We at Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society, got 5 new ferrets in last week. Two pairs of females, and one male. None are up for adoption at this time, however, they will be soon so keep your eyes peeled =)
The first pair:
One pair came from a very good home that, due to allergies that flared up after getting a second ferret, could no longer keep the animals. The two girls are young. The older of the two is 8-9 months old, cinnamon, and deaf. She has beautiful burgundy eyes and an extremely loving personality. The younger one is only 3 months old and absolutely nutso. She is an adorable sable that loves running about dooking, but due to an extreme amount of energy, will likely need to be near free roam. We would like to keep these lovely girls together
The second pair:
Again, one cinnamon and one sable, these two girls are a bit older. Their owners simply no longer had time for them and as a result, they wound up being caged far more than they would have liked. The cinnamon who, at this time is reeling from the trauma of a home change, is a very sweet five year old female. We are not sure if she has mobility problems at this time as she had been caged a fair amount; her foster family is assessing her and working with her to build up her muscle. We will soon be able to tell whether the troubles are simply muscle loss of whether she has some neurological issues. Her friend is a two year old sable who, though a bit high strung, has a real taste for adventure. She comes out of her shell rapidly and loves to play. At this time the sable female has a rectal prolapse. We are keeping an eye on it and, if it does not remedy itself, will likely need surgical intervention. Though this pair does not seem to be good with other ferrets, they would make a lovely addition to any home looking for ferrets.
The male:
At this time, he is afraid of other ferrets and not quite sure how to be a ferret himself. His former owners rescued him from an abusive situation; he had been kicked repeatedly by his first owners when he was a kit and had sustained severe injuries to his hind end. Though his rescuers were able to get him walking again, this little guy has long lasting neurological issues. Because we are not sure how these issues will progress, this little guy may not be adoptable and may end up being permanently fostered by an experienced ferret owner. We are continuing to work on mobility with him and are gradually introducing him to other ferrets to see how he reacts.
Showing posts with label ferret vet Prince George. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ferret vet Prince George. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, July 6, 2009
Ferret Society Volunteer Meet
For those living in Prince George and area that are interested in volunteering with Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society or who are simply curious ABOUT the society, we are having a gathering July 12 from 2 to 3 pm at Fort George Park. We will be meeting by the band shell and can be identified by the fact that we will most likely be the only people in the park with our ferrets.
See you then!
(Society Ferrets are magic and can defy the laws of gravity)
See you then!
(Society Ferrets are magic and can defy the laws of gravity)
Monday, October 6, 2008
Finding the right vet
*** This post was updated, please be sure review update at bottom of post
Surprise! Ferrets are not common pets like cats and dogs! So, logically, finding a good vet – that is to say one that knows specifically about ferrets and the health problems that affect them specifically, as well as the symptoms of these health problems.
Though most vet clinics in northern BC will see ferrets, very few of these clinics specialize in ferrets – this means that you have to be informed, and that you have to make sure that your vet, though not a specialist, is at the very least informed about ferrets as well. Because most veterinarians do not like to be ‘grilled’ over the phone, you may need to make an appointment to meet vet in person – don’t forget to bring the ferret and a list of pre-prepared questions. Before going to the vet, do your research – learn about which vaccinations are recommended for ferrets and which are not (ie: it is generally recommended to vaccinate your ferret against rabies, but a killed rabies vaccine MUST be administered as a live rabies vaccine may be fatal). Know about symptoms of diseases and what type of tests would be useful in determining what your ferret suffers from and most importantly KNOW YOUR FERRET.
Some important questions to ask your vet are what vaccines they would use, how often they see ferrets and about what (regular vaccinations, emergency care…), and whether they can handle and treat common ferret diseases (and if so, what diseases have they seen and how have they determined that is was said disease). After you have questioned your vet, have them examine your ferret. Make sure that your vet is handling the animal properly. If her or she seems nervous or afraid of the ferret, this is probably not the vet that you want to see. Ensure that the vet interacts well not only with the ferret, but with you as well. A good vet should be willing to answer all your questions and explain what they are doing in depth. If your ferret should get sick and you take it to your vet, make sure that you ask plenty of questions and perhaps offer suggestions, but do not overstep your boundaries – remember – the vet is a trained professional. If, after seeing the vet, you do not feel that the situation was adequately addressed, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. This reluctance once cost one of my beloved fuzzies his life.
My vet seemed good with the ferret and answered the questions correctly, but when my ferret became sick he did nothing to treat the animal. The symptoms were lethargy, an irregular heartbeat and bloating, and the ferret was approximately 6 or perhaps 7 years old (he was a rescued ferret, so his exact age was not known). The vet dismissed my concerns and simply told me that the ferret was getting old, which was true, but that was not what was making him sick. After 3 more visits over a period of a few months, the vet asked me to have blood work done on the ferret at a cost of $500; by that time, I had done my research and knew that none of the ferret conditions that may have been causing the symptoms would be revealed by such a test. The vet was more concerned with making money than correctly diagnosing my ferret. I was unfortunately not able to find another vet in time and my pet died less than a week later.
