Bash - 2014 - 2021 - Rest in Peace Sweet Boy

 I have procrastinated for some time posting about our latest loss. It's not because Bash was more loved than the others, but I think because of the cumulative heartbreak of losing all three boys this year. Bash was seven years, four months - an old ferret as most pass in their seventh year. That said - I was not prepared. The afternoon of September 15th was an ordinary day. I had gone in to their room to tidy up and see them all (something that happens three or four times a day) and I had my hands on all three ferrets, including Bash. He was fine acting like his mellow, affectionate self. He ate, went potty, and 'helped' with chores. When I went in later that evening to check on everyone before bed I found he had passed, curled up in one of his favorite blankets in his comfy sleeping position. The fact that he went quickly is a blessing and I know that, but it doesn't make it any easier on my heart.

Bash was litter mates with Fiona. He was our largest ferret but he was a gentle giant. He loved to play with toys and had several stashes in his room. He came along shortly after the very unexpected loss of a very young ferret, Finn, to a congenital issue. Bash helped heal my heart back then for sure.

We named him Bash because he was so large but actually, the name ended up being perfect as he was a very shy, bashful guy. He has definitely left a void in our little zoo.

We are down to just two ferrets and these will likely be our last two for a bit at least. We have discussed and decided to take a ferret pause for now. The sad reality is that Tabby is 8 and Fiona is 7 so we may not have either girl around for much longer. I am loving on them both like crazy and enjoying the time we have left.

As for my sweet Bash - rest easy, little man. I miss you more than you could ever know.

Theo - 2013 - 2021

It's with a heavy heart that I share that our sweet Theo boy passed away in the very early hours of June 23rd. It has taken a few days to deal with his passing and figure out how to fill the void left by his constant presence. It was a peaceful transition for him and I was with him when he passed. For those of you following our Facebook page, you know that we have been as prepared as possible for this since early May. Since that time I have had Theo with me full time, caring for him multiple times a day. He has been hanging out in my office during the day, in the living room with the rest of family in the evenings and in his playpen in our bedroom overnight. I am so thankful for the last six weeks of intense hands on time with him.

I like to think that he enjoyed the last few weeks of his life with us. We spent lots of time together sharing cuddles. He had multiple daily visits from the dogs and each day he spent an hour or two in with his ferret siblings. We discovered he was a big fan of warm baths so each evening he would spend some time floating and swimming. It was a good six weeks.

Theo has a rich history as a part of our little zoo. He was the one who made Clooney (our first ferret) accept all his other ferret siblings. He also saved Clooney's life with a blood transfusion and kept him company in the hospital. He was the protector of all his siblings and when he was younger he absolutely LOVED squeaky toys.

Ferret lifespans are simply too short. My office felt so lonely that I brought the other in here to keep me company. It's tough to be sad with these little ones around playing and getting into everything.

Rest in peace my little man - I am so grateful you were a part of my furry family. You are loved and missed more than you could ever imagine.

Kai - 2014 - 2021

 So, it's taken me some time to be ready to post about our latest loss at The Grant Zoo. Some losses hit you harder than others, not because you love one critter more than another, but, in this case, because it was so unexpected. Almost 2 weeks ago we lost our sweet boy Kai. It was completely out of the blue - sort of. You see, I have become spoiled by the longevity and good health of our ferret children. When Violet passed at seven years and a few months, I was as prepared as I could be knowing that its tough to get a ferret to seven who is in good health, let alone one with insulinoma. Madison was one week shy of nine years old. Theo, who is currently in 'senior care' is pushing eight and a half and I am as prepared as I can be knowing he has had a very long and happy life. Kai, however was seven years and a few months. Most ferrets pass in their seventh year but I wasn't ready. It's been difficult for me to wrap my head and my heart around the fact that he simply died of old age. I can take solace in that I was able to spend time with him on his last day with me, and he was healthy and happy until his passing.

Kai was litter mates with Tabby and Harlow. He was an all boy kind of ferret who loved to play hard and show his affection with just as much enthusiasm. He was a gorgeous boy with a handsome face and lovely coloring. He loved his ferret siblings fiercely and was always affectionate with his humans. Kai loved to give kisses - but there was one rule - he had to put his little ferret nose in one of your nostrils and give kisses right between your nose and your top lip. He was also the bravest ferret we've had - finding himself stuck in places, in trouble for getting into things he shouldn't have and in the position of ring leader of all ferret shenanigans. 

The remaining four ferrets are sticking pretty close to one another - they miss their brother. I am spending lots of time with them as well, showing them even more love and attention than usual. We picked up our sweet boy from the vets office last night - he is home where he belongs and missed more than he could ever imagine.

See...nose up the nostril...

Happy 8th Birthday - Theo

 This super handsome gentleman turns eight years old today!

Theo is our eldest boy. He is sweet and affectionate and very mellow. He is the protector of our group of ferrets. If someone isn't feeling great he is very much the one who watches over them and he won't let any of the other ferrets get too close. He was an amazing sibling and nursemaid to our sweet Harlow who suffered from a genetic issue and years ago when Clooney was sick and in the hospital it was Theo who gave blood for a transfusion and who stayed in the hospital with his brother.

Theo watching over Clooney in the hospital

Theo sleeping over Harlow making sure she's safe

At eight years old is he is considered a very senior ferret. I am happy to report that he doesn't have any health issues currently. His body is changing a bit with age but he is still happy and active and bright.

