Polo

Polo was brought here on December 29th, 2003. His former owner, a college student, had decided to move away from home and all the apartments that fit her needs didn`t allow pets. Her sugar glider and her ferret had to go. Four year old Polo lost the person he loved and the only home he had ever known in one short day.

Even though he loved to run the room, he sorely missed his former human Amanda. He went into shelter shock. He refused to eat or drink and had to be force-fed. He became gravely ill and needed supportive care, including fluids for dehydration. People don`t realize how deeply some ferrets grieve when they lose their human...

Over the next few weeks we managed to convince Polo that he could love again. He began to eat, drink, and play. He enjoyed special cuddles in the middle of the night when I was doing special feedings for some of the others. He got special one on one care early in the morning before medicine rounds. Life was good.

On March 2nd, 2004, when I was doing special feedings at 4 a.m., I noticed Polo going to his box 8 times in ten minutes. He was crying. He couldn`t urinate. Polo was taken in for an emergency vet visit. He was now crying with every breath. We were given two options--put him to sleep to end the suffering or put him in for emergency surgery with no guarantees... One of the promises we make to every resident here is that it will never be left behind again....One of the hardest things I ever had to do in my life was to hand Polo, whom I had now deeply bonded with, over to the vet for surgery. Not knowing if I would ever see him alive again, I promised him I`d be back. He showered my face with kisses and I walked out in tears.

Polo had a tumor on his bladder and a grossly enlarged right adrenal gland (which was removed and sent to the lab for evaluation). Right adrenal removal is a tricky surgery--the vena cava is dangerously close--and one wrong move can bring instant death.....

He suffered from a clotting problem following surgery and required several days with the vet in intensive care---but he made it! Nearly $1000 later, he is back home and recovering nicely.(Mastercard loves us!)

Exotic veterinary care can run into some big bucks. If you are considering a ferret as a pet, be prepared to provide for it`s needs.

Love, Zoo

UPDATE:

Polo lasted nine months following his surgery. He had a urinary blockage--and this time he couldn`t be fixed. I am heavy-hearted every time I think of Polo. He fought so hard to recover after that surgery and we really thought we were out of the woods. Our only consolation is that we bought him some more time. What a wonderful boy he was.

Love, Zoo