From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-15 00:11:00 UTC
Subject: Re: HUGE lumps: anything but lymphoma?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., moreferrets@h... wrote:
> howdy vets: new critter in today. HUGE golf ball sized lump under
> the left arm - owner says it's been there two months. there's also
a
> huge lump that is both on the side of the neck and around to the
> underside of the throat. owner had him in to a local vet i'm not
at
> all confident in who took an xray and bloodwork: she proclaimed it
> was DEFINATELY NOT lymphoma and put him on .75 BID "SMZ TMP" Liquid
> (1/2 oz), which is a light pink liquid that "is not to be
> refridgerated" and appears milky with a thin, more water layer that
> seperates to the top before shaking. what is this stuff? anyway,
> could this be anything BUT lymphoma? in each large lump there are
> two smaller, lymph node kidney-bean feeling lumps. and did i
mention
> critter can hardly breathe? he's beyond wheezing and panting and
> onto labored breathing. he appears/sounds just like another ferret
i
> met at another shelter who DEFINATELY had lymphoma (same exact
rattle
> in the breathing). he's motoring around (he's 3 at most) but i
think
> part of it is discomfort. he hasn't slept well this afternoon
since
> he spends so much time adjusting. no quality vet care available
> until monday morning in this town; meanwhile, i've started pedia-
> pred. as for this pink stuff...i don't trust this vet that he saw
> one bit, so i'm almost hesitant to continue giving it to him.
after
> all, she told the owner she could not feel any lumps on this
ferret.
> sha-yah...um...you can see them when he's across the room!!
> fortunately this will be my first confirmed experience with
lymphoma
> if in fact that's what his trouble is...any advice to help him be
> more comfortable for another 40 hours or so? thx!
Dear Moreferrets:
This case certainly does sound like a case of lymphoma. If the nodes
are as large as you say, I would have recommended an aspirate of one
of the nodes as well.
You don't mention the results of the bloodwork, as well as the X-rays.
Pediapred may help a bit with the nodes, however, if it lymphoma,
they may also affect the ability to make a diagnosis when the nodes
are aspirated. But you have to think about the animal's survival
first.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM