Any Ideas for Johnny

[Johnny and Demon]

So tomorrow, its already been 2 weeks since our beloved Demon is gone to heaven. <3

We have been playing with Johnny, trying to mimic Demon's behaviours (i.e. The sound he was making in the Super Thru-Way, the way he was waiting for Johnny at the other ends with a small bite - we don't bite Johnny, of course ! We gently "poke" him with our hands or a toy ..) .. All these small things make Johnny happy for a little while .. He started to do his dance of Joy again
However, he is grooming himself excessively.
I don't know if he is sick too (goodness I hope not ! That would be too much for me to handle), or if its because Johnny is grieving the loss of his big brother.

Anyone have any NEW games we can play/do with Johnny ?
Or do you think playing with him and the Super Thru-Way, play hide-n-chase and let him jump on our bed is enough ?
I just want to make sure Johnny is ok.

When he's playing with us, he seems happy (he does dance of joy so ...) ... but when he's alone in his bedroom, he seems lonely .. and he does groom himself and sleep alot.


Johnny and Demon

[Tressie]

Have you considered getting him another companion?

I recently adopted Henry from FLSAC as a companion for Zapporah, whose companion Israel had died on November 9th unexpectedly while undergoing a routine veterinary procedure.

Its been a bit of adjustment because Zapporah is afraid of other ferrets, but Henry has won her over and they now share a cage.

When Josie lost her life long companion Mahkeen, I put her together with Sadie and they are now a bonded pair.

Bellissima is a bit more challenging but seems to be happy on her own. Her biological sister Carissima passed away at the end of November. She had a massive tumor invading her chest plus 2 others in her little body. Their sister Principessa died from juvenile lymphoma 2 years ago. I was very worried about how Bellissima would do because she and her sister were inseparable. However, she was with her sister when she died and I think that may have helped with her grief.

Point is that having a new friend can make all the difference if the ferret does not seem to be adjusting to being on their own.


Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

My boyfriend already suggested a new friend for Johnny. We're not sure yet.
Johnny has always been "ferret oriented", but since Demon died .. He loves having all our attention. So I was wondering if he was ok by himself or not ? He really seems happy while he's playing with us. However, when he woke up yesterday, he was grooming himself like never before and his penis was a bit red So I was worried if he was sick or if its because he's gooming himself too much? I remember Demon got a red penis and a few days after, he started coughing and we found out it was lymphoma

[Tressie]

When you say he's grooming himself a lot, do you mean he's licking his abdomen and/or penis? It may be that his penis is irritated and he's licking it because it hurts in there.

Its not likely lymphoma but it may be a urinary tract infection, bladder stones or prostate issues (i.e., early adrenal disease). How old is he? Is he having any trouble peeing? If his penis is red its best to get it checked out with your vet.

In terms of being happy as a sole ferret. Right now he is getting extra, undivided attention from you. But reality as it is, it is not likely that you will be able to continue to play with him as intensely as you are now. If he has always been 'ferret oriented' that is not likely to have changed.

I know it is hard to open your heart again to let another little one in when its been so bruised lately. But somewhere out there another ferret needs a home. No one can replace Demon but heart's like yours are healing with plenty of room in there to let another little one in.

Its also a way of honouring Demon's memory by giving a home to another one who may have lost their home, or is stuck existing in the nightmare of a pet store environment.

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

Johnny was born on October 5 2008, so he's 3 years old.
He's just grooming himself .. He's scratching his neck, just as Demon used to do when his lymph nodes were swollen .. His penis was red last night, I think. Its still a bit red today, and he did lick on it. He doesn't seem to have trouble peeing at all.

It is very hard indeed to open my broken heart to another ferret. We miss Demon so much
But we have been thinking to adopt a friend for Johnny. We are still thinking about it, as we are not fully ready yet Demon is so special ! It's because of Demon we love ferrets so much .. I think I'm just going to wait a few days, but yeah .. I know it's going to be hard to play with him as much as we try to do right now

[Tressie]

If he's licking his penis, its because its bothering him.

He's certainly old enough to be showing early signs of adrenal disease. Excessive scratching is another sign. With males you don't want to risk a blockage. I would take him in for a check-up.

