From:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: 2002-11-19 07:07:48 UTC
Subject: necropsy report
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <18f.1169d61e.2b0b3d44@aol.com>
I received an interesting report today from the necropsy done on my ferret
who died Nov. 10th. The final diagnosis was very different from what my vet
and I had expected. While I have already discussed this with her and
understand that we will probably never know exactly what happened, I would
welcome any comments or possible explanations.
The ferret was approximately 4 years old, a MF NM rescue with unknown
history. On Wednesday, November 6th, he was put under isoflurane anesthesia
to have what was believed to be a mast cell tumor removed from his ear. He
woke up, recovered quickly, and was returned home a few hours later. On
Friday the 8th, the pathology report came back identifying the tumor as a
hemangiosarcoma. He was still behaving normally at this point, and this was
merely noted as a possible future concern.
Mid-day Saturday the 9th, I found the ferret severely dehydrated, weak,
covered in urine, and with sticky gums. He was taken in as an emergency and
found to be hypoglycemic. He was given fluids and dextrose subcutaneously,
an injection of dexamethasone, and made to eat Nutri-cal. He was sent home
with a probable diagnosis of insulinoma.
He did not immediately improve (as, it is my understanding, ferrets with
insulinoma-induced hypoglycemia usually do). I syringe fed him hourly
throughout that night. He stayed about the same, better hydrated and alert,
but weak. He did not urinate, but had regular dark, liquid feces.
By morning, he had declined. He was no longer willing to walk around, and
again dehydrated. He was seen by the vet again at noon. Again, an attempt
was made for IV catheter, but his blood pressure was too low. He was given
subcutaneous fluids and dextrose, dextrose orally, and a dexamethasone
injection.
Shortly after leaving the vet's office, he went into a comatose state and
died a few hours later. We had a necropsy done still expecting to find a
pancreatic tumor.
------
Gross Findings: On gross examination, the ferret had a yellowish
discoloration of the liver and no other significant gross lesions. No
tumorous masses were seen in the pancreas.
[The histopathology report is lengthy, but I will provide it to anyone
interested.]
Final Diagnosis: Severe hepatic lipidosis
Intestine, enteritis with crypt dilation and mucoid metaplasia
Mesenteric lymphoid, suppurative lymphadenitis
------
It is my understanding that fatty liver disease is usually triggered by a
stressor and then fasting or starvation. I believe that this ferret
continued to eat kibble through Thursday and Friday, and only stopped
sometime Saturday. Prior to his surgery on Wednesday, the ferret was
examined and believed to be in good health. His only possible
symptoms--noted at the time but not considered significant until now--were a
slight weight gain (or slight abdomen distension) and lethargy...but nothing
more extreme than what is normal seasonal change for ferrets. Whatever
weight he had gained, or whatever swelling was causing the abdomen
distension, disappeared from Friday to Saturday.
Any thoughts?
xxxx