Pease help! My ferret is sick and I don't know what to do!?

Question

When I take him out he doesnt do anything but lie there and when he tries to walk he has trouble. His feet look very unhealthy and there's like white stuff on the skin on his back legs. He also seems to sometimes foam at the mouth but not allways ive seen him drool a few times but not today. I can't take him to the vet because we can't afford it we are having major money problems! I'm panicking and don't know what to do! Someone help please?

Answer 1

It sounds like he could possilby be hypoglycemic, probably due to an insulinoma which are very common tumors in ferrets. He will need medical attention, but if you can get there right now, do as the above poster said a feed him (or rub on his gums) a small amount of Karo Syrup (corn syrup, you can get at any grocery store) This is only a temporary solution, its best to get him to eat, even if you have to force feed him. Go to your vet or the pet store and ask for a high calorie supplement (like NutriCal) or food like Hills a/d. Like I said, this is only a temporary fix, but it may get you until you can find some help.

Answer 2

doesn't sound good. Try calling a few different vets and ask their opinions. Maybe someone will help you. Also call a few animal hospitals. Call the ASPCA. Maybe they can direct you to a clinic that is far cheaper then a vet. Each time you make a phone call ask a different question. Go to the pet shop and look thru the ferret books that they have. Maybe he has foot rot. It's from walking on the bars of the cage. I think that's what it's called. But that doesn't have anything to do with the drooling. I don't know. But this is what I would start with. I hope he's ok. good luck.

Answer 3

One of the first differentiations that must be made is whether the ferret is experiencing “posterior paresis” (rear leg weakness) or “ataxia” (wobbliness due to neurologic disease). Sometimes, a veterinarian is able to do this simply on a physical examination, performing what is called a “neurologic examination.”

During this exam, your veterinarian will try to determine how much feeling the ferret has in its hind legs, whether the ferret can move them voluntarily, and if the ferret knows where the legs are in space (for example, will the ferret try to land on its feet when it sees it is being placed down onto a table?). On occasion, the results of these “placing” tests may be inconclusive, because a very weak ferret will be unable to place its feet properly, as will a ferret with neurologic disease. Weakness and neurologic disorders are caused by different diseases, however, so it is a useful distinction to make, when possible.

Another important distinction is whether the ferret is weak because of discomfort. Pain in the caudal part of the abdomen (the back part of the belly, near the hind legs) can result in what appears to be hind-end weakness. Conditions that cause caudal abdominal discomfort include an enlarged spleen (which may or may not be painful), bladder stones, prostatic enlargement (such as from adrenal disease), urinary obstruction (such as from stones or adrenal disease), infections in the abdomen (peritonitis), swollen lymph nodes in the abdomen and growths/masses in the belly.
Basically, hind-end weakness can be due to a large variety of conditions and, in almost every instance, your veterinarian must run some tests in order to determine what is causing the problem, how serious it is and what can be done about it. Although those tests may be fine-tuned based on the information you can provide about your ferret (age, history, toxin and injury exposure, other problems like insulinoma), many veterinarians will start out with both radiographs(X-rays) and bloodwork.

IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THIS PLEASE GIVE YOUR FERRET UP TO A FERRET RESCUE IN YOUR AREA.
FERRETS ARE CONSIDERED EXOTIC PETS IN THE VET WORLD. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE READ ABOUT AN ANIMAL COMPLETLY BEFORE GETTING ONE>

Answer 4

i think you should take him to the vet and explain your money problems they might be able to help! any vet will do that to help a sick animal! i have 3 ferrets and if they get ill i put them in a quiet corner and make sure they eat and are and have plenty of fluids! i don't know what your ferret has and i think you should seek professional advice! you can deal with the money later i think your pet is more important decent vets will understand and you can fix a deal with them i am sure of it, I've done it all before!

Answer 5

This ferret needs a veterinarian ASAP! Everyone has money problems...take the beating in the wallet and take him! If you explain your situation to the vet they will set you up on a payment plan for the bill.

There is obviously something wrong with him and if he does not see a vet he is going to die.

Answer 6

Ferrets are very delicate creatures. If you don't get him to the vet he will die. Try giving him some Karo syrup, regular syrup will work, just in case he has insulinoma, it will bring his bloodsugar up. Try that, hopefullt it will help. Then you gotta find a way to get him to the vet

Answer 7

You must go to a vet maybe you could get an agree ment and pay in installments for treatment

Answer 8

Wow that does not sound good at all, my suggestion is to call a vet and ask if they know what's wrong with him and if there is anything you can do.

Answer 9

Take him to the vet. Theres nothing that people on yahoo answers can tell you that would pin point whats wrong with your farret.

Answer 10

dude your ferret is dying just buck up and take him to the vet. a true vetarinarian will not turn you away because you have no money. they will allow you to make payments. if you truly love your pet GET HIM TO THE DOCTOR RIGHT NOW PLEASE