Gastric Tumors: two case studies

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Tumors of the Ferret (excluding adrenal tumors). 

Two case studies of gastric tumors (one lymphoma and one adenocarcinoma) where surgery was performed.

Authors: Hiroshi Sasai, Daisuke Fujita, Yohei Ueda, Hideko Okuda. Maki Kishimoto, Nao Ijima, Kensaku Okamura, Ryoko Yamazaki (Kitasuma Animal Hospital)

Publication Date: 12/01/2006

Abstract:
We report on two case studies of gastric tumors of the ferret.

Case 1) Male ferret, three years, 6 months of age, presented the following symptoms: lethargy and loss of appetite, vomiting, emaciation. A tumor of approximately 2cm in diameter was palpated in the upper abdomen. The results of a GI tract series suggested tumors in the pyloric region and gastrointestinal perforation. An ascites also hinted at peritonitis. An exploratory laparotomy was performed during which perforations in the gastric lining of the pyloric region and pronounced hypertrophy resulting from tumorigenesis were recognized. After excision of the lesioned area, a gastrojejunostomy was performed; however, the patient passed away three days post-op. Hyperplasia involving neoplastic lymphcytes was seen throughout the mucosal layer and proper mucosal layer of the stomach.

Case 2) Neutered male ferret, 6 years of age, presented the following symptoms: abrupt and severe emaciation, lethargy, reduced appetite, and chronic emesis. A tumor of approximately 1.5 cm in diameter was palpated in the upper abdomen. X-rays showed gastric dilation and pyloric calcification. An obstruction of the GL tract was suspected. An exploratory laparotomy was performed during which tumorigenesis across the pyloric region to the duodenum was recognized. As isolation and extraction of the lesioned area was judged to be extremely difficult, a gastrojejunostomy was performed. A biopsy of the tumorous lesion resulted in a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Patient was doing well post-op until day 51. On the 51st day post-op, the patient's condition abruptly worsened with death following.

These two cases suggest that in the diagnosis of ferret gastric tumors, there is a necessity to perform endoscopy, GI tract series, along with other tests more aggressively and in even earlier stages.

Key words:

ferret, pet, animal disease, case report, gastric tumor, lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, male, gastroenterography, medical imaging, palpation, excision, tumorigenesis, biopsy, ultrasonography, pathology, histological diagnosis, hyperplasia, hypophagia, emesis

Source Language Document

:*・☆・*:☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆:*・☆・*:
 

Cheers and hope to see you again! ♪


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself. All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Earthquake Watch

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Not worried enough about the far reaching arm of radiation?
How about more earthquakes?
Many more.  And BIG.

Before the M9 in Northern Japan on 3/11 the research institutes in Japan were already predicting within the next 30 years, there will be an M9 in SOUTHERN Japan.

That has not happened YET.

And while I was still trapped in Japan, I was living in Southern Japan.  Living in Southern Japan afforded me the privilege of not only seeing first hand how poor the Japanese government responded to a disaster of that magnitude, but also gave me access to information only accessible to the Japanese citizens.

Information such as the fact that during one of the episodes of "Eye on Kansai"series about the tsunami and earthquakes (an evening TV show about Southern Japan  、かんさい熱視線 ) they discussed how UNPREPARED that region still is for the upcoming mega-quake.  In that series they also mentioned how the research institutes were revising their estimates for that upcoming M8/9 earthquake.  Revising them to estimate an earlier date of occurrence.

In other words, Southern Japan is looking at its own M8/9 not within the next 30 years, but sooner.

This main site through Yahoo Japan will not only give you constantly updated information on tremors and major quakes, but information on past quakes.

The following are only the most recent after I LEFT Japan on June 27th.
However, do not be fooled into thinking these are irregular occurrences.  Japan has been getting M5 and M6 on an almost regular basis between 3/11 and the end of June.  (You can check the history of the quakes through that Yahoo site)
You don't want to be visiting Japan now or anytime soon.
You want to be LEAVING.


7/23, M6.2:

7/23, M6.5:

7/15, M5.5:

7/05, M5.4:

But if you still feel like playing Russian Roulette, we happened upon a nice collection of images and videos of the 3/11 M9 Earthquake-Tsunami disaster.  (And these are not even touching upon the nuclear reactor meltdown and fallout.) 
You don't need to understand the words, just look at the pictures. T_T

Pack and get out while you still can.

IF you can because according to IPATA it's getting really tough to move pets out safely anymore.  (IPATA travel warning 1, IPATA travel warning 2)

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Cheers and stay safe, Stay Informed!

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself. All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Radiation reaches across the Ocean

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Well, I can post all about the news censorship and information suppression in Japan. Boy, could I post about the things I know and saw.

And STILL see and know even know that me and Maru are safely out of Japan. One just has to know where to look because you won't hear any of it on the official TV stations. The one time I did find something, not only did that video disappear when I went searching for it several days later, but they replaced it with a completely DIFFERENT video. But that's another story.

Just as I predicted way back in April, things have been thrown into high gear and started to get really stressed once the calendar flipped over to July.

Like a gear shift.
Or a bathroom light.

Or the ticking of a clock...

