Annie D

We've recently lost our 13 year old cat, Indy, to liver and kidney failure. I have tried and failed to get our surviving cat, Callie (approx. 7 years old), on a raw diet (she absolutely refuses--she's a VERY finicky eater) After doing some more research, I've found that between dry and wet food, that wet food is best for cats. Does any one know some high quality wet food brands? And does anyone have any advice for successfully switching her to a new, wet food diet?

Help would be greatly appreciated!

A family friend has 3 dogs; her health is poor, and she is afraid that if she passes, her animals won't have anywhere to go. She wants a safeguard plan (if something happens to her my family cannot take all the animals, seeing as we have 7 dogs of our own + other animals right now).

So I'm asking for a little help. I've been trying to find retirement homes for animals (preferably that don't adopt out older dogs--her guys are older and closely bonded, and she wants them to stay together and in one place), but I haven't had any luck so far. She does have a trust for her animals that would cover their financial care, and that would go to whatever retirement home takes them. So, does anyone have any idea of such places in the North Carolina-Virginia area?

This might be a strange request, but any help is appreciated!

I give my two ferrets .5 cc's of ivermectin/monthly (oral suspension--.01%) as a heartworm preventative. I was wondering: would this protect them from getting ear mites? Or is the dosage not strong enough for that?

Today I took my two ferts to the vets (Yogi for his distemper, and Pixie for a melatonin implant and a glucose test), and I was left wondering some things...

1) Is it wrong if, when my ferrets are getting shots/injections, I scruff them, instead of an assistant? I'm only wondering because the assistants at my vets are nervous and refuse to do it right. The episode left Pixie bleeding from her neck (failed glucose drawing), her paw (clipped nail, instead, to get blood for the test) and her back (from a big hole where they had trouble getting the implant in) whereas (at my old vet) whenever I scruff and the vet administers the shot that never happens.

2) Is it necessary to fast a fert for 4-6 hours before a glucose test? Because my vets didn't say anything about it (even though I had read that's what was required so I went ahead and fasted her), and they were giving her ferret-tone prior and during her test. Um. Yeah.

So. Any help? Thoughts, ideas, about this would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

I've been doing research on melatonin as a preventative against adrenal disease, since Pixie is three years old now. I was wondering if anyone had used this in their ferrets? Don't worry, I plan to ask my vet about it on Pixie's next visit, I just want to get some opinions. If I do, I would prefer to buy my own and make an oral suspension (will prove cheaper than getting an implant at the vets). Also, what was the youngest age anyone's ferret has been on melatonin (I have a four month old kit, and am just curious). Any comments will be appreciated.

Thank you!

When I took my ferrets in to the vets, they put them on heartworm medication without first giving a test. Is that how it's done for ferrets? Because I'm used to dogs and cats getting tested first, and it seems safer to screen for the parasites rather than just administering medication.