From:
Trina
Date: 2002-02-07 00:38:00 UTC
Subject: NEED VETS HELP/MYCOBACTERIUM..........
I am in need of information ASAP....
Please read all of post.sorry so long..
A few weeks ago I posted looking for any advice/ideas on my ill ferret
Fozzy.
He had a pretty healthy history he was almost 4 yrs. old, he did have a
heart murmur and did have a very mild case of ECE about 3 1/2 yrs. ago when
he was a kit (was exposed at a ferret show where I was to meet the breeder I
bought him from)
His symptoms were: vomited maybe 4 times in week then came weightloss, he
was lethargic, had watery eyes that were only half open, hind end weakness.
He would not eat dry food, but would eat plenty of Duck Soup and water.
I took Fozzy to the vet and he was put on antibiotics. I thought more should
be done but the vet did not agree.
I went to another vet and we decided on Exploratory Surgery on 2-17, the vet
found many things. A blockage (hairball), swollen Spleen, Ulcer, and
enlarged lymph nodes (which a biopsy was done). Vet said biopsies, blood
tests, etc would be sent to lab.
(Fozzy never had shown any signs of a blockage or an ulcer before.)
Vet thought the problem may have been the blockage or possibly Cancer, sent
Fozzy home on Antibiotics, and told me to give Pepto for Ulcer. Fozzy never
got any worse but was not getting any better but he had gotten so weak I
figured it might take a few weeks to see improvement. On 2-23 Fozzy passed
away while sleeping.
At this time I had talked to vet once briefly all the tests he said were not
back.
A couple days later I tried to call him again and we kept missing each
other, finally I got a call from him saying tests showed Fozzy had a bad
Intestinal Infection.
The vet said there was a bacterium found that may pose a health risk and be
contagious to my other animals and us humans and we all may need to seek
treatment.
He need to call the lab for some more answers, would call me back. Never
called.. Finally today I got ahold of him and he said what they found was a
Mycobacterium but he was not sure if it was Avium or ??(I am not sure on the
spelling of what he said)
He said depending on which one it was we may all need treatment and he needs
to talk to the State People tomorrow and they may make me Euthanise all my
ferrets!!!!! ( I have 4 others) and he also asked me if any of them had
diarrhea and if any of them were Males?? Why would he ask that?
I am totally confused and freaking out here about all this and my other
animals (cat, dog, ferrets)
I don't know what to do but need advice on this issue ASAP.
My other ferrets seem fine, no problems, no diarrhea or anything unusual.
I am also wondering if any of the vets findings be from the affects from
when Fozzy had ECE? Just a thought.
Please any vets out there~ PLEASE RESPOND~ I really need help on this one.
Thankyou,
Trina Chaney
tnt@e...