Ella In Charge, Nyssa Bounces Back Yet Again

Nyssa has done well for three days running now which is just fantastic as far as I am concerned. On Thursday evening she ran and played for about 45 minutes. She managed three shorter runs totaling an hour or so Friday night. That run included a wrestling match with Ella. I never see those two go at it, at least not recently. Last night Nyssa didn't run as long but she did relocate her doggie and play. This morning I found her up in a hammock which means she is climbing again.

The other ferrets reacted by being extra playful on Thursday and Friday nights. If Nyssa feels up to playing with them they seem to be quite happy about it. A series of wrestling matches determined what I expected to happen eventually: Ella, my seemingly gentle sweetheart, is now top of the pecking order. Nyssa actually yielded to her, something she has never done with the others, and did so without screaming or becoming upset. Ella had no problem getting Zephyr and Chin Soon to yield as well after much chatter and tussle. Actually Ella was quiet. Chin Soon and Zephyr vocalized their displeasure at how things were going.

Hopefully over the next couple of days I can take some new pictures and post them.

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Nyssa: A Few Good Days, A Lot of Bad Ones

Monday night was Nyssa's best night in a while. She stayed awake and played and explored for maybe 45 minutes. Sadly most of the other days haven't been so good. Going to the litter pan is mostly always painful for her now and she's incontinent more than not. Her activity level is pretty low most of the time. She still eats well and gets all excited when I say "gravy" and then make some for her.

My fear with Nyssa is that I am rapidly approaching if not at the point where I am no longer extending her life but rather prolonging her death. All of my other ferrets who have died have sent me clear signals that they were done. Nyssa hasn't. She isn't giving up yet. How can I?

I'm suffering from insomnia tonight so I've checked on Nyssa a couple of times. I found the ferrets in two groups of two: Ella and Chin Soon were curled up in the hammock at the top of the cage. Nyssa and Zephyr were cuddled together in bedding at the bottom. This really shows how much things have changed between Zephyr and Nyssa in the last year. I think that's a good thing for both of them.


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Energizer Ella; Day To Day With Nyssa

Lately Ella has been my Energizer Weasel. She is now as often the last ferret standing after four or more hours of play as not. Up until now that role was mainly filled by Chin Soon, who is suddenly sharing it. Zephyr, who used to share the role with Chin Soon, has certainly been energetic, but three or four hours of rough and tumble is enough for her.

Nyssa's health continues to deteriorate. There have been periods where he hind legs are nearly or completely useless. That, combined with periods of incontinence and diarrhea, mean I end up cleaning up Nyssa and her bedding quite frequently. Nyssa hardly plays at this point. On the other hand she doesn't seem to be in any pain most of the time and she is still affectionate. She still eats well, especially her gravy, most of the time.

These problems come and go for Nyssa. I'll see her dragging herself in the morning and then find that she has climbed the ramps and is in a hammock with the other ferrets in the afternoon.

Nyssa still isn't telling me it's time to go. I am hoping the lupron, which we are still waiting for, may help her restore some of her muscle mass and give her a bit more strength. Realistically, though, I know her time is running out. So long as Nyssa refuses to give up I have to do the same. It's just hard to see such a stubborn and strong willed little ferret struggling like this.

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