From:
Ingrid
Date: 2001-09-23 00:38:00 UTC
Subject: RE: Part sounds familiar
I took Nutmeg to have radiographs done. Everything looks normal. The vet
is very aware of cardiomyopathy in ferrets and is treating others for this.
She showed me what would show up on the X-ray if fluid build-up were a
problem. She showed me all of the different organs. Heart, lungs,
diaphragm, spleen, kidney (we could only make out one from the way he was
positioned), liver all look normal. She believes it to be fatty tissue that
makes him feel firm. In fact, his spleen even looks like it has shrunk back
to normal size.
I'm still hoping for some help with this. His symptoms and a brief history
can be read in the post at the bottom of this message. The vet really
believes this to be neurological. She did some neuro tests and she feels
that his falling down and right-sided weakness is not from muscle
deterioration, but rather from signals not being transmitted correctly. Any
help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ingrid
Sukie writes:
>It sounds like possible cardiomyopathy with abdominal ascites and thrown
clots, one of which is >affecting the brain. Please, have at least a chest
x-ray done, preferably an ultrasound unless >the ferret is so far gone that
hope is given up.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Ingrid" <iar2@c...> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I've read in the archives that brain lesions/tumors are unlikely
in ferrets.
> My ferret has been diagnosed with a lesion in the brain as a
result of his
> symptoms and from ruling out most other possibilities. I was
hoping to post
> here and see if any of you had any ideas.
>
> He has the following symptoms:
> -Drunk walk which has recently gotten much worse and has
made it difficult
> to walk at all
> -Right-sided weakness - also shows lack of response on right
side during
> brief neuro exam by my regular vet
> -Doesn't seem to 'focus'
> -Enlarged abdomen, often very firm to the touch
> -Wimpering with pressure on abdomen
> -Frequent loose stools, VERY smelly
> -Drinking excessive water
> -Lethargic
> -Splenomegaly
> -No loss of appetite or weight
> -Very large fat deposits on all lymph nodes, largest is right side
of neck
> and is about the size of a large grape
>
> We've ruled out insulinoma, adrenal, and lymphosarcoma by
exploratory
> surgery and biopsy of a complete lymph node. He tested
negative for ADV.
> My vet has also ruled out renal failure from bloodwork and
urinalysis.
>
> I've posted about this guy before and got some responses, but
everything
> that was suggested has been ruled out. I'd love to hear from
anyone with
> any ideas. Right now things don't look very good and he's not
getting
> around much at all. I'm not sure that the brain lesion is the last
possible
> diagnosis, but I don't think putting him under anesthesia is a
good idea at
> this point to do more invasive tests.
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Ingrid