Theo (front) and his brother Kai

I love the little notch missing from his ear - he was born that way

We have celebrated his birthday with some special treats, some interaction with the dogs (who are way more interested in him than he is in them) and some extra loves from his humans. Happy, happy birthday my sweet boy!

Madison - November 6, 2011 - November 1, 2020 - RIP

On the eve of what would be her 9th birthday, I'll share the heartbreaking news that we lost our sweet girl Madison this past weekend. While her passing was not unexpected, it's taken me a few days to process. We were so fortunate to have such an extended amount of time with this sweet, joyful creature. Most ferrets pass during their 7th year, so the fact that we were able to enjoy her for so much longer is something I am so thankful for. I'm also thankful that she was a healthy girl, only suffering from adrenal disease that was basically a non-issue for her thanks to advances in veterinary medicine and an implant that kept the disease in check. Madison passed away in her sleep, in her favorite bed, sleeping in her favorite position, surrounding by her ferret and kitty siblings. I am grateful that she went peacefully and with no pain, and in these crazy COVID-19 times, that we did not have to take her in as we would not have been permitted to stay with her while they administered the necessary medications.

Madison was our second ferret. She came into our world four years after we had gotten our first, Clooney. He was very uncertain of exactly what this new critter was. I believe he thought he was a cat. Madison was a very vocal ferret and taught Clooney, who had never made a sound, that he had a voice. As our business of ferrets grew, Madison was most definitely the matriarch, accepting each new addition with open arms and loving each of them fiercely. She also had a very special relationship with our kitty Oliver and she was heartbroken when Oliver passed a couple of years ago.

She was an intuitive girl who could sense what you were feeling. There were always ferret kisses at the ready and when she was around, there was no way to be unhappy. She filled our lives with so much joy and I am so thankful she was a part of our little zoo. Rest in peace my sweet girl.

RIP Sweet Miss Violet - 2013 - 2020

I am so sad to share that over the weekend we lost our perfect Miss Violet. While this loss was not altogether unexpected, we are feeling at loose ends here. Violet was seven years and two months old. Getting a healthy ferret to the age of seven is sometimes a challenge and Violet had both insulinoma (a blood sugar disorder) and adrenal disease so her long life was more than we thought we would have with her.

Violet was a fiercely independent little girl. Despite that, she was always so cooperative for me when it came to taking meds or eating when asked. We used food to help keep her blood sugar stable between doses of prednisone so I was with her every four to five hours for the last two plus years. There were many late night/early morning feedings, many times of worry when she wasn't doing as well as I would have liked, but mostly many days of feeling like she was happy and active and doing well in spite of her illnesses.

I am thankful that her decline happened very quickly and that she only felt poorly for a matter of hours before she passed. The day before she was outside in the playspace soaking up the sun and playing with her siblings. I am also thankful that she passed peacefully in her sleep, at home, surrounded by her family.

I always feel like it is such a privilege to care for them as they get older, a way for me to give back to them for all the joy and happiness they have brought into my life. Saying goodbye is always so difficult. I hope my sweet girl is at the rainbow bridge, reunited with her littermate Finn, her brother Clooney and her sister Harlow having a ferret party free of any ailments or pain. Rest in peace my lovely girl.

One of my favorite shots of her

Posing

Violet and her littermate Finn

Gotcha day

Beautiful girl

Pig Mom Gets a Win - Tusk Maintenance

I have been working hard on coming up with ways to train Winston so that we can do his annual exam with no sedation and without flipping him on his back. Both of us absolutely hate the process and its stressful so I am motivated to come up with new ideas.

Around Thanksgiving I started working with Winston on the first item on the list - tusk maintenance. I ordered this lovely tool called Bark and Boop Dog Nail Grinder from Amazon ($21). This is basically a Dremmel but its much quieter which we needed because W hated the loud motor of the Dremmel tool. We started our training in very short spurts. It was literally getting him to let me touch his tusk with the tool at first. It would touch for a split second and then he would pull away. He didn't like the vibration it causes but over time he got more used to it.

Earlier this week, I was able to declare a win when I got out the tool and once I turned it on Winston flopped on his side (the position he takes for all maintenance activities) and he let me file for as long as I wanted. His tusks grow at very different rates - one is super long and one is just barely poking out of the side of his mouth. He lets me get both now - another win. He wasn't very excited about me accessing that shorter one at first.

Now, I will say, he is a very tolerant pig when it comes to maintenance. I clean his ears, eyes, snout, brush teeth, file hooves and clean out scent glands regularly. He loves the attention. So, it was just getting him used to this new thing. I still have a ways to go, filing down the longer tusk, but once its short like the other one, it will just be a part of his regular maintenance routine and I will be able to keep them from ever getting long again. He also lets me use the tool on his hooves which makes that maintenance task much faster than filing with a nail file.

So, step one in what the vet does for annual visit is off the list. I can do both myself and I don't need him flipped for trimming of hooves or using the gigli wire to cut back his tusks. Next, I am working on building him a chute - for lack of a better word. I am working on design now and have enlisted the hubs to help me construct. I will post about it once we have started the training, but, if it works like I want it to, the vet will be able to complete his physical exam and give injections without sedation or flipping. Fingers crossed.

Stay tuned for updates!!