From:
NCFerretMom@yahoo.com
Date: 2002-08-28 20:37:17 UTC
Subject: Torn diaphragm
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <21344624.1030567037641.JavaMail.root@scandium>
My friend took her 3 year old ferret to an experienced ferret vet yesterday for exploratory surgery. They opened him up to do a biopsy as he was vomiting and had been for several days. This morning he was found dead by the vet. Gizmo's nails were purple and he had not been gone a long time, they said.
The necropsy revealed 2 holes in his diaphragm with muscle damage that was healing. The vet said it looked like the type of trauma they see with dog bites and that it appears to have been relatively recent (within the past several months). Apparently this, combined with the anesthesia and the stress/nature of surgery caused his lung(s) to collapse, resulting in his death.
Lynn has had Gizmo since he was a kit, follows him around like an overprotective duck (he was deaf) and knows he has not been injured. He was operated on about 18 months ago and they said that the damage could not have been there at that time or he would probably have died then.
There is nothing in his history that would point to any type of injury. They said that it would not be possible for a ferret to have inflicted this type of damage. And, even if it was possible, there is nothing in his history to point to this type of injury. (I know I said it twice!)
Any ideas or input? Lynn is inconsolable and understanding may help. She is a member of the FHL and gave me permission to post this here.
Thank you.
renee