Something for consideration for those still hesitating on leaving Japan. Of course, it might be too late already for those trying to travel with their pets.  According to IPATA it's getting really tough to move pets out safely anymore.  (IPATA travel warning 1, IPATA travel warning 2)


High levels of radiation detected in Northwest (USA )rainwater

"... radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
'The level that was detected on March 24 was 41 times the drinking water standard,' said Gerry Pollet....'...the rain water in the Northwest is reaching levels 130 times the drinking water standards,'..."

And those levels are NOW, xx months LATER, an OCEAN APART from the failed reactor.


Safe travels, and hope to see you again.


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself. All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Myeloma or MM: Cases Studies from Japan, part00

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Ferrets and their endless array of cancers.
Apparently, MM is rather rare in the USA.  And a search of pubmed does not do anything to alter that impression as only one documented and published case shows up and even that was from the 1980s.
In Japan, however, not so unheard of.  As the most frequent ferrant poster put it "My vet reports that it is rare but there are several new cases every year.  Including my own ferrets, I personally know of 5-6 cases ."

Given the vast lack of information on MM in ferrets, we have decided to present a new mini-series of all the MM information we could collect from Japan.

The following is all the carefully collected, extracted, and arranged (for ease of reading) case studies available at this time.   Veterinary and actual owner observations and accounts are included.

:*・☆・*:☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆:*・☆・*:

CASE 1:

Summary:

?? Farms

? (N?, unknown but likely given Japanese regulations and ferret population sources)

approx. 2 years of age when finally diagnosed.

Confirmed MM case.

MM was diagnosed previous to decease. However, the ferret died soon after diagnosis.

Necroposy findings showed bone fractures and also hinted at Bence-Jones proteinuria.

Pathology results after death also confirmed MM.

Progression:

The blood test 2 months prior to final diagnosis showed no irregularities.

Then one day the owner found their ferret was suddenly unstable and wavering, and rushed to the vet. The result of that vet visit was a final diagnosis of MM. The ferret died one week post-diagnosis.

Chemotherapy was used in the interval between diagnosis and death. (Owner feels the chemo administered at the time was too powerful and resulted in an earlier death)

Diagnostic Methods:

XRAY – a veterinarian or xray tech familiar with MM will be able to identify the small round holes in the bone as this is particular to MM

Bone fractures also common.

Bone Marrow Biopsy – considered to give a near definitive result as to whether MM or "other".

**Owner notes that another ferret that s/he owned followed a similar path with similar symptoms but was later diagnosed with CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia).

(Time - Other postings and time line references point to this case occurring around 2000.)

original discussions can be found here: 多発性骨髄腫の疑い and 多発性骨髄腫

CASE 2:

Summary:

Canadian Farms

M (N?, unknown but likely given Japanese regulations and ferret population sources)

1 year 4 months at time of original posting in 06/2008

Tested with regular blood screening, xray, ultrsound, and finally a bone marrow biopsy.

Directly from the posting:

"Originally, when he had a health exam last October and since the ALP was somewhat high (152) growth process so we decided to monitor for 3 months then retest.

At the retest, the ALP had fallen to 109 but the TP value had risen.

The following are the test values to date:

	10/22/2007	1/7/2008	2/16	3/17	6/14
TP	6.6	8.8	9.2	8.4	9.4
ALB	-	-	2.9	2.8	3.O
PCV	54	50	45	38	43
HB	19.3	18.4	16.3	14.4	15.8
RBC	1143	1104	986	869	959
WBC	8600	7900	8000	8695	10200

We also tested for ADV in Feb and June and it was always less than “3 times” .

However, there is still the possibility so I can not say right off that ADV is not unlikely. The urinalysis had a value of 30(1＋) for the albumin. "

Other symptoms include eyes a little white and seems to not be able to see well. It is said this symptom is probably a result of the hyperproteinemia. Other than that, acts lively and well.

Diagnostic methods: blood screening, xray, ultrasound, and finally a bone marrow biopsy.

The results from the bone marrow biopsy in July 2008 removed MM as a potential candidate.

MM diagnosis refuted. Given the diagnosis of ADV.

**Note CAGEMATE (New Zealand Farms, M(/N?), 1 year 11 months) present with chronic hepatitis.

original discussions can be found here: 多発性骨髄腫の疑い

CASE 3:

Summary:

?? Farms

M (N?, unknown but likely given Japanese regulations and ferret population sources)

4 years old at original posting in 11/2006

Confirmed MM case. Died one week post-diagnosis.

Owner was told that even IF it is found early, there is no hope of saving the patient so the owner left everything in the hands of the vet.

Any treatments administered during the one week interval between diagnosis of MM and death were not listed.

original discussion can be found here: 多発性骨髄腫

CASE 4:

Summary:

Marshall Farms

M/N

4 years, 11 months

Confirmed MM case.

Symptoms: Lethargy and suppressed appetite. Weakness in posterior limbs.

Xrays showed an enlarged spleen and a fractured rib cage

However, aside from mild swelling palpitated at the mesenteric lymph nodes, fecal and blood tests showed no significant irregularities.

Symptoms improved temporarily with the use of medical therapies including Predisone and Interferon. However, on day 11 symptoms returned and on day 18 both posterior limbs showed partial paralysis.

