poop (don't you just love the internet??) and it turned out it meant that food was passing too swiftly through him. I kept hand feeding him and giving him water through a syringe throughout Sunday, and Sunday night, and then late on Monday morning, decided he was well enough and went to work for a shorter day.
So he's really fine now, but I was so worried at the time. My Wednesday morning status update read:
When I got back I didn't really notice much, except that Buster looked a bit more sleepy than normal.
That night, I went out to the Beatnix with Elsie, and didn't get back until quite late (I think about 11ish but I can't exactly remember). Normally, when I get home that late, both ferrets are ready to play and have a bit of a romp, but Buster didn't come out. I reached in and pulled him out of his sleeping spot ( an old shirt in the back of the wardrobe which had fallen off a coathanger and been "commandeered"). I held him and he was barely moving. Usually it's a toleration of a couple of pats followed by a wriggle signalling "let me down! I have more important things to do than be patted by you!". But he just sat there, letting me pat him.
So as the night went on, I got increasingly panicked. Every other time I have had a ferret exhibit that behaviour, I've had to put them down. So I was really getting worried.
Eventually I rang the emergency vet at Crows Nest (there's no emergency vet in the east at all, and I'd had a bad experience at the Strathfield vet, plus at 2 in the morning it's almost easier to just duck across the bridge). The vet at Crows Nest (one of the vets in the practice) is also a recognised ferret expert in Sydney. They said to bring him in straight away, so I hightailed up the highway and thankfully found the practice really easily.
I waited for ages once I was there, dozing against the wall, and eventually the vet came and brought Buster in. She'd obviously spent the time doing some research, because she was fairly certain that I hadn't actually poisoned him.
Eventually she said we just needed to be sure he was eating and pooping, and seeing as a) I was absolutely exhausted and not thinking clearly and b) it was only $30 to leave him there for the rest of the night (the visit cost $225) I decided to leave him there.
I went back at 7.30am the next morning, so I wouldn't have to pay for a day of hospitalisation. Buster had been eating ok and pooping sort of, so I took him home.
Unfortunately, the welcome BBQ for the Dive Club was on that day, but I was so wasted that I didn't go. It was a shame because I was really, really looking forward to seeing Chinaman's Beach and going snorkelling. But what can you do! I had to be back at work the next day and I'd had a total of about 4 hours sleep.
Over the next day, Buster sort of pooped, but it was green. I google'd green poop (don't you just love the internet??) and it turned out it meant that food was passing too swiftly through him. I kept hand feeding him and giving him water through a syringe throughout Sunday, and Sunday night, and then late on Monday morning, decided he was well enough and went to work for a shorter day.
So he's really fine now, but I was so worried at the time. My Wednesday morning status update read:
Georgina is pleased to report that Buster was playing behind the fridge, under the stove, and alongside the washing machine this morning. All is normal.
Oh, the best bit?? They still had fleas after that. I've spent most of today washing bedding and washing them, and getting flea stuff in the right dose. I'm hoping that it kills them. The poor darlings are sick of being flea-combed :)
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