From:
moreferrets@home.com
Date: 2001-04-30 14:34:00 UTC
Subject:
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Bruce Williams, DVM" <williams@e...>
wrote:
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "More Ferrets?!?"
<moreferrets@h...>
> wrote:
> >
> > we both have digital cameras - doc and i. he took the photos of
> the x-rays with his digital (much better camera than mine) at my
> > request, since my attempts to photograph the underarm lump were
> pretty unsuccessful...i just couldn't get the lump to "appear" in
> > 3D.
>
>
> Sometimes large lumps image better when the hair is shaved. (OK,
> ok,. you don't have to shave him now, but perhaps later, if
remission does not occur, let's consider it for posterity.
>
way ahead of you there...already plan to do so when it won't bother
him. i planned to do that before the xray...might as well have both,
if only to show others what in the world i'm talking about. this
little guy is a hospice case; the owner (who only had him two months)
called several times until i said "get him over here." back to the
beginning, she had already taken him to a local hack who had proudly
proclaimed - officially, with tests! - that he did not, repeat NOT
have lymphoma. bah. big difference between that idiot and my vet
making a well educated guess at what exactly is causing the breathing
trouble, know what i mean? oh...and the first thing my vet did was
an aspirate. he got a "good sample/slide" and said there wasn't one
single normal looking cell on the whole slide - they were all sorts
of wacky.
> > > I'm not wishing to disagree with your vet here, but I'm just not
> > > seeing a large chest mass in these images...
> >
> > i don't think he'd think you were disagreeing with him...i think
> you just have to a) hear him breathing b) see the x-ray fresh and
> > in person and c) feel the critter. it's not so much he sees a
lump as he sees a slight narrowing of the trachea. combine the x-ray
> > with how he sounds and doc concluded that the trachea is being
> pushed on - but certainly he wasn't making a proclamation in blood,
>
> Sometimes you go with your gut. Anyone who has dealt with foreign
> bodies in ferrets knows the difficulty and pressures that sometimes
> goes with being the vet. This also sounds like one of those times.
>
yep...and really, it doesn't matter. we did the xray to see if
perhaps there was some fluid he could drain.
> > we were just trying to figure out how much misery he's in. he
> mentioned that the lungs look good - filling well with air - so
> > pressure on the trachea would be the most likely cause for how he
> sounds (like he's drowning). oh - and woody now sleeps with his
> > head propped up at a 90 degree angle where he is resting his chin
> only...he can't rest with any pressure on his lower neck at all.
> > > >
> > > > he's been on HIGH pred dose for two weeks now. he's also been
> > > through the first three days of luceran. 5 more days and he
can have the last 3 days of dosing. i'm still holding out for a
> remission, so i'm trying to make him comfy until i'm convinced this
isn't going to work. any suggestions on making him more comfortable
> (i doubt it)?
> > >
> > > Yes, there is very little to do to make him more comfortable -
> wihout
> > > surgical excision of the neoplasms that are impeding the
> breathing.
> > > Usually, after several days of high dose pred, the masses in
> steroid-
> > > responsive lymphomas become notceably, if not more, smaller.
The
> > > fact that these masses are not getting small is unfortunately,
a
> poor
> > > prognostic sign.
> >
> > yep, that's exactly what doc said. frankly i was really hoping
to
> at least finish up this luceran treatment...but i'm thinking
> > perhaps i'm being a bit too hopeful/selfish and should give up
> right quick. it's heartbreaking to see a 2 year old try so hard
> > STILL to investigate and be happy and playful, yet not have the
> energy after spending it all on sucking air...he's still so alert
> > and perky, just miserable...it's just been remarkably difficult
for
> me to decide to give up. :( have you used luceran before?
> >
>
> Sorry, it's not in my repertoire. If he is still trying to
> investigate and be happy and pleyful, then it's not time just yet.
> Time is when it takes too much effort just to beithe and eat,a nd
all
> of the time in between is spent exhausted.
>
> > ooh - while i have you: i'm going to send clyde's tissue along
to
> you. i have photos as well. you mentioned that you were having
> > trouble with e-mail...i can print *decent* color prints of the
> photos, but i think yo
>
> That seems to be cleared up at the moment. High resolution digital
> images wil do quite well.
ok...i'll send those along with a simple title of "clyde's ick" and
put a note in the box with his history and so forth. i didn't have
doc write up a formal report since i figure you're savvy enough to
digest the pics, history and sample - and then ask him questions if
needed! ;)~
thx!
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list