Another Xray was taken and showed dislocation of the 6th-7th dorsal vertebrae along with multiple instances of "punch-outs" (Japanese word refering to the numerous missing black shadows seen in bones in Xrays) and osteolysis. Plasmacytes were not seen in the peripheral blood and there was no atypism of the lymphocytes.

In accordance with the owner's wishes, no bone marrow biopsy was performed.

We continued with the identical appropriate treatment but the patient died on the day 31.

Examination after death confirmed instances of "punch-outs" in the bones throughout the entire body and osteolysis. Monoclonal gammopathy was not found, hence ADV was not diagnosed. Multiple instances of miliary nodular masses were seen in autopsy as were masses suggesting insulinoma. Histopathology showed widearea spread of atypical cells similar to plasmocytes throughout the bone marrow, spleen, and abdominal cavity, organs and mesentery.

The final comprehensive diagnosis is believed to be MM.

(published 2006)

Index DB Link

Abstract Link

CASE 5:

Summary:

posting at a later date since MM was only suspected but not confirmed. However because it was suspected the vet followed through with one typical therapy regiment for treating MM in a ferret. That information is of use.

UNconfirmed MM case.

No final diagnosis noted.

:*・☆・*:☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆:*・☆・*:

Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

Disclaimer: I am not a DVM. Advice is offered after my own extensive research and/or experience and should be undertaken at your own risk. Consult with your licensed DVM before undertaking any treatment!

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself. All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Serious Summer Energy Issues: HH

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

☆.。.:*・Heat and Humidity・*:.。.☆

I really wanted to open my windows the weekend.
Really, REALLY wanted to open them.
Nothing like be shut inside 24-7 to make a looming hellish workweek ahead look all that much brighter.

But Japan is not just hot, its humid.
Like a WALL of HUMIDITY, humid.
Nothing I have ever experienced before outside of Japan or Korea. And this is where having all my little collection of Japan Ferret Handbooks come in handy. Even with all the incorrect, outdated, and sometimes rather dangerous information (giving certain cooked vegetables as treats to ferrets?!), the authors have lived in Japan all their life and know the climate specifics they have to deal with. As a result, some of the aids I will introduce here are ones you have seen and possibly use yourself, and some are Japan-specific due to the severity of the humidity/heat and the access (or lack thereof) to certain products. Referenced books can be seen at the bottom.

FERRET IDEAL: temp @ 22-23C, humidity @ 30-40%

Humidity Issues:
Make sure does not go over 65%. not only will it affect their health, food will spoil and living area (bed) will have hygiene issues. (reference below)

Yeah, well. Good Luck keeping it @ even 60%.
Right now with no energy restraints in place (those begin July 1, 2011) I sometimes run the dehumidifier function on my A/C ( 除湿 ) all day long and still come home to find the meter sitting @ 60%.

suggestion: store food in airlock containers and store the container in a cool dry place.

ex: In my apartment, the wall a/c is in the one main room (studio). Just so happened that the oshiire (large leveled closet) is across from it. I store Ranmaru's food in the top shelf across from the a/c and above any light that might come in from the windows.

**warning about low humidity via 100qa book! (added later after books arrive from Japan)
**竹のこと　　(added later after books arrive from Japan)

Heat Issues:
They say there are "cool packs for pets with special covers to prevent chewing". The only ones i have seen are soft gel packs with thick CLOTH covers. Everyone with a fuzz knows those teeth can go through leather much less bone so a cloth cover is not going to protect them from the leaking gel. I use old BLENDY bottles 3/4 filled with water and frozen. (BLENDY is the coffee in a nice rectangular 1 liter bottle that fits perfectly in your tiny freezer or refridge doors.) I then wrap those in towels or put them in specific thermos bottle bag holders to soak up some of the condensation that will form.
Not just individually in the major sleep area, but 2-3 bottles in a pile in a large bowl/bucket.

Also, in addition to the ice "pool" I have a mini pool always 1/3-1/2 filled with water in the bathroom. (It would perfectly cover up to his chest, no further.) It's there year round really for his floaty duckies and as a drinking spot, but in the hotter weather he can stick his feet in easily to cool off. Remember, ferrets can't pant or sweat and a normal dry fan (just blowing air) won't help your fuzz keep cool!
If your fuzzy gets overheated, s/he needs cool water applied to their feet.

Following this thread, another kindly ferret friend on FB added this little contrivance:
"We also have a box lined with paper and there is shredded paper in it as well for them to dry off and not catch a chill, that's worked for us for the last 4 summers"

Also, in response to my question on heat-beaters, this fabulous construct was offered on FB. My guy is free roam so we can't use it, but a lot of ferret-parents in Japan use cages, so I am posting this idea for them also.

Try putting a light weight fabric like a piece of old sheet in a dish pan of water, ring it out, drape over a fan pointed at cage, leave one end in dish pan of water. You might have to safety pin in to fan. This is called a poor mans swamp cooler.
(Many thanks to Dookie Ferret for this idea!)

Finally, for those living in Japan, and possibly of use elsewhere, the traditional "uchimizu" (打ち水) technique. It really works to keep the area around the house cool and hence, the house itself cooler. It's an old technique from hundreds of years ago that is easy and effective. Minor but every little bit helps.

If you live in Japan, most likely you are living in an apartment which means you HAVE a veranda and/or front steps. You don't need the water at any certain temperature either. If your doing this on the veranda where your washing machine is you can really soak the ground and not worry since there is automatically a drain for the washing machine. SOAK THE VERANDA FLOOR with water. Before work I would dump a good 2-3 buckets of water out on the veranda which also had the added benefit of washing down the dirt and dust of the day. By the time I came back 9 hours later - Bone DRY.

You can do this on the front area of your apartment steps or ground too, but will have to be more conservative with the amounts given you have neighbors right there.

Sounds like a waste of water, but one of my favorite TV shows (not to mention a long running favorite of the natives) - Tameshite GATTEN! - had a piece on this and showed thermography of air temperature around storefronts before and after applying the uchimizu technique.
It does work!
And if you are looking at temps that start at out 26C every day since June 1 and a looming energy shortage (and you are if you live in Japan), EVERY little bit helps.


Keep cool and see you again! (^_-)-♪



Reference Books:
Raising a Happy Ferret, Tamukai Kenishi, DVM
FERRET, Anifa Books Complete Manual, Studio MOOK
Ferret Handbook, Nomura Junichiro, DVM
Ferret Paradise, Mao
Dr. Nomura's 100 Q&A for Ferrets, Nomura Junichiro, DVM


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

Serious Summer Energy Issues: 2

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

This is simply an update post.
For full background and details, please refer to Serious Summer Energy Issues: 1 and then ask yourself:

How many bottles of ice can your freezer hold and how long will they last?

I would suggest you start packing and look to return to... wherever.
If you will be returning to the USA, stay tuned as I will be introducing some of the professionally licensed pet transport companies I have been talking to or have used in the past.

☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆

Running total of lost reactors (Southern Japan):
Chuubu (Hamaoka) reactors: all, stopped.
Kansai (Mihama) reactors: 4 of 11, stopped.


5/14 UPDATE:
Now it is Kansai electrics turn to start winding down?! And we (Kansai Electric) were supposed to help bail out Chuubu Electric with THEIR summertime problem. (see below)
NHK morning news reports that out of 11 reactors in Mihama (Kansai Electric), 4 are now stopped.


5/9 UPDATE:
Well, there goes the stinkin' HAMAOKA reactor. (Chuubu Electric)
From the 7PM NHK news:
HAMAOKA is/will be COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.
(Right before summer no less.)
Officials not sure they will be able to provide the energy needed. Looking to increase production from water and coal based energy plants but will also have to consider having Kansai Electric send electricity to help compensate.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

book review: Happy Ferret Raising

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

幸せなフェレットの育て方
BY: 田向 健一

My first reaction was aaawwwwwwww～.
So many beautiful fuzzy pics. So excellently organized.

Second reaction....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
"The problem of wild ferrets destroying farms and livestock had gotten so bad in California and Hawaii that ferrets are illegal to even own there."
THIS from the most RECENTLY released ferret owners guide book?!
Not to be the only ones suffering the bane of hordes of loose rampaging ferrets...
The sentence after the one above does mention that it is a serious problem. There are endless numbers of ferrets like that in Japan that have escaped or been thrown out and are breeding wild, wrecking livestock and crop fields.
Is it too much to ask that people bother looking up facts or do solid research anymore?
What they are really seeing is "ten" （貂） and "itachi"（鼬） which are native ferret relatives that ARE wild and do predate on livestock and run through crop fields. (Other similar animals exist natively, too like the okojo オコジョ of which there was a very cute anime and comic a few years ago.)
I don't know this 100% for sure BUT I will bet you good money that this is the case because when Ranmaru and I go out on our walks we only ever run into two cases.
1) Almost NO one knows what he is. ("珍しい動物ですね。"What a curious creature.)
2) Those that attempt to identify him can only only come up with the words they know. In other words, they say "itachi?" or "ten?" (weasel and ermine, respectively.)

That glaring and enduring error aside, it's really not a bad book at all. At the very least they are not pushing the disciplinary action of nose-flicking. like they used to. (Most likely a carryover from Dr. Nomura since this vet encouraged this painful and ineffective method in several books he wrote previously.) In this book published in 2011, it does not directly suggest to use nose-flicking., it merely brings up the topic. In mentioning it they say it works on some ferrets, but on others has the opposite effect and causes more biting. Also, they point out the important fact that if you do it too strongly you could actually injure the ferret.

Overall, I really like this book. It's the only FULL COLOR, front to back FULL COLOR, ferret book I have come across in Japanese. It also has some good ideas addressing Japan's particular climate. The health section is not as thorough as the ANIFA Ferret Manual, but still very well summarized and explained. (ANIFA Ferret Health Section. Would be a great reference, Kim Schilling. ^^) Finally, possibly particular to Japan, they have three "case files" of "Living With a Ferret". Basically examples on ferret lifestyle with a family, with other pets, alone.

