Message Number: YG8693 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Lccmtaylor@aol.com
Date: 2001-11-15 04:22:00 UTC
Subject: Symptoms-Ideas??

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right, and I apologize if I've broken any
rules - blame it on ignorance of this internet stuff.

My 5-6 year old rescued ferret Sundance has a mystery going on and I don't
know what I should do. He hasn't been truly ferret-like in about a year and
a half, but in the past eight months he has definitely deteriorated to the
point where he eats, drinks, poops and sleeps. While I do not think he is
suffering from pain, he clearly does not feel well and does not interact with
my other two ferrets - doesn't fight them, just ignores them and curls up to
sleep. He is currently away from them in a hospital cage in my kitchen.

History and Symptoms:
9/00 "Brother" - rescued together with shared past of having been purchased
together but they were both Marshall Farms and so could have been completely
unrelated, but "Butch" died four days after successful adrenal surgery.
Sundance appeared normal, rescued friend a week later and Sundance dominated
and then became buddies with new guy "P.J."and all was fine.

3/01 - Sundance seemed to have slowed down significantly, but P.J. was under
a year old and so psycho-ferret with lots of energy. Sundance suddenly
seemed to gain a lot of weight, then developed an apparent limp in front
right shoulder but expressed no pain when manipulated. Brought to
not-ferret-expert vet who x-rayed shoulder but found nothing, did extensive
blood work which came up normal and hypothesized that what I thought was fat
was actually swollen lymphnodes and drew a sample to test for Lymphoma.
Claimed lab later lost sample. Was extremely unhappy how vet treated me -
like I was a nut for worrying about a ferret (wasn't anything important like
a dog or cat!) and so went on Ferret Central and found an exotics vet I trust

3/01 - went to exotics vet who stated that she could not tell if the
Lymphnodes were swollen because she couldn't find them for the fat!
Suspected insuloma because he barely moved when she examined him, but blood
test (not fasting) was 178 and all other blood work was within normal ranges.
Suggested we try to get the weight down with an lower fat "older ferret"
food.

9/01 - Sundance suddenly seemed to drop weight and was skin and bones. Vet
did blood work and he had a glucouse level of 700+. Began insulin which has
brought him down to around 500 before shots and 220 between - am still trying
to find right dose, currently up to 3.5 units twice a day. Also, felt nodule
in belly. Stated that she had never been able to feel adrenal tumors because
ferrets are usually not this thin but he was nearly emaciated - but suspected
it was adrenal because of other symptoms (heavy musk smell to urine - patchy
hair loss around head and neck).
Now, sugar is somewhat down, he has gained about a pound, there has been no
change in behaviour except maybe he has become more "out of it" in the last
week or so - he barely moves when I give him his injections although he is
still eating like a champion, but water consumption is down a little. When
vet palpated him on Friday, after major weight gain, she could still feel a
nodule or mass.

My question - since it seems that pancreatic and adrenal tumors are so small
that they are rarely picked up on a sonargram (which she has suggested doing
but I am hesitant because of the effects of anesthia on sugar) wouldn't they
be impossible to feel? I suspect, since I lost a dog to it and the symptoms
are identical, that Sundance has pancreatic cancer which is now spreading.
Is that at all common in ferrets? Vet claims only non-insulomic pancreatic
tumors she's seen was in a ferret who did not have diabetes. I would love to
have Sundance restored to perfect health but I am losing hope and worry that
diagnostic testing may only add to his discomfort but not add to his quality
of life. He has not a shred of ferret spark left in him.

Sorry for the length of this. Any ideas would be so very gratefully accepted.

Cay