Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi I just found this forum & really like it. I am looking for some advice for caring for my Boy Digger, he is 7.5 years old & has an enlarged spleen, a bony groth on his tail (someone told me minks get that too), 2 ?tumors? from his musk glands and an unknown tumor inside near his spine (the vet took x-rays). He does not like meat period but he will eat bananas and mushrooms, he does not really like me to feed him. He does have some problems with tartar on his teeth but will not let me brush them. I have been thinking about getting a new ferret to keep my other ferret Alicia (5) company after he passes but am worried it will be too stressfull for him. It took 3 weeks of controlled play time & having 2 cages side by side before he would accept Alicia in the cage with him & I don't know if he will accept another. Thanks Fan

Bananas and mushrooms aren't the best diet for a ferret, but at this point I don't know if it makes much difference. Does he eat commercial kibble (ferret or kitten) or only bananas and mushrooms? Have you tried heating up some turkey baby food to just about room temp? Mine love that. Good vet care is the biggest priority for an aging ferret. 7.5 is relatively old for a ferret. You mentioned several tumors, do you think he's going to decline quickly or has he been living with them for a long time?
Introducing a new ferret might be too much stress for him, but if you still have the two cages available, you might consider getting the next ferret, putting him/her in the adjacent cage, and letting the younger ferret you already have spend time in each cage. You never know, they might all get along.

sorry to leave out his main diet :O he eats marshall ferret food & the bananas & mushrooms are just treats. I have tried warmed baby food & purreed fresh cooked chicken to no avail. He has had the 2 tumors in his musk glands for a couple years but we don't know when the one inside developed. I will look into putting caged side by side soon, he seemed a bit slower yesterday & was incontanent when we brought him out to play & I think his days are numbered. Thanks for the advice Fan