That being said even if you can't read Japanese, like the ANIFA Ferret Manual, I think the pictures alone are well worth the expense.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

Serious Summer Energy Issues: 1

EVAC Pack for your Ferret
Fleeing Japan with your Fuzz

Watching the "news" more often again.
Getting really worried about the Hamaoka Reactor shutdown order. If enacted, there will be consequences like lower energy output and energy sharing and possibly even the severe energy SHORTAGES that we saw when the Fukushima Reactor went.

Hamaoka is in SOUTHERN Japan.
In Southern Japan, it's 24 degrees (75 F) outside and it's only May 6.
On top of which, Kansai Electric's motto is "nuclear power". Fukushima was a big plant, and looking at the map of reactor locations (JAIF), you can see in the south, a similar story is waiting to unfold- littered with nuclear reactors like empty bottle cans and snack packs on the beach.

Taken in bits in pieces, it doesn't seem like something to be all that worried about. Connect the dots and you get a picture of one possible future that is not so promising for your fuzzy friend.

* Current Temperature in Southern Japan. It's only May and it is 24 degrees (75 F) outside. It's only going to get hotter. Check out weather.com to see a general year-round temperature graphs (on a monthly basis) for your area. For example, here is my area showing current and the previous year's temperatures for May. You can then click through all the months.

* Possibility of Energy Shortages. So many of the southern reactors are being stopped. Where will the supplemental energy be coming from? They spoke of households saving(cutting) energy by 15% as a method to prevent any shortages. To which most people interviewed on the NHK morning news (5/14) said "not really possible to conserve anymore then we are now..." or "I have young children at home. As much as adults can put up with it, children can not and there is also the issue of health maintenance." This actually is a major issue. If you have ever lived in Japan long term you know that summer time is rampant with mild to severe food poisoning cases because even under normal conditions you are always struggling to keep food from spoiling.

* Possibility of Planned Blackouts: Because of 3/11, Japan is a little more prepared for an energy crisis. But as we saw with the Fukushima Reactor Meltdown (and yes, now they are finally admitting it was a meltdown.), one of the ways they handled the energy shortages was to enforce planned blackouts. Blackouts happened during all times of the day.
Blackout Scenario: It's 95 degrees (F) outside. How is your fuzzy living through 3-4 hours of this heat while you are stuck at the office??
And for that matter, assuming they live through that, how are you even going to turn the AC back on after power has been restored??

Let us back up a little to consider the official plans in place and how you might prepare in this instance.....
After 3/11, TEPCO created a Planned Blackout Area Group List in order to make the planned blackouts go more smoothly.
Did you find your location?
No?
Don't feel badly, many native Japanese had difficulty figuring out which blackout grouping they were in too.

On top of which, even if you did manage to figure out what block you fell into, from the official TEPCO HP....
"-Starting and ending time of blackout periods may slightly differ.
-Depending on supply and demand conditions on the actual days, blackouts may occur at times which were not previously announced."

In other words, you are basically left in the same situation as the Blackout Scenario above. Hands-tied.

So what happens when it does all fall into line?
Another year of record summer temperatures + energy shortage + blackouts....

How many bottles of ice can your freezer hold and how long will they last?

I would suggest you start packing and look to return to... wherever.
If you will be returning to the USA, stay tuned as I will be introducing some of the professionally licensed pet transport companies I have been talking to or have used in the past.

☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆☆.。.:*・☆・*:.。.☆

Running total of lost reactors (Southern Japan):
Chuubu (Hamaoka) reactors: all, stopped.


5/9 UPDATE:
Well, there goes the stinkin' HAMAOKA reactor. (Chuubu Electric)
From the 7PM NHK news:
HAMAOKA is/will be COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.
(Right before summer no less.)
Officials not sure they will be able to provide the energy needed. Looking to increase production from water and coal based energy plants but will also have to consider having Kansai Electric send electricity to help compensate.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

Fleeing (Japan) with your Fuzz

Wonderful news!
...in an odd and possibly inappropriate way.
Perhaps it would be better said as reassuring news.

We got word back from my regular pet transport company about fleeing Japan with my ferret.

In response to my most basic question of "are you even able to move pets out of Japan right now?" I received the following answer.

We have but it has been, as you can imagine, very hectic and agents are at or nearly at capacity.

Far better than nothing given the devastation visited upon the shipping ports and airports.

In response to the possibility of a quick exit, the answer was not surprisingly, not so concrete.

Although possible, it will be hit or miss on short notice.

So, yes, it is possible. It can be done!

But before you leave, you can't just LEAVE.
Not if you plan to take your fuzzy with you.
There are several USA based pet transport companies, regardless of which one you choose, the official documents for entry into the USA will not be different. The official entry documents are decided by the USA government. For ferrets, as of this point in time, there are only two documents required for entry from Japan to the USA.

Papers needed previous to departure with a ferret.
1) International health certificate endorsed by AQS, Animal Quarantine Service. (Usually, a regular "local" vet signs a specific health document. This health document is then sent to a "larger area" vet who is part of AQS. This signature is the one that is necessary for export/import. AQS officials are usually assigned to manage certain areas only so your AQS may be different than the one covering my area.)
2) A current rabies certificate

The health certificate needs to be within 10 days of departure.
Rabies vaccinations need to be over 30 days and less than 1 year.
Please note the date stamps required.