By the way not all ferrets lose hair with adrenal disease. I've had several who had no hair loss whatsoever but on necropsy adrenal disease was found e.g., Mariah and Chinook - both had adrenal adenoma; Israel - adrenal hyperplasia; Sampson - adrenal carcinoma. None of these ferrets even had thinning fur anywhere on their bodies.

My friend the ferret expert vet Sandra Mitchell in Maine tells me if there is irritation to the penis or any indication of trouble urinating, first thing to think of is adrenal disease.

A Lupron Depot injection (200 mcg) would not harm him and you'd know fairly quickly if it is adrenal disease because he would stop scratching and his penis would return to a normal colour.

A urinanalysis would tell you if there is an infection or stones/crystals in his urine.

But given the excessive scratching - sounds more like early adrenal disease.

Time for a visit to the good doc.

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

It blows my mind ..
To think Johnny could have adrenal disease so young
I will certainly bring him to the vet and hope for the best (just like we did for our dear Demon).
But if I find out he also has a type of cancer .. I think I'm just gonna die of sadness
That would be so unfair ! Demon was only 3 years and 5 months old, and he was my very first pet
Johnny is just as young ! I know people that were giving cheap quality food to their ferrets and were never given the care their ferrets really needed, and the ferrets died around 5-6 years old I don't think life is being fair with me

[Johnny and Demon]

PS : Johnny has an appointment with Dr.Drmac tomorrow at 10:00
Better safe than sorry ..

[Tressie]

Glad to hear he's going to the vet ;D

Cannoli was diagnosed with adrenal disease at 2 years of age and had adrenal surgery at 2 1/2. Between 3 and 4 is a more common time for many illnesses to first appear.

Adrenal disease can be very effectively medically managed nowadays with treatments like the Deslorelin implant. It is quite common in ferrets. No reason with ongoing treatment, that he can't live to a ripe old age of 6 or 7 Sadie is 71/2 and has adrenal disease and insulinoma. Socrates will be 8 in March and he has adrenal disease.

It is unlikely that what Johnny has is lymphoma or a more serious cancer. Excessive itchiness and irritated penis sounds more like adrenal disease.

Let us know how it goes with Dr. Drmac tomorrow!

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

Hi again,

Johnny's penis is normal color since yesterday.
He went to the vet today, and well .. His prostate is normal, everything's normal so far with Johnny .. So Dr.Drmac asked me more questions and I told him Johnny was especially scratching at his neck/face and he was licking his penis alot 3 days ago and his penis was red for about 2 days .. Since yesterday's, he's not touching his penis, and his skin is normal color too.
So Dr.Drmac checked his ears and .. apparently Johnny's ear canals are totally clogged - but there's no mites. According to Dr.Drmac, it seems to be ear clogged and the yeast infection that might cause Johnny to scratch at his neck/face alot (since it hurts).

For his penis .. well this is more tricky because right now, its normal colour. Since he knows Johnny is allergic to perfume and he had a pretty bad allergic reaction to scented Yesterday's News, he was wondering if we did any changes to his litter or food, or even his bedding (as a new soap - strong scented soap - could cause a reaction). But nope .. Right now he's guessing an infection or rash but then again, since Johnny's penis is normal right now, and because Johnny doesn't have trouble peeing and such, and he doesn't seem in pain or anything .. Dr.Drmac wants to see Johnny next week to see how things go and if there's any changes .. We will discuss everything on wednesday (the 21st), and depending on if his penis gets red again or anything, we will take an urinanalysis or xrays .. everything will depends on what's going on this week with Johnny ..



Hope there's nothing wrong and hope he's ok ..

[Tressie]

Thanks for the update.

Well at least Dr. Drmac is monitoring him.

Is it possible that he caught his penis on something? that is, scraped it on something?

Did Dr. Drmac give you any medication for his ears, if there is a yeast infection in his ears?

Keep us posted!

Tressie

[Johnny and Demon]

I remember it happened to Demon months before he had lymphoma. We found out, when he was playing in a certain tunnel, his penis was getting red and sometimes "crusty". Not always his penis, but sometimes, also his belly. Then I found out these episodes were happening when he was playing in a certain tunnel ; that tunnel was good for the garbage ! The problem was sloved. So yeah .. I was also wondering if Johnny caught his penis somewhere, but I can't see where as we no longer have that tunnel .. I'll will double check everything (all his toys and such).
His penis is still ok today today, so we will keep an eye on him and see how it goes ..

Will keep you posted !