Ferret and Piggy Vet Visit

Yesterday's vet visit went well - 8 critters cared for in about one and a half hours - not too shabby.  First off - the good news is that everyone seems pretty darn healthy. We are still waiting to hear about blood results on Kai and Winston but I am not expecting anything catastrophic in either case. We took blood on Kai to confirm his weight loss was related to coat change and not something that needs treatment and we took blood on Winston because that's what we do every year to stay on top of his health.

The ferrets were very well behaved and cooperative.  I have a couple of pics of Tabby, who went first. Tabs has developed a freckle on her nose. I had the vet check it out to confirm it is just a freckle and not something more scary. Thankfully - freckle confirmed!

Tabby, Bash, Theo, Kai, Fiona - these guys all got vaccinations - rabies and distemper, adrenal disease prevention implants and physicals.

Implant

Vaccination

Madison - who has active adrenal disease had already received her updated implant a few months ago, as well as her vaccines so she only had a physical.

Violet had her vaccinations at one of her glucose check appointments a few months ago as well so she had a physical and got her implant updated.

All in all - the state of the business is pretty darn good!

Winston - ah piggy boy.  The reality of it is - it's challenging to vet a pig. He screamed like a banshee when they put the meds in his snout. I don't think this was because of the medicine but more because they have to use gravity so they life his front feet off the ground and sit his butt on the floor. To say he didn't like it would be an understatement.

He staggered around like a drunken piggy and then we flipped him on his back. Pigs are prey animals so this part is very scary for them instinctively. He screamed for a bit but once I talked to him and gave him loves he settled down. He was on his back for a bit - they did a blood draw, vaccinations, physical, hoof trim, tusk trim. He did pretty well and all of us involved felt like the appointment went just about as well as it could have gone. Winston spent the afternoon sleeping of his meds. The ferrets were no worse for the wear and everyone seems happy today.  I am glad it's over and done with for another year.

I had to chuckle. The dogs wigged out when they heard Winston screaming - seems like they might want to murder him but they don't appreciate anyone else attempting to do it for them.  LOL

General Updates

Well - so much for blogging more frequently - there really isn't enough time in the day.  Let's get up to date on how things are going here:

Kitties - we will start here because there is not much to say.  Kitties are all doing well - they seem happy and healthy and all is right in the feline world.

Piggers - Winston is doing great. He is on a really good schedule and has gotten over being pissed off that the puppies came home. He spent a couple of weeks issuing me special piggy memos letting me know that he was unhappy. That has finally calmed down and he is doing well. He spends a good bit of time outdoors. For the most part he is out by himself - although there have been a few times he is out at the same time as one of the girl pups. I have not had him outside with Tango - although there have been some cases of incidental/accidental contact that have occurred with no aggression from either party.

Emma - the old girl is doing well - she is a bit senile, a bit deaf, a bit blind and a bit annoying at times but she keeps going strong.  She's 15 now and we pretty much let her do her thing. She is happy the pups are back!

Pups - they are adjusting quite well to being home under a new set of rules.  Pup parents are still going to school - I think a few more lessons left. They are much improved dogs I must say and I am enjoying spending time every day with them one on one. I am quite please with their progress. It's interesting - Juliett is the worrier - she stresses out - wants to do it right and hates being in trouble. Tango is the stubborn one - the boundary tester who likes to see what he can get away with before he gets in trouble. And Charli - she was my difficult child before we went to training - she has blossomed. She loves the structure and is really thriving having new rules - never would have guessed....

Ferrets - the crazy little business is doing just great! Violet continues to do well - her weight, appetite, energy, level of engagement - they are all fantastic. Kai is a bit thinner than I would like - I believe this to be related to his coat change. Male ferrets can lose up to 30% of their body weight with changing from winter to summer coat. With a ferret like Bash who is quite stocky its not as noticeable but with a long, lean ferret like Kai - he looks thinner for sure.  His appetite, energy levels, etc are all fine but I have been supplementing his food a few times a day. All the ferrets LOVE to eat from the syringe (something I taught them when Harlow - our FIP ferret was ill a few years ago). So - I make up some gravy and give Kai a supplemental feeding a few times a day. I also give some to Violet as its good from a blood sugar perspective for her to eat often. And - then I have to share with each of the other ferrets - they all take turns getting a little taste from the syringe. Mind you - if I dump the gravy into their bowl - no interest. They are so silly.

The exotic vet comes for a house call on the 27th. I will have him give Kai a good once over to be sure he is fine. Winston will also get his annual stuff done - vaccines, physical, annual blood draw, tusk trim, hoof trim - its stressful for him and for me...but it has to happen... The ferrets will get their updated adrenal disease prevention implants - all but Madison who already had hers updated a few months ago.

That's it from here - maybe some camera trap pics and some critter pics as well in the next week or so....