Customs is extremely strict about the dating of official papers. There is no such thing as "close enough" or "one day over? sure you're fine". Your fuzzy will be sitting in customs-limbo for an unprecedented amount of time. Possibly even shipped back to Japan? Or in the case of an expired Rabies vaccine, put down on the table!?

I am not saying that is official customs procedure. I myself am not sure as I am obsessively careful with dating my papers. What I am saying is do not underestimate customs - they are an official office of government and will follow whatever rule is in their book regardless of how outdated or ruthless it might be.

If you are smart and staying informed, you know these earthquakes are not over yet. It's not too late to look for a vet that can give you the rabies shot and sign the necessary documents.

Here is a general summary of what needs to be done now, what can be done now if you are considering completely leaving Japan with your ferret in the case of an emergency.

＊Locate the nearest airport you might be able to depart from.
＊Figure out how you will get there with your ferret.
＊Be direct and ask your current vet if they know what an International Health Certificate is and are they licensed to officially sign one. (This is not likely.) If not, ask how you can get this done.
＊Assemble the documents necessary for export ready.
＊Have the documents on hand in with your ferret evac kit.
＊Check the dates! Keep the documents updated regularly.


Please note all the information provided here is only in regards to ferrets leaving Japan and entering America. Importing your fuzz into a different country will require different papers as designated by that country's animal import/export regulations.

Cheers and stay safe, Stay Informed!
More updates and rewrites on this topic in the near future.

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Dooks, Hisses, and Tweets

Finally got to the point where there is some real collective action being taken as there is now more information being collected and dessimated from stable sources.

Where are they? Online, naturally.
And just as naturally, in Japanese.
To that end we dookfully request that if you want to help and have a twitter account to please please please retweet this information.
Often.
As often as you can.

Please tweet/post these no matter where you live. The hashtags (words preceded by the #) make the post/tweet searchable by ANY search engine. The Japanese language of the tweet just makes the info more readable by the native Japanese speakers who are the ones that need this information. Even if you can't read it, someone reading your tweets may be able to read it and pass the info to someone who needs it.

The most important thing is to keep tweeting the info ESPECIALLY in Japanese. The more you tweet it, the more the info stays in circulation and the more chances there are that it reaches the people/animals in need.

The two separate tweets are as follows:

【拡散希望】 行方不明のペットを探しですか。ＵＲＬで登録下さい。http://bit.ly/dEiFnJ, http://bit.ly/goePGN, http://tiny.cc/f0saz, http://bit.ly/fR1cJF, #311pet #jishin

【拡散希望】 迷子を見かけた知っている人ですか。ＵＲＬで登録下さい。http://bit.ly/dEiFnJ, http://bit.ly/goePGN, http://tiny.cc/f0saz, http://bit.ly/fR1cJF, #311pet #jishin

Many Dooks and Thank You's!! (^_-)-♪


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

DONATIONS for Japan ANIMALS

Finally some donation sites popping up.

THE ANIMAL RESCUE SITE has direct and credible online donation abilities.

The Humane Society International (HSI) is now prepared to accept donations for the welfare of animals affected by the recent disaster in Japan. Secure donations can be placed to their International Disaster Fund. (Paypal, in addition to credit cards, are accepted.)

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) finally has a fund specifically dedicated to fund rescue efforts in Japan. Accepting secure online donations through credit cards only.

PETA is also finally on the ground in Japan and offering help. Onsite donation abilities.

CARE2.com has a a collection of links for donating offsite.

A group of 3 local JAPAN animal welfare societies have created this site for donations. Credibility not assured.

FBCusa, the largest importer of American home products, food stuffs and various necessities for the foreigner in Japan has also opened up donations for pets. FBC is offering a way for you to purchase items that will go directly to shelters and those they identify with needs.

Global Animal Foundation functions like a Red Cross for animals, distributing donations to established and vetted animal rescue organizations worldwide. Donations received during the ongoing crisis in Japan will be donated to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue & Support (JEARS), a coalition of three animal rescue groups that are on the ground providing rescue and supplies to animal victims of the earthquake and tsunami. (Paypal, in addition to credit cards, are accepted.)

Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (JEARS) is a collaboration of three established and registered no kill animal rescue NPOs in Japan. The intention behind the creation of JEARS is to coordinate rescue and support efforts for animals in crisis due to the March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami in Northern Japan.

MANY ways to donate including tax deductible donations for US citizens.


Finally, there is WorldVets.org (the non-human version of Doctors without Borders). They don't specifically have a donations for the Japan Earthquake fund, but they are on the ground working in affected areas.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

Ferret Foster 4 Japan in USA

Passed on to me by a friend on FB,

"Ferret Rescue Texico Ferret Rescue in Texico, NM is currently fostering ferrets of servicemen and others in Japan.
Contact us if any Fert needs fostering.
Texicoferretrescue.org"

Phone: 575-309-6225
If no answer, leave message. Your call will be returned ASAP.
Contact us by email: fertrescue atsign aol.com




Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪


All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Thank you for helping us out!