Had I not wasted my time and began looking for a different vet immediately after my original vet had dismissed my concerns, my ferret would likely have lived at least another year, if not more. A vet that is well aware of ferret conditions would likely have been more concerned about the symptoms exhibited by my ferret, especially at the age at which he was beginning to exhibit those symptoms.
HERE IS A LIST OF VETS IN P.G. THAT ARE WILLING TO SEE FERRETS.
Prince George Vet clinic has a ferret friendly vet, as does Ospika Vet and Olson’s Animal Hospital. Though I have no idea how good these vets are, or their degree of experience with ferrets, they are at least willing to see ferrets. If you have a ferret, make an appointment and ask some questions! Good luck on finding a good vet for your furry friend!
UPDATE: February 12, 2010
Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society volunteers take their ferrets to Dr. Bonafine at Prince George Veterinary Hospital. Though he is not technically a ferret expert, he does see a lot of ferrets and is an extremely knowledgeable and competent vet. We have also recently heard some concerning stories from ferret owners who have taken their ferrets to Ospika vet. Our advise is this: if something doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to get a second opinion and ALWAYS ask questions - your ferret's life may depend on it!
Surprise! Ferrets are not common pets like cats and dogs! So, logically, finding a good vet – that is to say one that knows specifically about ferrets and the health problems that affect them specifically, as well as the symptoms of these health problems.
Though most vet clinics in northern BC will see ferrets, very few of these clinics specialize in ferrets – this means that you have to be informed, and that you have to make sure that your vet, though not a specialist, is at the very least informed about ferrets as well. Because most veterinarians do not like to be ‘grilled’ over the phone, you may need to make an appointment to meet vet in person – don’t forget to bring the ferret and a list of pre-prepared questions. Before going to the vet, do your research – learn about which vaccinations are recommended for ferrets and which are not (ie: it is generally recommended to vaccinate your ferret against rabies, but a killed rabies vaccine MUST be administered as a live rabies vaccine may be fatal). Know about symptoms of diseases and what type of tests would be useful in determining what your ferret suffers from and most importantly KNOW YOUR FERRET.
Some important questions to ask your vet are what vaccines they would use, how often they see ferrets and about what (regular vaccinations, emergency care…), and whether they can handle and treat common ferret diseases (and if so, what diseases have they seen and how have they determined that is was said disease). After you have questioned your vet, have them examine your ferret. Make sure that your vet is handling the animal properly. If her or she seems nervous or afraid of the ferret, this is probably not the vet that you want to see. Ensure that the vet interacts well not only with the ferret, but with you as well. A good vet should be willing to answer all your questions and explain what they are doing in depth. If your ferret should get sick and you take it to your vet, make sure that you ask plenty of questions and perhaps offer suggestions, but do not overstep your boundaries – remember – the vet is a trained professional. If, after seeing the vet, you do not feel that the situation was adequately addressed, don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. This reluctance once cost one of my beloved fuzzies his life.
My vet seemed good with the ferret and answered the questions correctly, but when my ferret became sick he did nothing to treat the animal. The symptoms were lethargy, an irregular heartbeat and bloating, and the ferret was approximately 6 or perhaps 7 years old (he was a rescued ferret, so his exact age was not known). The vet dismissed my concerns and simply told me that the ferret was getting old, which was true, but that was not what was making him sick. After 3 more visits over a period of a few months, the vet asked me to have blood work done on the ferret at a cost of $500; by that time, I had done my research and knew that none of the ferret conditions that may have been causing the symptoms would be revealed by such a test. The vet was more concerned with making money than correctly diagnosing my ferret. I was unfortunately not able to find another vet in time and my pet died less than a week later.
Had I not wasted my time and began looking for a different vet immediately after my original vet had dismissed my concerns, my ferret would likely have lived at least another year, if not more. A vet that is well aware of ferret conditions would likely have been more concerned about the symptoms exhibited by my ferret, especially at the age at which he was beginning to exhibit those symptoms.
HERE IS A LIST OF VETS IN P.G. THAT ARE WILLING TO SEE FERRETS.
Prince George Vet clinic has a ferret friendly vet, as does Ospika Vet and Olson’s Animal Hospital. Though I have no idea how good these vets are, or their degree of experience with ferrets, they are at least willing to see ferrets. If you have a ferret, make an appointment and ask some questions! Good luck on finding a good vet for your furry friend!
UPDATE: February 12, 2010
Ferrets North Information and Rescue Society volunteers take their ferrets to Dr. Bonafine at Prince George Veterinary Hospital. Though he is not technically a ferret expert, he does see a lot of ferrets and is an extremely knowledgeable and competent vet. We have also recently heard some concerning stories from ferret owners who have taken their ferrets to Ospika vet. Our advise is this: if something doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to get a second opinion and ALWAYS ask questions - your ferret's life may depend on it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)