From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-06-15 22:00:00 UTC
Subject: Re: difference of swollen vulvas
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., pamsferrets@a... wrote:
> Dear Doc,
> I would like to know if there is any visible difference between a
ferret with
> a swollen vulva from incomplete spay or an adrenal diseased ferret
or if
> there are any other clinical diseases that may cause a swollen
vulva. This
> question is not in regards to any ferret in particular, I would
just like to
> be informed. Also, if it is an incomplete spay, would the swollen
vulva
> happen in the first season or could it come after, say a year or
two?
Dera Pam - Vulvar sweeling is a non-specific sign of
hyperestrogenism, and there is no one who can look at a swollen vulva
without accompanying history and tellyou what is going on. While
anecdotally, manypractitioners have claimed that a vaginal infection
can cause a swollen vulva, there is no compelling physiologic theory
behind this.
The "incomplete spay" as an entity is actually a real rarity.
Believe it or not, most incomplete spays come at the hands of vets,
as the large producers are extremely proficient in ovariectomies at a
young age.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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