EVAC FERRETS in JAPAN (rev)

Being that you are living in Japan, the most important thing to remember is that you have to be able to carry your supplies ON FOOT.
At best, you might be able to use your bicycle if you have one, but given what a strong earthquake can do to the roads, much less a tsunami flooding the streets, it's best to prepare as if you will have to carry your supplies ON FOOT.

First, assemble your kit.
# a week's supply of food and water in sturdy, resealable containers (rotate every two months). About 2 Pet bottles of water, 1 minimum.

# 2 weeks' supply of medicine in a waterproof container

# a strong, secure cage big enough for your ferret to move around

# a card with your ferret's name, photo and a written description, your emergency contact information and your veterinarian's name and contact information (attach this card to your pet's carrier)

# a drip-type water bottle, preferably that can be hung from a cage. Small size is recommended. Evac areas quickly become bacteria breeding grounds. The more often you change in CLEAN water, the better.

# two stable, non-breakable food dishes preferably ones that attach to the cage as your ferret will quickly become cage-crazed from being cooped up and will look for anything to "play" with.

# small blanket or tube-sack and a toy or two

# a harness-type leash with bell and ID tag attached to the collar

# piddle pads for puppies and indoor dogs, also known as oshikko sheets

# liquid dish soap and disinfectant WIPES

# disposable garbage bags - make sure they are the ones for YOUR area. Often piddle pads are consider "paper" and are to be disposed of in moeru gomi bags. Check with your local shiyakusho on how to dispose of piddle pads and buy the accordingly appropriate bag.

# a basic first aid kit with bandages, medicine droppers, small scissors, surgical tape, tweezers, antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes, protective gloves (for you), iodine prep solution, and a couple of small splints (popsicle sticks or waribashi - disposable chopsticks - can be used in an emergency.) VSI Pet Care products produce a very nice compact Ferret First Aid kit that you can purchase online from the Ferret Depot. If they won't send one to Japan because of the liquid contents, have them send it to a relative/friend and then have them send it to you. (Express preferably.)

# a first aid booklet with special CPR instructions for small animals.

# 1-2 extra cheap towels to change out bedding OR use in First Aid situations OR to use for cleaning. (The ones you often get as gifts for minor purchases or becoming a member of a supermarket, etc...)

# copies of medical records (including microchip number) with proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations, a recent photograph and your emergency contact information, in a waterproof container

# names and contact info of shelters, veterinarians, friends or family members who would be able to care for your ferret during an emergency (preferably located outside a disaster-prone area)

# a reusable chemical cooling bar (check veterinary supply and camping supply catalogs) and a small cooler. (Good luck with this. If you can find one, good. But be prepared to dump it as you try to juggle a ferret cage, a ferret evac kit, AND your own evac kit.)

# You should also have a supply of cash and YOUR PASSPORT.
After a major disaster, ATMs will probably be offline for some time - ATMs were out of order for weeks, even months in some areas after Hurricane Katrina!

Revised for Japan Conditions from the original Ferret Disaster Preparedness Kit.

☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆

Now that you have that assembled some other things you might want to look into such as Pet Hotels.

The United Animal Nations offers a wonderful list of sites to search for pet-friendly hotels covering the USA, Canada, and International hotels.

Pet Hotels / Boarding in Japan.

☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆

In a worst case scenario, you have lost your ferret.
Places to Post for Lost Ferrets:

A place where you can post the information sponsored by the Veterinarians Information Network.
It's all in Japanese so if you want to post, either send me a comment here (It won't post automatically. Confidentiality is respected.) or you can try google's web auto-translate.

FERRETS WORLD HELP on Facebook is a place to post and share SOS for ferrets (urgences, lost/found, etc... ) everywhere in all the languages.

☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆.。.:*・☆

And again please, PLEASE share any other information, suggestions, or notifications of dead links.
As any expat overseas knows, the only one helping us is US.


Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

EVACing pets in JAPAN

UPDATES on Ferret Food Recalls
Responses from Whole/Natural Prey Suppliers

Much to my disappointment, less than 20 hours after the first earthquake and tsunami waves, a reporter in the air reported spotting dogs left wandering around in the wreckage.

Japan is by far the far-most advanced? modernized? Asian country in terms of its attitude to non-human family members, but much like with Hurricane Katarina, animal companions are being abandoned at home to fend for themselves while their families flee to higher ground.

I will translate later today or this weekend, but this was posted for EVCing pets if u live in Japan:
http://pet-clinic.info/toppage/saigaijunbi.htm
#tsunami #pet #earthquake #emergency #evac

There is also a general disaster preparedness kit for FERRETS (list) compiled by the experienced members of F.E.R.R.E.T.

The American Humane Society offers a general list for disaster preparedness for general pets and livestock.

The ASPCA offers a general list for disaster preparedness for general pets.

The United Animal Nations also offers a general list for disaster preparedness for general pets. They also offer a wonderful list of sites to search for pet-friendly hotels covering the USA, Canada, and International hotels.

Pet Hotels / Boarding in Japan.

If you have lost your pet OR you have found a lost pet, here is a place where you can post the information sponsored by the Veterinarians Information Network.
It's all in Japanese so if you want to post, either send me a comment here (It won't post automatically. Confidentiality is respected.) or you can try google's web auto-translate.

