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April 19 1998, 9am: Well the kits are now one week old and growing fast! They are several times the size they were a week ago. I still have not found a good scale but my vet said he would love it if I invested in a pediatric scale so that he could borrow it. (grin) When the kits were born they had a thin white down of fur on them. As they gradually get more fur it is turning a light grey in color. I have been told that they will gradually grow into color and that the grey fuzz is simply the second step of coat growth.
Noon: I am still worried about Li'l Honey, the swelling appears worse. It seems to be situated at three or four of her teats, they seem to have darkened in color and there is a temperature difference, the teats are hot to the touch. She is still eating and drinking and the kits are fat and healthy. It is time for me to call another breeder and get some advice. I have put a call into the vet but it is Sunday so it may take him a bit to get back to me.
6pm: I cleaned the entire cage and nesting box with a disinfectent, changed the litter and the bedding. Cleaned Li'l Honey's belly and used compress', some of the swelling went down. I talked to Sam online she is going to talk to her vet for me. Mama is still eating and drinking she is active but restless. Patrick is going to get some milk thistle and fennel from the health store tomorrow. The photo session has been postponed for a bit, bear with us!
Midnight thirty: Just finished 'chatting' online with Sam. Li'l Honey should be fine as long as the kits continue to nurse. If they stop nurseing we will put her on amoxil drops. The photo session should take place tomorrow! I washed Li'l Honey's teats again and applied a compress, the kits are fat and healthy and were sound asleep when I entered thats a good sign, as Sam pointed out, they wouldn't be quiet if their tummies weren't full!
April 20 1998, 9am: Just finished our photo session with the kits, Patrick hasn't seen them in a few days and was quite shocked at how much they've grown. Li'l Honey has settled down some and there is a marked improvement in the swelling. I will continue to bathe her teats and use compress' to keep the swelling down and avoid further infection. I am so releived that I have people like Sam and Amy to turn to at times like this. You guys are great!
Noon: I freshened Li'l Honeys water and cleaned her litter box, I am going to clean the litter box daily while she has kits, I don't want any risk of infection. I washed her teats and applied another compress, she looks so much better and is definately happier.
6pm: We are keeping up with the routine, Li'l Honey is the same as this afternoon, at least she has not gotten worse.The kits are still fat and happy, Patrick gets home at 11pm so we will start mama on fennel and milk thistle at midnight, both are herbs that help with the production of milk. We will have another photo session in 2 days.
Midnight: The swelling has gone down in all but one of Li'lHoneys teats, which was markedly worse. The teat is swollen, red, and hard, I cleaned her again and applied a compress. I was able to express milk from the affected teat which is a good sign. I will call Dr. Gastis in the morning and insist that he bring the amoxil drops, I want to get this under control right away. I have started her on milk thistle and fennel hopefully they will help.
April 21, 9am: The one affected teat has grown worse! I wish the *^%*#* Vet would have listened to me the first time I called him, and we could have avoided all this. Dr.Gastis is out of town today so I got penicillin which must be given by injection. It is a broad spectrum antibiotic so it will work until he gets back. I was not able to express any milk this morning and the swollen area has grown in size.
Noon: With the continuous application of compress' and some gentle massage of the affected area I was finally able to express some milk. The kits are still feeding as there are 5 kits and 7 teats, so there's still plenty of milk, the fennel and the milk thistle encourage milk production. We can only hope that the penicillin is effective.
6pm: The kits are still showing no signs of distress. I am administering the fennel and milk thistle orally in an infusion with golden seal once an hour, at the same time I apply a compress, we have switched from a warm to a cold compress on advice from several sources. The swelling has spread some and the affected area is tender, Li'l Honey becomes quite agitated if you apply any direct pressure.
Midnight: There is no change, Li'l Honey is getting downright ornery (not that I blame her) If there is no change by morning I am calling the vet. I would say beat him about the head and shoulders until he listens but I think I'll let Li'l Honey tell him, she's got sharper teeth!
April 22 1998, 9am: Can I stand on a rooftop and shout the glories of penicillin?!?! The change is astronomical! The swelling has almost completely gone, there is no redness and no tenderness, and her temperature is back to normal! It looks like she may be OK. Thanks again to all of you who gave advice and comfort. We changed the litter and gave her fresh water. There will be another photo session later today.
Noon: Had another photo session, the kits have grown so fast! They are covered with a down of silver fur and are still SO soft. Li'l Honey's teat is still a bit swollen but nothing like yesterday, I am still using the compress and giving her the herbal tea, and we will keep her on the penicillin until I am sure she is better. I will continue to clean her belly until the kits are weaned, to avoid a future mastitis.
10pm: Li'l Honey is so much happier, we did our bedtime check, all of the kits were sleeping and she was out eating, I gave her the herbs and some more food, her teats look normal now, and she was very plafull.
April 23 1998, 9am: Our fur family is fine, medicating a squirmy ferret when you have an injured arm is quite a trick, but we have acheived our goal, Li'l Honey is happy and healthy, and all 5 kits are fat and sassy.
6pm: I am so pleased with the progress the kits are makeing, despite the mastitis they continue to grow at a steady pace. Another photo session tomorrow !
April 24 1998, 9am: We gave Li'l Honey her final shot of penicillin today, and had another photo session with the kits, they are growing so fast! They are now completely covered with silver/white fur, all but one male are starting to get dark noses! They will probably be dark like their mama.
10pm: Fed and watered the fur family, everyone was sleeping, I love to watch them all sleeping together, they look so peaceful.
April 25 1998, 9am: Cleaned the cage and litter box, Li'l Honey has gotten really insane since she had her kits, she bites to the bone if you give her the chance, and she is always on the offensive and it becomes more difficult each day to do simple things like change food and water.
8pm: It has been a busy day today, getting ready for Sheena's visit tomorrow, Li'l Honey did not like all of the activity around her but she has settled now and is feeding the kits, we changed her food and water and gave her fresh bedding. The kits are two weeks old tonight ! !