FERRETS WORLD HELP on Facebook is a place to post and share SOS for ferrets (urgences, lost/found, etc... ) everywhere in all the languages.

May or may not have anything (so far nothing), but these are the two major Ferret Societies in Japan:
JFA (AFA counterpart in Japan)
IFS (International Ferret Society)


Please, PLEASE share any other information, suggestions, or notifications of dead links.
As any expat overseas knows, the only one helping us is US.

Cheers and see you again! (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Ferrety Folklore - KAMAITACHI

The familiar scenes we have grown used to always seeing.
Yet there are times when these everyday places become doorways to other, extraordinary worlds.
#66, Otherworlds Hiding in the Everyday.

Without further ado, we settle into our three-part winter tail of

The Sickle Weasel
鎌鼬
kamaitachi

The Sickle Weasel: A Question of Existence (1)

The seasons have changed to that of the cold northern winds.
And with this changing of seasons comes a phantasm particular to the winter - the Sickle Weasel.
Without knowing it, without any pain or bleeding, you develop open slashes on your feet and hands and other places on your body. This phenomena has come to be known as the work of a youkai known as the Sickle Weasel. Like the weasel, the Sickle Weasel moves swiftly, and becoming a small whirlwind, slashes at humans. It is indeed the “the wind that cuts to the bone”. It is also said that they operate in groups of three.
However for many of us living in these modern times, we likely don't consider this phenomena to be the work of a youkai. Surely somewhere you have heard this”scientific explanation” : “The Sickle Weasel Phenomena is a natural phenomena wherein a vacuum formed in the atmosphere by occurrences like whirlwinds causes human skin to be slashed open.”

Here, I would like to call into question this “scientific” explanation.

The Sickle Weasel: A Question of Existence (2)

Before the “scientific” explanation came out, the Sickle Weasel was considered to be a punishment meeted out by the mountain gods or Tengu (another type of youkai) upon humans for breaking some taboo. It is said that the origin of the Sickle Weasel's name (Kama Itachi) comes from the sword used by the Tengu – the Kamae Tachi.

The theory of the vacuum being the real identity of the Sickle Weasel came out at the beginning of the Shouwa Era with its publication in a scholarly journal of meteorology. From there it spread into the general populace. However, doubts soon arose. In an essay entitled “The Evolution of Monsters”, the literary scholar Terada Torihiko offered this argument: “In the natural world, it is not likely for a vacuum to so easily and suddenly appear. And even if one were to form, it is difficult to think that human skin could so easily rupture like a balloon or something.” Indeed, when you stop to think calmly about it, there is a rationale to Terada's argument.

The vacuum theory that was considered so “scientific” fell immediately under suspicion.
Now then, what could be the real identity of the Sickle Weasel?

The Sickle Weasel: A Question of Existence (3)

What is the real identity of the Sickle Weasel? The answer was put forward from an unexpected direction. In a scholarly magazine in 1970, meteorologist Takahashi Yoshihiko made the announcement, “Wipe the Sickle Weasel from the Meteorology Books”, offering the conclusion that the Sickle Weasel was a physiological phenomena.

According to said article, the Sickle Weasel was a phenomena wherein dry, tight skin split open upon receiving a sudden impact. Since it was just the skin splitting open, there was slight pain and very little bleeding. That being said, most cases of encountering the Sickle Weasel have been at such times like “when I fell” or “when I ran into someone”.

Currently, however, the idea of a vacuum cutting open a human body has been taken up in novels and comics, becoming part of the common “scientific knowledge”. Perhaps it is the massive, unabashed circulation of the unscientific as the scientific that instead can be called a otherworldly phenomenon.

#84-86, The Sickle Weasel: A Question of Existence


*"youkai" are traditional beings of supernatural mysterious power. They are not all good nor all bad. Some are human shaped, many are not. There is no good English language equivalent. As such, the word is often left as it is without translation.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

Cheers and hope to see you again! (^_-)-♪




All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!

Carnivore...soups and sauces

UPDATES on Ferret Food Recalls
Responses from Whole/Natural Prey Suppliers

☆.。.:*・RANDOM CARPETSHARKING☆SPEEDBUMPING・*:.。.☆

Whoohoo!

Going through my old 2005 IFC papers, I came across an ad for something I rather liked.

CARNIVORE CARE by Oxbow.

It's more or less a powered version of duck soup.
Fortunately, my free sample was not used for sick ferrets, but merely as a food `enrichment`, sprinkling it on top of their normal food once or twice a week.

Better yet!
Quite a good international distribution with at least 3 distributors in Japan.

Sophia Tech
Nagoya
Phone: 052-807-6586

Moon Rabbit
Hamamatsu-city
Phone: 053-484-1711

Kochouen
Osaka
Tel: 6-6784-6335
Fax: 6-4308-6080
Website: www.love-bird.co.jp

Interestingly enough, all three are close to where we will be living.

For more information on international distribution, please check their main contact page. For local distribution, they advise to check with your licensed veterinarian.

Happy Snacking!!

Cheers and see you again. (^_-)-♪

All translations copyrighted and owned by myself.All copyrights of their respective owners. No part of this web site may be produced, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
Thank you for helping us out!